WILLIAM DE MORGAN exquisite ARTS AND CRAFTS pottery DECORATED VASE, 1882-1888

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WILLIAM DE MORGAN , exquisite ARTS AND CRAFTS pottery, DECORATED VASE, 1882-1888 Lot: Exquisite, rare, antique, Arts and Crafts vase designed by William Frend De Morgan from the Merton Abbey period, 1882-1888 . White tin glazed earthenware, beautifully decorated in the Iznik style, with handpainted flowers and leafs in the vivid, dark blue colour from William De Morgan ´s vibrant Persian palette. The vase has a beautiful calebasse shape and is a perfect example of William De Morgan ´s designs with inspiration from the Eastern ceramics. Condition: Very nice original condition with no large chips, cracks or repairs. Some crazing to the surface of the glaze and some ware to the bottom edge (not visable when standing up), typical for pieces of this date and age. If you want larger pictures don´t hesitate to email me. Measurements: 19.5 cms tall (7.7 inches) 11,5cms diameter (4,5 inches) Stamps/marking: Impressed De Morgan Merton Abbey mark to the base, from the Merton Abbey factory (1882-1888), and signed with "JB" monogram, by the decorator J. Babb. Low starting bid, no reserve! William Frend De Morgan, 1839-1917 William Frend De Morgan was born in London, 16 Nov 1839 and died in London, 15 Jan 1917. He came from a highly educated family,his father, Augustus De Morgan , was the first Professor of Mathematics at the newly founded University College in London, and his mother, Sofia Elizabeth Frend, campaigned alongside Elizabeth Fry in the early 19th century to promote prison reform, religious liberty and women's suffrage. In 1859, at the age of twenty De Morgan was admitted to the Royal Academy School . During his time of studies De Morgan was introduced to William Morris, and through him the Pre-Raphaelite circle, a group of English painters, poets, and critics, founded in 1848. Soon De Morgan turned his interest to the decorative arts and began experimenting with stained glass and started working for the firm of Morris, Marshall, Faulkner & Co. as a designer of stained glass and as a painter of panels for furniture. In 1963 De Morgan ventured into pottery and he set up a pottery work at his home in Chelsea where he was able to exercise his considerable skills. The main production consisted of tiles.By 1872 De Morgan had shifted his interest wholly to ceramics and started to explore every technical aspect of his craft. He did complex studies of the chemistry of glazes, methods of firing, and pattern transfer. He kept on developing his techniques when the factory moved to Merton Abbey, near London (1882-1888) and Fulham (1888-1898). De Morgan was particularly inspired by Eastern tiles. Around 1873–1874, he made a striking breakthrough by rediscovering the technique of lustre ware, characterized by a reflective, metallic surface, found in Hispano-Moresque pottery and Italian majolica. His interest in the East was not limited to glazing techniques, it also influenced his designs and colour schemes. In 1875, he began to work in a Persian palette that consisted of; dark blue, turquoise, manganese purple, green, Indian red, and lemon yellow, The motifs of De Morgans "Persian" ware has great similarities with 15th-and-16th century İznik ware of the Ottoman Empire, and are very characteristic of his designs with fantastic creatures, animals and geometric motifs, and floral and foliage patterns in luminous glazes. William De Morgan is one of the most important ceramic artist of the Arts and Crafts Movement. His outstanding work is represented at museums, including the Victoria and Albert Museum, the William Morris Gallery in London and a substantial collection in Birmingham. His beautiful, intriguing pieces has been sold at Christie's and Sotheby's. This rare Merton Abbey period vase is a true collector's item and would make a nice addition to any pottery collection as well as an eyecathing object in the Arts and Crafts period interior design! -------------------------------------------------------... read more

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