Vase with cover 1888 - 1898

This lidded vase was made by William De Morgan, who was a key figure in the Arts and Crafts movement in late 19th-century Britain. He produced it using earthenware clay, decorated with a red lustre glaze. De Morgan wasn’t interested in the latest industrial methods; he revived earlier techniques, such as lustreware, which involves applying metallic pigments that give the surface an iridescent sheen. The lustre effect here is beautiful, catching the light and animating the stylized animal forms that encircle the vase. De Morgan designed these patterns, but he also employed skilled workers in his London factory, reflecting the complex social dynamics of craft production at the time. His work challenges any easy distinction between art and design. He fully embraced the decorative, and produced objects that were both functional and visually arresting. The meticulous processes he deployed imbue this vase with a sense of quality and care, a direct challenge to the perceived alienation of industrial production.