William De Morgan
De Morgan worked closely with some of the other historical figures of the Arts and Crafts movement such as William Morris and Burne-Jones and was a founder member of the Arts and Crafts Exhibition Society.
Initially de Morgan decorated blanks, using tiles from Holland and ceramic vessels from J.H. and J.Davis, Staffordshire and fired his pieces in a kiln constructed in his Family home in Fitzroy square, London (Circa 1869). In 1872 he moved to Chelsea where he also developed a retail outlet for his production and employed the service of the Passengers to assist in the decoration of the wares. In 1882 he moved again to Merton Abbey, London where his production of ‘in house’ pottery stopped his reliance on bought-in blanks.
As de Morgan’s technical expertise developed his range of glaze techniques multiplied and by 1888 when he moved to Sands End, Fulham he was consistently producing high quality double and triple lustre glazes.
De Morgan’s glazes were principally divided in two, the Persian ware in a Middle-Eastern palate and lustre glazes in single, double and triple colour ways. Designs were typically Arts and Crafts designs: animals, galleons, stylized floral motifs and mythical beasts and these were transposed to chargers, bowls, vases and tiles.
From 1882 with failing health, the production of the factory was left in the hands of the Passengers who continued to receive designs from de Morgan from his Florence home. De Morgan retired in 1907 but his inspiration continued under the stewardship of the Passengers who set up their own company “Bushey Heath” producing both Persian and lustre glazes from 1921 – 1933.
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Stock for sale
195
William De Morgan Ruby Lustre Lidded Jar decorated with 7 Fish and a starburst to the lid.
13cm high, 9cm wide
Tulip mark for 1888-97
Some wear to the rim (concealed with the lid in place)
194
William De Morgan Ruby Lustre Charger decorated with and Eagle and Snake design.
36cm wide, 5cm deep
Circa 1890
The charger has the typical stilt marks to the front, a couple of light scratches and a splatter of lustre paint
William de Morgan Alms Dish in a double lustre glaze. Unknown artist. Circa 1880 Several areas where the glaze did not adhere to the rim on firing
Dimensions
20.5cm wide, 2.5cm deep
Stock number
192
5658
William De Morgan Vase in a Persian Palate decorated with simple flower heads and stems
Glaze frits to rim and base
Circa 1890
16.5cm high
5655
William De Morgan 6” tile decorated with a Hoopoe on a sprigged and floral ground in a Green Colourway
15.2cm x 15.2cm
Rear marks obscured by plaster, Circa 1890
5654
William De Morgan 6” tile decorated with an Antelope on a sprigged ground in a Green colourway
Chip to top left corner
Plaster to reverse therefore no mark to date the tile, Circa 1890s
15.3cm x 15.3cm
5651
William de Morgan Double Lustre Tazza with a lightly scalloped rim decorated with Stylised Flowers and Foliage by Charles Passenger
ex Long Beach Museum exhibition
24cm wide, 10.5cm high
C1880s
5652
William De Morgan Dish in the Rare Moonlit Suite Triple Lustre Glaze depicting a Roaring Lion against a Sprigged Ground by Fred Passenger.
Minor glaze rubbing to the outer rim
Circa 1890
13cm wide, 5cm high
5630
William De Morgan Ruby Lustre Two Handled Vase in the Aesthetic Taste decorated with Daisies.
Likely to be potted in house
23cm high, 16cm wide
Circa 1870s
5626
William De Morgan Ruby Lustre Tile decorated with a Galleon on a choppy sea with fish, with a pilot and Sea Birds Overhead
Plaster to rear
1888 - 97 (likely on a Wedgwood Blank)
15.5cm
5628
William De Morgan Ruby Lustre Charger decorated with a Snake rising from a Vase surrounded by Sprigs and Berries
Glaze loss to rim and firing blisters to exterior rim
36cm wide
Circa 1890
5625
William De Morgan Ruby Lustre Tile decorated with a Galleon with 4 Sails on a Rollin Sea
Plaster to rear, scratch to the front
1888 - 97 (likely on a Wedgwood Blank)
15.5cm
5627
Fred Passenger for Bushey Heath.
A Vase decorated with Birds amongst Sprigs and Berries in a Copper Lustre Glaze
1921 - 33
24cm high, 13cm wide
5624
William De Morgan Ruby Lustre Tile decorated with a Galleon with 4 Sails at Sea with Sea Birds Overhead
Plaster to rear
1888 - 97 (likely on a Wedgwood Blank)
15.5cm
5629
Delightful Small Dish by Fred Passenger for Bushey Heath
Decorated in Lustrous glazes the scalloped bowl is decorated to the centre with a Sunflower and to the rim with Daisies
1921 - 1933
14cm wide, 5cm high
5623
William De Morgan Ruby Lustre Tile decorated with A turreted Galleon at Sea with Sea Birds Overhead
Plaster to rear
1888 - 97 (likely on a Wedgwood Blank)
15.5cm
5633
William De Morgan Triple Lustre Tile decorated with “Bird and Lizard” design
15.3cm x 15.3cm
1898
Provenance:
Purchased by the Earl of Balfour (UK Prime Minister 1902 - 1905) directly from William De Morgan, thence by descent
Light pitting to glaze
5631
Large William De Morgan Charger decorated with Grotesque Griffins and a floral border (Greenwood page 67 for the border design)
Invisible restoration to a rim chip
44cm wide
Circa 1890
5615
Large and Early William De Morgan Tile in the Double Carnation design
Various glaze misses from manufacture and irregularities.
There is a shallow scratch across one of the flowers and glaze nibbles to the edges
20.4 cm x 20.4cm
1882-8
5612
William De Morgan Tile decorated with a Parrot in a polychrome glaze
Nibbles to a corner and edge
20.3cm x 20.3cm
1882-88
5611
William De Morgan Tile Panel from Debenham House, Holland Park (architect Halsey Ricardo) comprising 6, 6” Persian inspired designed tiles.
Measuring 46cm x 30.5cm
Various markings to the backs, some 1898 and others 1888-97
Illustrated on page 255 of William Wiltshire’s book “The Designs of William De Morgan”
Small glaze frits to edges and remnants of cement
5607
William De Morgan Tile decorated with a Galleon in Full Sail In a Choppy Sea with Dolphins
Chips to 2 corners
Late Fulham 1898
15.3cm x 15.3cm
5606
William De Morgan Tile decorated with a Galleon at full sail on a choppy sea
Frits to top edge, chips to the rear
Merton Abbey Period 1882-1888
15.5cm x 15.5cm
5605
William De Morgan Tile Panel comprising 6 tiles in the “Mongolian” design
Each tile approx. 15.7 cm h x 15.7cm wide
Late Fulham Period 1898
5600
William De Morgan Ruby Lustre Tile decorated with an “Ornate Bird” design on a Wedgwood Blank
15.2cm x 15.2cm
Circa 1880s
5599
William De Morgan Ruby Lustre Tile decorated with an “ornate Bird” design on a Wedgwood Blank
15.4cm high, 15.4cm wide
Circa 1880s
5596
William De Morgan Ruby Lustre Tile decorated with the “Ornate Bird” design
Circa 1880s
15.3cm x 15.3cm
5584
William De Morgan Ruby Lustre Tile decorated with a Dodo.
15.2cm x 15.2cm
In a Contemporary Frame
Early Fulham Period 1888-97
5573
William De Morgan Tile in an unusual blue / green colourway depicting a Galleon in Full Sail on a Choppy Sea
Sands End Period Circa 1890
Not examined out of the frame, but seems to be in excellent condition save for the typical crazing
Tile measuring 15.3 cm, 19.5cm in the frame
196
Fred Passenger for Bushey Heath, a beautifully fired polychrome glaze decorated with Daisies and Tulips
20cm high, 14 cm wide
Circa 1920