Lot 177
WILLIAM DE MORGAN (1839-1917) ‡
PERSIAN-STYLE VASE AND COVER, FULHAM PERIOD CIRCA 1890
Auction: Design Since 1860 Day One | Wed 14th October | Lots 1 to 245
Description
glazed pottery, decorated by Joe Juster, painted marks to base W. DE MORGAN/ FULHAM/ J.J. (2)
Dimensions
35cm high
Footnote
Through the latter half of the 19th century there was increasing interest in Persian (meaning Turkish, Syrian, Egyptian and Persian) art among British designers. Owen Jones wrote about Islamic design in his Grammar of Ornament and the Islamic pottery and fabrics in the South Kensington Museum, later the V&A, allowed William De Morgan, William Morris and others to study these items first-hand. De Morgan also restored artist Sir Frederick Leighton's collection of Islamic tiles for the Arab Hall at Leighton House, granting him extended access to handle and understand the make-up of these wares.
In his own practice De Morgan developed both a colour palette and decorative motifs familiar from Islamic designs, in the case of this covered vase the Persian leaf and flower patterns executed in blue, turquoise and green hues are highly reminiscent of Middle Eastern ceramics. The stylised almost hour-glass shape of the vase and tapered knop on the cover also echo Persian examples.