Vase thumbnail 1
Vase thumbnail 2
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Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
British Galleries, Room 125, Edwin and Susan Davies Gallery

Vase

1889 (designed), 1890-1901 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Object Type
This vase is more a sculpture than a practical flower holder and is decorated with Maw's lustred red glaze which was developed for tile painting.The Shropshire pottery, Maw & Co.of Jackfield, is best known for tiles and moulded, architectural ceramics of which it was one of the world's largest producers. This vase was made in the same factory, under the same industrial conditions.

Design & Designing
Walter Crane (1845-1915) trained as a wood-engraver and worked as a painter and illustrator. He designed tile patterns for Maw from 1874 and was commissioned to design a series of vases in about 1889. These demonstrate Crane's interest in all historical forms and decoration, especially those of classical antiquity and of the Islamic world. This swan-shaped vase has powerfully-designed painted decoration with Neo-classical overtones typical of Crane's graphic work. His monogram is equally decorative, incorporating a standing crane. Crane also designed tiles and decorative wares for Pilkington and Wedgwood.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Earthenware, painted with lustred colours
Brief description
Vase in the form of a swan, with lustre decoration. English, designed ca.1889 by Walter Crane and manufactured by Maw & Co.
Physical description
The body is in the form of a swan.
Dimensions
  • Height: 22.6cm
  • Width: 24cm
Dimensions from Registered Description (should be checked). Dimensions checked: Measured; 04/01/1999 by sf
Style
Gallery label
  • British Galleries: Walter Crane first started designing tiles for the manufacturer, Maw & Co., in 1874 and worked with their art pottery studio. This vase is highly unusual both in its shape and decoration. Like many Arts and Crafts designers, Crane was prepared to step outside the usual bounds of conventional form and manufacture to achieve new effects.(27/03/2003)
  • Vase made by Maw & Co. (Ltd), Benthall Works, Jackfield, Shropshire, England, Circ.313-1953(23/05/2008)
Object history
Designed by Walter Crane (born in Liverpool, 1845, died in Horsham, West Sussex, 1915); made by Maw & Co., Jackfield, Shropshire
Subjects depicted
Summary
Object Type
This vase is more a sculpture than a practical flower holder and is decorated with Maw's lustred red glaze which was developed for tile painting.The Shropshire pottery, Maw & Co.of Jackfield, is best known for tiles and moulded, architectural ceramics of which it was one of the world's largest producers. This vase was made in the same factory, under the same industrial conditions.

Design & Designing
Walter Crane (1845-1915) trained as a wood-engraver and worked as a painter and illustrator. He designed tile patterns for Maw from 1874 and was commissioned to design a series of vases in about 1889. These demonstrate Crane's interest in all historical forms and decoration, especially those of classical antiquity and of the Islamic world. This swan-shaped vase has powerfully-designed painted decoration with Neo-classical overtones typical of Crane's graphic work. His monogram is equally decorative, incorporating a standing crane. Crane also designed tiles and decorative wares for Pilkington and Wedgwood.
Bibliographic references
  • Greenhalgh, Paul (Ed.), Art Nouveau: 1890-1914 . London: V&A Publications, 2000
  • Lovett, Gina.The Perfect Place to Grow: 175 Years of the Royal College of Art. London: Royal College of Art, 2012. ISBN978-1-907342-51-6
  • Jervis, Simon, Victorian and Edwardian decorative art: the Handley-Read collection, London, Royal Academy of Arts, 1972
Collection
Accession number
CIRC.313-1953

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Record createdJune 22, 1998
Record URL
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