Flat dish: C.54-2023

Current Location: In storage

Titles

Flat dish

Maker(s)

Pottery: William De Morgan & Co.

Entities

Tile

Description

Tin-glazed earthenware tile; slip-coated and decorated underglaze.

Flat dish or plate decorated in deep blue, turquoise, mulberry and green in variants of De Morgan’s carnation designs. At the centre a turquoise flower with green leaved on a cream ground, within a circle. Around this the surface divided into 10 segments, each with a flower on green leaved stem, white flower with blue centre on turquoise ground alternating with turquoise flower with mulberry centre on deep blue ground. Reverse decorated with four concentric bands, alternating deep blue and turquoise, on cram ground. Glazed both sides, slightly raised foot-rim.

Notes

History note: Lent by Rita Smythe

Legal notes

Bequeathed by Ian and Rita Smythe, 2023

Measurements and weight

Diameter: 20.7 cm
Height: 3 cm

Place(s) associated

Fulham ⪼ London ⪼ Engand

Acquisition and important dates

Method of acquisition: Bequeathed (2023) by Smythe, Ian and Rita

Dating

19th Century, Late#
Victoria I
Circa 1888 CE - 1898 CE

Note

Fred Passenger joined as a decorator, in 1879, two years after his brother Charles. With Frank Iles (kiln-master from c. 1873), they became De Morgan’s partners in 1889. When De Morgan closed his pottery in 1907, the three set up their own business in Brompton Road where, by agreement, they continued to use De Morgan’s designs until closing in 1911.

William Frend De Morgan (1839-1917), now widely regarded as the most important ceramicist of the Arts & Crafts movement, originally made his 'BBB' carnation design while at Chelsea (1872-91), for the Norwich firm Barnard, Bishop and Barnard, which made cast iron fire surrounds. It became one of the most popular designs. This dish, painted by Fred Passenger, was painted when the firm was based at SandsEnd, Fulham (1888-97) .