Tag Archives: william de morgan

William de Morgan is perhaps one of the most influential potters to emerge out of the Arts & Crafts movement. A close friend of William Morris, many of De Morgan’s artistic principles were influenced by Morris’s philosophy. Born in 1839 to a liberal family, De Morgan’s parents never quelled his early artistic talents. His father, Augustus de Morgan, was a professor of Mathematics and his mother was an early suffragette. Life and Work Before De Morgan began his venture into pottery, he was inspired by his friendship with William Morris to experiment with stained glass. During this period, stained glass was in the midst of a renaissance with many Pre-Raphaelite artists looking to glass as a new medium to express their artistic pursuits. However, by 1872, De Morgan fully immersed himself in ceramics. Some of his designs from his early years were incredibly successful, with one design in particular ‘Bedford Park Daisy’ being produced for over 20 years. In 1888, due to sickness, De Morgan moved his workshop to Fulham, West London. His work from this time, known as the ‘Fulham Period’, is considered to be some of his most ambitious. A portrait of him shows him holding an impressive vase from this time. Our tiles, lot 53, are also from this period. A defining feature of his work is his preoccupation with Middle Eastern and Persian motifs. He looked to Eastern tiles for inspiration in theme, subject matter, colour, and glazing. In 1875 he began to work with what he understood to be a ‘Persian’ colour palette, limiting himself to reds, blues, purples, greens, and yellows. Despite his posthumous success, during his life his pottery never quite gained traction. In fact, it is reported that he once said “All my life I have been trying to make beautiful things, and now that I can make them nobody wants them”. His wife, the incredibly impressive Pre-Raphaelite artist; Evelyn de Morgan, supported William through financial difficulties until 1907 when he decided to leave pottery. As sad as this story sounds, his work is now widely collected, and he is acknowledged as one of the most enduring decorative artists of the late 19th century. After he left pottery, he turned in hand to writing. Surprisingly, despite his ceramics not garnering much success, his written works did. His 4 novels were sensations in both the UK and the US. Both Evelyn and William are remembered for their intense love for each other and their work. William de Morgan at Auction In our upcoming Antiques, Fine Art & Collectable auction we have a William de Morgan panel. What is so special about lot 53 is the fact there are two tiles, forming a continuous pattern. This is typical of De Morgan, however, it is quite rare to find two matching tiles together for sale today. As such, this lot presents an exciting opportunity for any budding collector or lover of the Arts & Crafts movement. These tiles are emblematic of De Morgan’s work: sinuous leaves in vibrant colours reminiscent of his Persian-inspired style, luminous blues, manganese purples, and greens. Lot 53 William de Morgan two tile panel Price Realised: £273.00 Valuations Our valuations are free, with no obligation to sell with us. Our experts will value your item with an estimate, so you can find out what it could achieve at auction. The process is simple. You can fill in a form online or book an appointment to visit either of our offices in Birmingham or London. Virtual valuation appointments are also available. Find what you’re looking for Make sure you don’t miss finding that special something by signing up to our email alerts. You’ll be the first to know when catalogues become available, receive invitations to special events and preview the hottest lots from our auctions, plus much more. Why not use our free personal shopping service? Sign up for lot alerts and tell us exactly what you are looking for. Each time we upload a catalogue, we search for your keywords and email you lots matching your interests. Your personalised email will include images, lot descriptions and auction details. Cordelia Porter | Research Coordinator