Four quasi heraldic ship tiles plus The Galleon Tile Panel by William de Morgan. William Frend De Morgan (16 November 1839 – 15 January 1917) was an English potter and tile designer. A lifelong friend of William Morris, he designed tiles, stained glass and furniture for Morris & Co. from 1863 to 1872. His tiles are often based on medieval designs or Persian patterns, and he experimented with innovative glazes and firing techniques. Galleons and fish were popular motifs, as were fantastical birds and other animals. Many of De Morgans tile designs were planned to create intricate patterns when several tiles were laid together. Measuring 2ft by 5ft, the panel consist of 40, 6 inch square tiles and represents a colourful and exotic scene of sailing ships, birds and sea creatures - all favourite De Morgan motifs. The design of the galleon panel was originally created for De Morgan’s commissions with P&O. Between 1882 and 1900, De Morgan was asked to design schemes and provide tiles for twelve P&O liners. By the 1880s steamships had become a popular and luxurious way to travel. The main shipping companies employed specialist architects and designers to create a sense of sumptuousness and style on these floating hotels. P&O was no exception, employing architects such as J.J. Stevenson and T.E. Collcutt (eminent Arts and Crafts architect, with credits including the Lloyds Register of Shipping and Imperial College) to design the interior public spaces. Thus, it comes as no surprise that the leading designers and craftspeople of the day were also commissioned to provide decoration for these luxurious ‘homes from homes’. Courtesy: The de Morgan Foundation
Posted on: Wed, 19 Nov 2014 08:07:04 +0000
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