Irises dish: C.48-2023

Titles

Irises dish

Maker(s)

Factory: Burmantofts Pottery
Factory: Leeds Fireclay Company (Burmantofts)
Decorator: King, Leonard

Entities

• Dish
• Wall plaque

Categories

• Earthenware
• Art Pottery

Description

Buff earthenware, decorated in blue, green, brown and turquoise with flag irises

Large, almost flat circular earthenware dish raised on a foot-rim which has three holes for hanging the dish (wire attached) . Decorated over the upper surface with a moulded and incised design of large pale turquoise flag irises with green and brown leaves, set on a deep blue ground and surrounded by a border of brown scrolls on stippled turquoise ground. The deep blue rim continues over the back to the outside of the foot-rim. Clear glazed inside foot-rim.

Notes

History note: Lent by Rita Smythe

Legal notes

Bequeathed by Ian and Rita Smythe, 2023

Place(s) associated

• Leeds (Yorks.) ⪼ Yorkshire ⪼ England

Acquisition and important dates

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

Dating

19th Century, Late-20th Century, Early#
Circa 1887 CE - Circa 1904 CE

Note

Burmantofts introduced decorative faience products alongside existing brick and pipe products from c.1879, initially using bright metallic-compound glazes over high fired buff earthenware on architectural wares, jardinières and vases. Later, more ambitious glazes, sgraffito decoration and ornate designs were adopted. Many workers came from the Linthorpe Pottery, which closed in 1889, often producing similar styles. V. Kremer and B. Sicard, two French ceramicists trained by Palissy revivalists, joined c.1881 and introduced applied decorations. In 1887 they launched Anglo Persian designs, which used similar colours to those on this plate.

The Burmantofts name continued on ornamental wares after merger with the Leeds Fireclay Company in 1889 and the decorated products sold well until the early 1900s, but production of art pottery ceased in 1904. Burmantofts continued to produce architectural wares until the 1950s.

School or Style

Art Pottery