Fluted vase: C.120-2015

Titles

Fluted vase

Maker(s)

Factory: Wedgwood
Designer: Wilson, Norman

Entities

• Vase

Categories

• Earthenware
• Red earthenware
• Unique Ware

Description

Red earthenware, thrown and fluted, partly slip coated and glazed inside and out.

Vase, semi ovoid shape with flattened shoulder and narrow, slightly flared neck. Parallel flutings run from the base to just before the neck, which bears a band of small relief dots. The outside is coated with off-white slip, rubbed off to expose the red clay on the edges of the flutings and the neck dots, and clear glazed. The interior is fully glazed in blue-black. The underside has a foot-rim, within which it is slightly concave, slip coated and glazed.

Notes

History note: Unknown before Sir Ivor and Lady Batchelor, St Andrew's, Fife. On loan since 2006.

Legal notes

Given by Sir Ivor and Lady Batchelor

Place(s) associated

• Barlaston ⪼ Staffordshire ⪼ England

Acquisition and important dates

Method of acquisition: Bequeathed (2015-04-27) by Batchelor, Ivor, Sir and Lady

Dating

20th Century, third quarter#
Elizabeth II
Circa 1960 CE - Probably 1963 CE

Note

Norman Wilson (1902-85) learned his trade working in his father’s china works while studying at North Staffordshire technical College, where he won a silver medal and, later, lectured. He joined Wedgwood as Works Manager in 1927, and became joint Managing Director a few years before his retirement in 1963. His main contribution was in the technical modernisation of the factory, but he also created a number of decorative glazes (including the matt glazes used by Keith Murray and John Skeaping) and contributed to the design of successful tableware series.

Wilson was inspired by Chinese ceramics, particularly those of the Sung Dynasty potters (960-1279 AD) which favour elegant shapes and rich glazes. His ‘Unique Wares’ feature a wide variety of forms and experimental glazes, sometimes using several glazes on a single pot. His interest seems to have been mainly in design and chemistry and the finished vase or bowl was often thrown and glazed by others. This shape is number 5101, which suggests a late date.