Jug: C.1224-1928

Maker(s)

Pottery: Martin Brothers
Decorator: Martin, Edwin (Probably)

Entities

• Jug

Categories

• Stoneware
• Salt-glazed stoneware
• Art Pottery
• Martin ware

Description

Salt-glazed stoneware jug with incised and painted decoration.

Thrown and salt-glazed stoneware jug with oviform body and wide neck pinched into a lip in front. The sides of the body are flattened to form eight vertical ribs; the handle, applied between neck and lower body, is opposite the lip. Covered with cream slip and decorated with incisions and painting in blue, brown and buff to depict marine plants and sea-creatures in water. The rim and base are outlined in brown. The underside is slightly concave and mainly unglazed, with the makers' name and date 9-1890 incised in script.

Notes

History note: Martin Brothers shop in Brownlow Street, London, where bought in 1899 by Dr. J.W.L. Glaisher, FRS, Trinity College, Cambridge

Legal notes

Dr J.W.L. Glaisher Bequest

Place(s) associated

• Southall ⪼ Middlesex ⪼ England

Acquisition and important dates

Method of acquisition: Bequeathed (1928-12-07) by Glaisher, J. W. L., Dr

Dating

19th Century, Late#
Victorian
Production date: dated AD 1890

Note

Robert Wallace Martin (1843-24) and his brothers Walter (1857-1912) and Edwin (1860-1915) were amongst the first ‘artist-potters’ of the late nineteenth century. They designed, made and decorated their own ornamental salt-glazed stoneware, originally using facilities at C.J.C.Bailey’s Fulham Pottery and, briefly, at Shepherd’s Bush. In 1877, they opened their own pottery at Southall, Middlesex, and by 1882 were producing some 5,000 pieces a year. Wallace had originally trained as a sculptor, exhibiting his work at the Royal Academy and elsewhere from c.1863. His younger brothers had learned their skills at Doulton’s, Walter as a thrower and chemist, Edwin as a decorator. Modelled work is generally attributed to Wallace, but otherwise it is thought that the three learned from each other, exchanging skills and sharing roles. A fourth brother, Charles (1846-1910), sold the products – known as ‘Martin-ware’ – from a shop at Brownlow Street, London.

This is one of a number of examples of Martin Brothers’ vases and jugs decorated with an all-over pattern of marine life, which were inspired by Japanese work. The decoration is generally thought to be by Edwin Martin, though Malcom Haslam suggests that Walter E Willy, who worked for the Martins until 1899, may have originally drawn the fish with comical faces (Haslam, 1978,p.71).

School or Style

Art Pottery