Lot 371
A.W.N. PUGIN (1812-1852) FOR MINTON & CO.
ENCAUSTIC EARTHENWARE BREAD PLATE, 1849
Auction: 10 October 2018 at 11:00 BST
Description
bears inscription WASTE NOT WANT NOT, impressed mark verso 430
33cm diameter
Footnote
Provenance: The Fine Art Society, London
Literature: Gere, Charlotte & Whiteway, Michael, 'Nineteenth-Century Design: From Pugin to Mackintosh', London 1993, p.53, pl.49
Atterbury, Paul & Wainwright, Clive (edits.), 'Pugin: A Gothic Passion', New Haven and London 1994, p.143, pl.260
Note: Pugin’s interest in ceramic design appears to have been initiated by his meeting with Herbert Minton, the owner of the burgeoning pottery business, when looking for a manufacturer of medieval-style encaustic floor tiles. He had previously collected Italian maiolica and medieval floor tiles. The huge variety of designs Pugin produced for Minton is testament to the close friendship between himself and Herbert Minton. Their huge commercial success is evident as many of the designs remained in production well into the 20th century. This bread plate design is probably the most familiar of all Pugin’s ceramic designs. It was made in two versions, the most popular being this three colour version and another six-colour version. The encaustic process was probably favoured as it would resist scratching from a bread knife.