Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
Ceramics, Room 137, The Curtain Foundation Gallery

Plate

1878 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Heimberg is a village near Thun in the Simmenthal area of the Canton of Berne, Switzerland. The names of some potters are known from 1730 and a recognisable local decorative style had developed by 1775. Typical ground colours used were reddish-brown, light brown, and later chocolate brown and black. Brightly coloured motifs showed up well in contrast. About eighty potteries were by 1850 meeting increased tourist demand for traditional souvenirs. The retailer Schoch-Läderich commissioned five Heimberg potters to produce wares for display at the Paris International Exhibition of 1878. Wares in this distinct art pottery style became known as 'Paris Ware' or 'Paris Majolika' in reference to the 1878 Exhibition. After the Exhibition, potteries throughout the Thun district produced wares in this style, many featuring the pansy and edelweiss and these became known generically as 'Thuner Majolika'.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Earthenware with slip decoration and incised
Brief description
Plate of arthenware covered with a brown slip and painted in colours with floral ornament. Sold by Schoch-Läderach. Swiss (Thun), about 1878.
Physical description
Earthenware decorated with coloured slips and incised.
Dimensions
  • Diameter: 29.6cm (Note: checked dimensions March 2016)
  • Height: 2.4cm (Note: measured)
Gallery label
Plate covered with a brown slip and painted, sold by Schoch-Läderach, Switzerland (Thoune), about 1878. 714-1878(2010 (TAB))
Credit line
Bought
Object history
Purchased from E. Schoch-Laederach for 12s.
Historical context
Thoune (French; Thun, German) is a district in Canton Berne in Switzerland. Many potteries were operating in this district in the 19th century and continue today. Heimberg is one town in this district. Pottery of the type of this plateau was formerly known as 'Heimberg' but is now referred to as 'Thoune pottery'.
Production
Made in the Thoune (Thun) district in Switzerland.
Subject depicted
Summary
Heimberg is a village near Thun in the Simmenthal area of the Canton of Berne, Switzerland. The names of some potters are known from 1730 and a recognisable local decorative style had developed by 1775. Typical ground colours used were reddish-brown, light brown, and later chocolate brown and black. Brightly coloured motifs showed up well in contrast. About eighty potteries were by 1850 meeting increased tourist demand for traditional souvenirs. The retailer Schoch-Läderich commissioned five Heimberg potters to produce wares for display at the Paris International Exhibition of 1878. Wares in this distinct art pottery style became known as 'Paris Ware' or 'Paris Majolika' in reference to the 1878 Exhibition. After the Exhibition, potteries throughout the Thun district produced wares in this style, many featuring the pansy and edelweiss and these became known generically as 'Thuner Majolika'.
Collection
Accession number
714-1878

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Record createdJune 24, 2009
Record URL
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