Jar
1898-1899 (made)
Artist/Maker | |
Place of origin |
William Henry Grueby (1867-1925) began his career working for a brickworks in Boston. As the company's representative he visited the Chicago Exposition, 1893, where he met other potters and saw the work of French ceramicists. Auguste Delaherche became a major influence. In 1894 he set up the Grueby Faience Co. to continue production of bricks, tiles etc but also to begin making pottery. George Prentiss Kendrick, already well-known as a designer in metal wares, was designer to the pottery until 1901. Grueby's production was an instant success and gold and silver medals were awarded at the international exhibtion, Paris, 1900. By then, their wares were sold by the influential Samuel (Siegfried) Bing at his celebrated shop L'Art Nouveau in Paris, from where the Museum purchased two examples. The clay used in the architectural faience production was also used for the pottery. The basic form was thrown and the raised leaves and flowers were applied in thin rolls of clay, arranged and worked by hand. Most modelling and decoration was done by the women students from Boston's Museum of Fine Arts and other schools. Grueby developed a range of matt glazes of which the green of this vase (known as Grueby Green) was the most successful and the most imitated.
Object details
Categories | |
Object type | |
Materials and techniques | Stoneware, with a semi-matt glaze |
Brief description | Stoneware jar with semi-matt glaze made by William H Grueby, Boston; 1898-1899. |
Physical description | Stoneware jar with semi-matt green glaze |
Dimensions |
|
Style | |
Marks and inscriptions | 'Grueby Faience Co.Boston USA' around a lotus flower, within a circle, impressed and paper label. A cross and 'W.P' incised; South Kensington Museum paper label ('W.P' possibly the monogram of Wilhelmina Post) |
Gallery label | VASE
1685-1900
'American and European Art and Design 1800-1900'
Trained at a tileworks Grueby established his independent Grueby Faience Company in 1894. At the Chicago1893 Exhibition he saw the high temperature flambé glazes developed by the important French potters, Chaplet and Delaherche, and, under their influence, he developed the matt glazes on which he built his reputation. This vase, bought from Siegfried Bing's shop, L'Art Nouveau, features the famous 'Grueby green'. Its ribbed leaf forms are strongly influenced by Delaherche. Grueby won many prizes at international exhibitions in Paris, St. Petersburg, Turin and St. Louis.(1987-2006) |
Object history | Purchased from Samuel (Siegfried) Bing's shop Historical significance: Purchased from Samuel (Siegfried) Bing's shop |
Summary | William Henry Grueby (1867-1925) began his career working for a brickworks in Boston. As the company's representative he visited the Chicago Exposition, 1893, where he met other potters and saw the work of French ceramicists. Auguste Delaherche became a major influence. In 1894 he set up the Grueby Faience Co. to continue production of bricks, tiles etc but also to begin making pottery. George Prentiss Kendrick, already well-known as a designer in metal wares, was designer to the pottery until 1901. Grueby's production was an instant success and gold and silver medals were awarded at the international exhibtion, Paris, 1900. By then, their wares were sold by the influential Samuel (Siegfried) Bing at his celebrated shop L'Art Nouveau in Paris, from where the Museum purchased two examples. The clay used in the architectural faience production was also used for the pottery. The basic form was thrown and the raised leaves and flowers were applied in thin rolls of clay, arranged and worked by hand. Most modelling and decoration was done by the women students from Boston's Museum of Fine Arts and other schools. Grueby developed a range of matt glazes of which the green of this vase (known as Grueby Green) was the most successful and the most imitated. |
Bibliographic references |
|
Collection | |
Accession number | 1685-1900 |
About this object record
Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
Record created | June 11, 2003 |
Record URL |
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest