Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
Ceramics, Room 139, The Curtain Foundation Gallery

Contrast

Soup Bowl and Cover
ca. 1975 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Soup bowl and cover of stoneware and with a brown body.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 2 parts.

  • Soup Bowl
  • Cover
TitleContrast (manufacturer's title)
Materials and techniques
Stoneware and glazed
Brief description
'Contrast' soup bowl and cover of stoneware with a brown body, of the Lancaster tableware range, designed by Martin Hunt, made by Hornsea Pottery Co. Ltd., Hornsea, ca. 1975.
Physical description
Soup bowl and cover of stoneware and with a brown body.
Credit line
Given by the maker
Historical context
The ware was promoted for its technical achievements: fully vitrified through high-firing: it was chip-resistant, oven, dishwasher and freezer-safe and the pebble-smooth finish did not mark. The rich chocolate brown colour is an industrial reference to the 'brown mug' aesthetic in studio pottery which was widely popular in the 1970s. The chunky shape with generous curves in the handle and lid, showing an Art Nouveau influence, are a witty contrast to the earnest brown clay body and the distinctive surface.

This was Martin Hunt's first design for Hornsea to win a Design Council Award. Hornsea was prepared to experiment technically to achieve better design results, something which set it apart from other manufacturers of this time. 'Contrast' was also the pottery's best-selling range for over twelve years.
Collection
Accession number
CIRC.61&A-1977

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Record createdNovember 11, 2008
Record URL
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