Plate

1875 (designed), 1875 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Object Type
This plate is of standard shape (no. 1911), but the ornament is Dresser's. Minton's were one the largest and most forward-looking of Victorian ceramic manufacturers. As with all factories, by far the largest proportion of their production was of tablewares such as these, the profits from which made up for the losses generally incurred by art production.

Time
Minton's had a well-established customer base which they depended on to buy new tablewares regularly. This smart design of 1875 incorporates a number of fashionable features that an 1870s art-conscious clientele would recognise. It was made in Minton's bone china and would have been more expensive than earthenware production. It was therefore designed to appeal to middle- and upper-class diners. Minton's 'cloisonn‚' wares attracted enthusiastic reviews at the Philadelphia Centennial of 1876.

Design & Designing
The relatively high temperature required to fire bone china also allows for crisp decoration, here skilfully applied by Minton's workforce. On this tableware fashionable Japanese and Chinese-style ornament is printed and painted in imitation of 'cloisonné' metalwork. This ornament mimics both the technique of coloured enamel enclosed within brass-wire outlines and the vivid blue and other colours typical of the originals. Dresser has combined a repeating diaper pattern with his own stylised flower forms.

Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Bone china, thrown and turned, with overglaze enamel colours and gilt, relief-etched
Brief description
Plate
Dimensions
  • Diameter: 16.4cm
  • Base diameter: 8.6cm
Dimensions checked: Measured; 18/12/1998 by tb
Marks and inscriptions
  • Red enamel marks (incorporating pattern number)
  • 'V' (inside footrim)
  • 'MINTONS' (impressed)
  • 'Y' (Makers marks)
Gallery label
(27/03/2003)
British Galleries:
Dresser produced designs for Minton & Co. over a period of about 30 years. Many examples like these are based on a Chinese metalwork technique called 'cloisonn‚'. The ornamental patterns show the influence of the designer and writer, Owen Jones, whom Dresser met when he was a student.
Object history
Designed by Christopher Dresser (born in Glasgow, 1834, died in Mulhouse, France, 1904); made by Minton & Co., Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire
Summary
Object Type
This plate is of standard shape (no. 1911), but the ornament is Dresser's. Minton's were one the largest and most forward-looking of Victorian ceramic manufacturers. As with all factories, by far the largest proportion of their production was of tablewares such as these, the profits from which made up for the losses generally incurred by art production.

Time
Minton's had a well-established customer base which they depended on to buy new tablewares regularly. This smart design of 1875 incorporates a number of fashionable features that an 1870s art-conscious clientele would recognise. It was made in Minton's bone china and would have been more expensive than earthenware production. It was therefore designed to appeal to middle- and upper-class diners. Minton's 'cloisonn‚' wares attracted enthusiastic reviews at the Philadelphia Centennial of 1876.

Design & Designing
The relatively high temperature required to fire bone china also allows for crisp decoration, here skilfully applied by Minton's workforce. On this tableware fashionable Japanese and Chinese-style ornament is printed and painted in imitation of 'cloisonné' metalwork. This ornament mimics both the technique of coloured enamel enclosed within brass-wire outlines and the vivid blue and other colours typical of the originals. Dresser has combined a repeating diaper pattern with his own stylised flower forms.
Collection
Accession number
C.177B-1986

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Record createdApril 29, 2003
Record URL
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