Ewer
1872 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This ewer was produced in 1872 by the English firm Minton & Co. Its style and decoration imitates fine French earthenware ceramics with detailed inlaid decoration known as either Saint Porchaire or Henri II wares that were produced for the French court around 1550.
During the 19th century, amid the burgeoning popularity of arts from the Medieval and Renaissance periods, these rare French ceramics became highly desirable collectors’ items. Earlier than this, in 1774, the renowned collector and gothic revivalist Horace Walpole is known to have had a Saint Porchaire ewer at his home in Strawberry Hill.
The original Saint Porchaire wares were amazing feats of labour and skill with intricate inlaid decoration, a complexity which doubtless contributed to their rarity. Over the centuries, these techniques had been lost.
It was Minton’s Art Director, Léon Arnoux, who rediscovered the techniques required to produce such complex inlaid decoration. He produced the first ‘Henri II’ wares in 1858, combining inlaid and painted decoration. Arnoux taught these techniques to Charles Toft Sr. and Minton continued to produce pieces in this style into the 1890s.
During the 19th century, amid the burgeoning popularity of arts from the Medieval and Renaissance periods, these rare French ceramics became highly desirable collectors’ items. Earlier than this, in 1774, the renowned collector and gothic revivalist Horace Walpole is known to have had a Saint Porchaire ewer at his home in Strawberry Hill.
The original Saint Porchaire wares were amazing feats of labour and skill with intricate inlaid decoration, a complexity which doubtless contributed to their rarity. Over the centuries, these techniques had been lost.
It was Minton’s Art Director, Léon Arnoux, who rediscovered the techniques required to produce such complex inlaid decoration. He produced the first ‘Henri II’ wares in 1858, combining inlaid and painted decoration. Arnoux taught these techniques to Charles Toft Sr. and Minton continued to produce pieces in this style into the 1890s.
Object details
| Category | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Earthenware, inlaid with a pattern of coloured clays. |
| Brief description | Henri Deux ware ewer, decorated with an inlaid pattern of coloured clays and applied mask and dragon. English, 1872. Designed by Charles Toft and made by Mintons. |
| Physical description | Earthenware ewer decorated with inlaid with coloured clays, an applied mask beneath the spout and a dragon on the handle. |
| Dimensions |
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| Credit line | Given by H. M. Commissioners for the Exhibition of 1851 |
| Object history | Historical significance: This Henri Deux or St. Porchaire ware ewer is an example of the revival of interest in the decorative arts of the Renaissance during the nineteenth century and of the remarkable rediscovery of a lost technology. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | This ewer was produced in 1872 by the English firm Minton & Co. Its style and decoration imitates fine French earthenware ceramics with detailed inlaid decoration known as either Saint Porchaire or Henri II wares that were produced for the French court around 1550. During the 19th century, amid the burgeoning popularity of arts from the Medieval and Renaissance periods, these rare French ceramics became highly desirable collectors’ items. Earlier than this, in 1774, the renowned collector and gothic revivalist Horace Walpole is known to have had a Saint Porchaire ewer at his home in Strawberry Hill. The original Saint Porchaire wares were amazing feats of labour and skill with intricate inlaid decoration, a complexity which doubtless contributed to their rarity. Over the centuries, these techniques had been lost. It was Minton’s Art Director, Léon Arnoux, who rediscovered the techniques required to produce such complex inlaid decoration. He produced the first ‘Henri II’ wares in 1858, combining inlaid and painted decoration. Arnoux taught these techniques to Charles Toft Sr. and Minton continued to produce pieces in this style into the 1890s. |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Other number | HMC.941 - H.M.C. Loan no. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | CIRC.834-1920 |
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| Record created | June 23, 1998 |
| Record URL |
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