Pierrot

Physical description

White earthenware tea plate, rimless with notched edge. Decorated overall with hatched circles in black, some coloured yellow, purple or green, underglaze printed.

Place of Origin

Fenton, England (manufactured)

Date

ca. 1955- ca. 1960 (manufactured)

Artist/maker

James Broadhurst & Sons Ltd. (manufacturer)

Materials and Techniques

Earthenware with underglaze printed decoration

Marks and inscriptions

'J. B. & S. / "Pierrot" / England' with a Pierrot's hat

Dimensions

Diameter: 16.6 cm, Height: 1.6 cm

Historical context note

Plate is representative of the consumer demand for Contemporary tableware and consequent boom in the production of these goods in post-war Britiain. Bright simple decoration is a predictable reaction to the austerity of the wares enforced by government regulations until 1948. In order to speed up production, manufacturers used stencil patterns and air-brushing techniques. This decoration would most likely have only been used for tea sets: the loud colours and patterns would have been considered too strong for formal dining.
[Susan McCormack, 'British Design at Home', p.143]

Descriptive line

'Pierrot' pattern plate, earthenware with underglaze printed decoration, made by James Broadhurst & Sons Ltd., England, ca. 1955-1960.

Bibliographic References (Citation, Note/Abstract, NAL no)

Walker, Susannah. Contemporary/Moderne: British Mass-produced Tableware of the 1950s. Thesis (M.A.) - V&A/RCA Course in the History of Design, 1990.

Exhibition History

British Design at Home (Japan 01/04/1994-30/09/1994)

Materials

Earthenware

Techniques

Printed; Underglazed

Categories

Ceramics; Earthenware

Collection code

CER