Vase thumbnail 1
Vase thumbnail 2
Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
British Galleries, Room 125, Edwin and Susan Davies Gallery

Vase

1867 (design registered)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This Wedgwood vase is extremely rare and an important example from Christopher Dresser’s early career, no other examples are known. The design was first exhibited at the 1867 Exposition Universelle in Paris, which Dresser visited. The decoration for this vase appears in the Fewster pattern-books in the V&A collection (E. 1488 to 99-1987) dating from 1861-8. These books were used by Dresser to note his designs and as a record of his work, in particular for the major exhibitions. Dresser was inspired by a wide range of historic and international prototypes, including Gothic, Japanese, Chinese, Peruvian and Egyptian. He drew from all these sources to produce something quite original. The unusual pattern design on this vase is based on wing bones of birds and fins of fish, the complicated overlapping pattern effect is in stark contrast to the simple form of the vase. Dresser was fascinated by geometry and applied a scientific interest in colour and proportions in his designs. He wrote ‘I have sought to embody chiefly the one idea of power, energy, force or vigour’ (Technical Educator, 1870-2). Here the play between the angular decoration and circular vase provides extra interest in the form.


Object details

Category
Object type
Materials and techniques
Earthenware, painted and gilded
Brief description
Vase with ring handles, earthenware, designed by Christopher Dresser for Wedgwood, 1867
Physical description
Medium earthenware vase with ring handles, decorated with a stylised pattern of wing bones of birds and fins of fish
Dimensions
  • Whole height: 28.6cm
Production typeLimited edition
Marks and inscriptions
Design registration mark for 20 March 1867. On base.
Credit line
Given by the American Friends of the V&A through the generosity of Joseph Holtzman
Summary
This Wedgwood vase is extremely rare and an important example from Christopher Dresser’s early career, no other examples are known. The design was first exhibited at the 1867 Exposition Universelle in Paris, which Dresser visited. The decoration for this vase appears in the Fewster pattern-books in the V&A collection (E. 1488 to 99-1987) dating from 1861-8. These books were used by Dresser to note his designs and as a record of his work, in particular for the major exhibitions. Dresser was inspired by a wide range of historic and international prototypes, including Gothic, Japanese, Chinese, Peruvian and Egyptian. He drew from all these sources to produce something quite original. The unusual pattern design on this vase is based on wing bones of birds and fins of fish, the complicated overlapping pattern effect is in stark contrast to the simple form of the vase. Dresser was fascinated by geometry and applied a scientific interest in colour and proportions in his designs. He wrote ‘I have sought to embody chiefly the one idea of power, energy, force or vigour’ (Technical Educator, 1870-2). Here the play between the angular decoration and circular vase provides extra interest in the form.
Bibliographic reference
Christopher Dresser : A Design Revolution, edited by Michael Whiteway.London : V&A Publications, in association with Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum, distributed by Harry N. Abrams, 2004.
Collection
Accession number
C.56-2018

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Record createdJuly 28, 2015
Record URL
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