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Not currently on display at the V&A

Christobal

Mug
1982 (made)
Artist/Maker
Nicholas John Ltd (manufacturer)
Leonard, Barbara (designer)
Place of origin
Derbyshire (made)

Ironstone china of straight-sided cannister shape with a printed decoration consisting of a repeat motif of cherries in red and green. The same motif is repeated three times on the inside, near the rim.


Object details

Categories
ELISE
Ceramics
Earthenware
Object type
Mug
TitleChristobal (series title)
Materials and techniques
Ironstone china with transfer-printed decoration
Brief description
'Christobal' Mug, ironstone china with transfer-printed decoration, designed by Barbara Leonard, made by Nicholas-John Ltd., England, 1982
Physical description
Ironstone china of straight-sided cannister shape with a printed decoration consisting of a repeat motif of cherries in red and green. The same motif is repeated three times on the inside, near the rim.
Dimensions
  • Height: 10cm
  • Width: 11cm
  • Depth: 8cm
Marks and inscriptions
  • A view of the Derbyshire Dales surrounded by 'NICHOLAS JOHN' (Printed in red)
  • 'ENGLAND IRONSTONE' (Printed in green)
  • 'MADE IN ENGLAND' (In relief)
Credit line
Given by the maker
Object history
The mug shape is called "Harpur" and was designed by Nick Holland.

Historical significance: This mug is of interest for its nostalgia for an idealised domestic past.
Historical context
Mugs have continued to gain popularity for use in the home and designers have been concerned to make the mug more attractive and acceptable to middle class tastes. Due to their straight-sided cylindrical shape, mugs are a convenient format for design and decoration in many styles. In the 1980s they have become like generic conveyors of style messages and are marketed in the same way T-shirts and greeting cards - the decoration on these examples would be successful on any of these media.
Subject depicted
Cherries
Collection
Ceramics Collection
Accession number
C.223-1983

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Record createdJanuary 31, 2000
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O21570/christobal-mug-leonard-barbara/
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