Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
British Galleries, Room 125, Edwin and Susan Davies Gallery

Vase

1874 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Object Type
Doulton's commercial production was of salt-glazed utilitarian wares, which were strong and waterproof. Their art ware production, begun in the early 1860s, capitalised on this technical expertise. The artwares, such as this vase, were made on the back of the utilitarian ware using the same material but more decoratively. Doulton was among the first to rediscover the qualities which made stoneware appropriate for art wares. Although perfectly functional as a water-container, stoneware's strength and ability to retain a crisp decorative outline recommended it to collectors in Britain and abroad.

People
Hannah Barlow was one of a family of decorators. She studied at Lambeth School of Art and joined Doulton's art studio nearby in 1871, her brother Arthur and sisters Florence and Lucy joining her thereafter. She was the first female artist to work there. She specialised in incised decoration of countryside subjects of farmhands, and animals in a fresh and natural manner, almost as though she was using the clay as a sketchbook.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Salt-glazed stoneware with incised decoration
Brief description
Vase, stoneware, incised decoration, designed and decorated by Hannah Barlow, probably assisted by Miss Middlemiss, made by Doulton Lambeth, England, 1874
Dimensions
  • Height: 22.3cm
  • Width: 12.4cm
Dimensions checked: Measured; by KL
Marks and inscriptions
Impressed marks on the base: DOULTON/1874/LAMBETH; incised monograms: Mi (probably for Miss Middlemiss) ; BHB (for Hannah Barlow); 202; painted mark: 352
Gallery label
  • British Galleries: Doulton & Co. was an established London pottery renowned for industrial, sanitary and domestic stoneware. The 1860s heralded a new phase of artistic production for the pottery. A working relationship developed with the local Lambeth School of Art. Hannah Barlow was the first of a number of talented women decorators who were employed by the firm.(27/03/2003)
  • Vase made by Doulton & Co., Lambeth Art Pottery, London, England, 352-1874 Given by Messrs Doulton & Watts(23/05/2008)
Object history
Made at Doulton & Co, Lambeth Art Pottery, Lambeth, London; decorated by Hannah Barlow (born in Little Hadam, Hertfordshire,1851, died in London, 1916) ; probably assisted by Senior Assistant, Miss Middlemiss
Summary
Object Type
Doulton's commercial production was of salt-glazed utilitarian wares, which were strong and waterproof. Their art ware production, begun in the early 1860s, capitalised on this technical expertise. The artwares, such as this vase, were made on the back of the utilitarian ware using the same material but more decoratively. Doulton was among the first to rediscover the qualities which made stoneware appropriate for art wares. Although perfectly functional as a water-container, stoneware's strength and ability to retain a crisp decorative outline recommended it to collectors in Britain and abroad.

People
Hannah Barlow was one of a family of decorators. She studied at Lambeth School of Art and joined Doulton's art studio nearby in 1871, her brother Arthur and sisters Florence and Lucy joining her thereafter. She was the first female artist to work there. She specialised in incised decoration of countryside subjects of farmhands, and animals in a fresh and natural manner, almost as though she was using the clay as a sketchbook.
Collection
Accession number
352-1874

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Record createdMarch 27, 2003
Record URL
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