wall tile

William Frend de Morgan 1839 - 1917

Summary

Twelve plastic-bodied coarse earthenware tiles forming a pictorial panel of two 8" square tiles with a border of four 2" square tiles and six rectangular tiles. The design is transferr printed underglaze in 'Persian' colours: blue, turquoise, purple, green and black on a white background. The border design shows Syrian or Turkish (Iznik) influence, and consists of scrolling flowers and foliage, with single flowers in the corners. The central scene depicts two pseudo-medieval galleons in battle, the ship on the right firing its cannons broadside at the ship on the left. Both ships fly pennants from their mastheads and sails with heraldic motifs (eagles and lions). Sailors stand on deck, some aiming muskets. Birds fly in the sky on the right, where the sun is setting with long flame-like rays.

Display Label

Tile panel Designed by William de Morgan about 1882-1888 Earthenware, hand-transfer printed decoration This tile panel illustrates some of the exotic influences which characterised design in the late 1880s. De Morgan was greatly influenced by Islamic design, and his different use of colours and motifs echoes some of the Indian objects also on display. The large Indian plate displaying a ship in full sail is a possible source of inspiration for this panel. Horsfall was keen to display contemporary objects, which were considered to be of good design as well as being suitable for the ordinary home. Decorative tiles were all the rage by the 1880s, and de Morgan tiles became highly sought after. Cheaper imitations were made for a wider market. Transferred from the Ancoats Art Museum 1918.292