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Vase
Crane, Walter - Enlarge image
Vase
- Place of origin:
Shropshire, England (made)
- Date:
1889 (designed)
1890-1901 (made) - Artist/Maker:
Crane, Walter (R.W.S.), born 1845 - died 1915 (designer)
Maw & Co. (manufacturer) - Materials and Techniques:
Earthenware, painted with lustred colours
- Museum number:
CIRC.313-1953
- Gallery location:
British Galleries, room 125g, case 8
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.
