On display

The Bluebird of Happiness

Bowl
1939-1940 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Omar Ramsden (1873-1939), who designed this bowl, called it "the Bluebird of Happiness". The name comes from the two small applied handles, each in the form of a bird emerging from two leafy branches.

As a young man Ramsden was an active and keen promoter of amateur dramatics and this design appears to have been influenced by a play called L'Oiseau bleu (The Blue Bird). It was the work of the Belgian writer Maurice Maeterlinck. He was one of the leading figures of the Symbolist movement and achieved great contemporary popularity with the play, which was first performed in 1908.

Object details

Category
Object type
TitleThe Bluebird of Happiness (assigned by artist)
Materials and techniques
Silver, raised, with applied cast handles
Brief description
Bowl, silver, London 1939-40, mark of Omar Ramsden
Physical description
Low, shaped body on circular foot with stepped moulding. Two handles each in the form of a bird emerging from two foliated branches, give the piece its name. The design presumably inspired by Maeterlinck.
Dimensions
  • Height: 6.5cm
  • Length: 19.0cm
  • Width: 14.0cm
Marks and inscriptions
  • Base: OMAR RAMSDEN ME FECIT, maker OR, sterling, leopard, date leter D (1939-40)
  • London hallmarks for 1939-1940
Gallery label
BOWL Bluebird of Happiness
London, 1939-40
Mark of Omar Ramdsen (1873-1939)
Inscribed: OMAR RAMSDEN ME FECIT
The handles, each in the form of a bird emerging from two foliated branches, give the piece its name. The design appears to have been influenced by Maeterlinck, the Belgian poetic dramatist and essayist and one of the leading figures of the Symbolist movement. He achieved great contemporary popularity with his play L'Oiseau Bleu (The Blue Bird) which was first performed in 1908. In his youth , Ramsden was an active and keen promoter of amateur dramatics,
John Thompson Bequest in memory of his wife, Adeline
M.37-1974
Credit line
Bequeathed by John Thompson, in memory of his wife Adeline
Object history
Acquisition RF: 74 / 2751
Bequest - John Thompson Esq. in memory of his wife Adeline

The handles, each in the form of a bird emerging from two foliated branches, give the piece its name. The design appears to have been influenced by Maeterlinck, the Belgian poetic dramatist and essayist and one of the leading figures in the Symbolist movement. He achieved great contemporary popularity with his play, L'Oiseau Bleu (The Blue Bird) which was first performed in 1908. In his youth, Ramsden was an active and keen promoter of amateur dramatics.
Historical context
This bowl was presented to the Museum by the executor of John Thompson, Dr. Keith Thompson, Mr. John Thompson's nephew and heir. Apart from this bequest to the Museum, Keith Thompson inherited a collection of Ramsden pieces. Adeline Thompson predeceased her husband by five months.
Subjects depicted
Summary
Omar Ramsden (1873-1939), who designed this bowl, called it "the Bluebird of Happiness". The name comes from the two small applied handles, each in the form of a bird emerging from two leafy branches.

As a young man Ramsden was an active and keen promoter of amateur dramatics and this design appears to have been influenced by a play called L'Oiseau bleu (The Blue Bird). It was the work of the Belgian writer Maurice Maeterlinck. He was one of the leading figures of the Symbolist movement and achieved great contemporary popularity with the play, which was first performed in 1908.
Bibliographic reference
Capiteyn, André, ed. L'Oiseau bleu, À la recherche du bonheur, Ghent, Kunsthal Sint-Pietersabdij, Snoeck, 2011. ISBN. 9789461610300.
Collection
Accession number
M.37-1974

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Record createdMarch 3, 2004
Record URL
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