Dec
22
Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas and a very happy new year to all my readers, friends and contacts
Nov
7
life, one pot at a time... Susie Cooper 1933
Today I found this stunning Susie Cooper studio ware vase at a local market and had to have it....
Oct
19
life, one pot at a time... 1934 Art in Industry exhibition
In 1934 Harrods store in London held a selling exhibition entitled 'Modern Art for the Table'. It was part of a Government campaign of the early 1930s to encourage leading artists to produce designs for industry, with the hope of improving ceramic and glass design. It was a ground breaking collaboration between the artistic community and the decorative arts industry.
Clarice Cliff was appointed the Art Director and twenty-eight artists and designers were invited to submit their designs.
Clarice Cliff was appointed the Art Director and twenty-eight artists and designers were invited to submit their designs.
Jun
15
a little more.... Dorothy Wellesley's dining room
My original post about the dining room designed by Duncan Grant and Vanessa Bell for Dorothy Wellesley in 1930 appeared in an earlier blog post (April 2011 - link below).
http://itstartedwithajug.blogspot.com/2011/04/dorothy-wellesleys-dining-room-1930.html
I bought the chairs that were originally in the scheme a couple of years ago and have been searching for information and further images (up to that point I had only seen the two that originally appeared in Studio Magazine in 1930).
http://itstartedwithajug.blogspot.com/2011/04/dorothy-wellesleys-dining-room-1930.html
I bought the chairs that were originally in the scheme a couple of years ago and have been searching for information and further images (up to that point I had only seen the two that originally appeared in Studio Magazine in 1930).
Apr
20
Little known painters....Cissie Kean
Born in London in 1871 to a wealthy family of German coffee merchants, Cissie Kean - one of six children - was certainly not destined to become a painter. Although her interest in painting was established at an early age, her family did not however think that a career as a painter would be compatible with her social background.
After being crippled as a young adult in circumstances that have never become quite clear, the strong willed Cissie decided to dedicate her life to painting.
After being crippled as a young adult in circumstances that have never become quite clear, the strong willed Cissie decided to dedicate her life to painting.
Apr
13
Dorothy Wellesley's Dining Room 1930...
Decorated by Duncan Grant and Vanessa Bell in 1930
Duncan Grant and Vanessa Bell carried on their decorative work through the twenties, developing and in many ways drawing on their earlier Omega experience. The Omega Workshops, which had been set up to to execute the group's designs had been closed in 1919 but the Omega spirit continued to flourish.
Duncan Grant and Vanessa Bell carried on their decorative work through the twenties, developing and in many ways drawing on their earlier Omega experience. The Omega Workshops, which had been set up to to execute the group's designs had been closed in 1919 but the Omega spirit continued to flourish.
Mar
31
life, one pot at a time... Quentin Bell
I possess a number of pieces by Quentin bell... platters of various shapes and sizes, plates, mugs, bowls and dishes both large and small, cups and saucers, vases, lampshades, a teapot and various drawings of levitating ladies. My favourite is usually what i am handling at the time; at breakfast it is a mug (the first piece is ever bought)... at night it is the hand painted lampshade that covers the funny Italian lamp base in the dining room...
Mar
6
life, one pot at a time... Omega Workshops Pottery
‘So the Omega Workshops closed down. The shades of the Post-Impressionists have gone to join the other shades; no trace of them is now to be seen in Fitzroy Square. The giant ladies have been dismounted from the doorway and the rooms have other occupants. But some of the things he made still remain – a painted table; a witty chair; a dinner service; a bowl or two of that turquoise blue that the man from the British Museum so much admired.
Mar
2
Little known painters.... Mildred Bendall
As is so often the case, I happen to be in the right place at the right time. I bought this painting in 2009 from a French Auction house that I found quite by chance. I bought the picture without knowing anything of the artist - it is a show-stopper of a painting and probably the piece I would grab, above all others, if the house caught on fire!
Mildred Bendall approached painting as meditation, much in the spirit of making artistic progress rather than achieving fame or commercial success.
Mildred Bendall approached painting as meditation, much in the spirit of making artistic progress rather than achieving fame or commercial success.
