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.
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 |
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| Marks and inscriptions |
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| Gallery label | 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.(27/03/2003) |
| 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 created | April 29, 2003 |
| Record URL |
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