Porcelain plate, 'Four Seasons: Summer' pattern, designed by Lucienne Day, made by Rosenthal, porcelain printed in pink enamel, designed 1958.

Porcelain plate, shape designed by Rosenthal, 'Four Seasons: Summer' pattern designed by Lucienne Day. Covered with a white glaze, then pink enamel decoration is overlaid with a stylised linear pattern. The back of the plate is glazed white.

Given by The Robin and Lucienne Day Foundation

Lucienne Day began designing for Rosenthal after meeting with the director Philip Rosenthal and Seibert Göppinger, director of Göppinger Kaliko-und Kunstlerderwerke GmbH, which made printed plastic fabrics, in 1957. Simplicity of design was essential, some in outline, others overlaid with panes of pattern, or mottled effects. Lucienne Day's relationship with Göppinger was short lived, but she continued to work with Rosenthal for twelve years.
Luicienne Day's earlier patterns for Rosenthal were all overtly experimental. However, from a technical point of view, some of her designs proved difficult to execute, therefore her later production designs became simpler in concept, with central motifs abandoned in favour of patterned bands or borders.

The Four Seasons design was Day's most ambitious and complex design, showcased at her solo exhibition at Heal's in 1958, but not manufactured until 1959. Four Season's consisted of four colour-coded patterns of stylised linear designs. They were originally conceived in white on a coloured background, but due to concerns about the acid-resistance of the enamels, the designs were printed in reverse.

C.134-2012