wall tile

Minton's China Works

Summary

Public: Five square dust-pressed earthenware tiles transfer-printed underglaze in brown on buff with subjects from Tennyson's Idylls of the King. Private: Five square dust-pressed earthenware tiles, with block-printed designs transfer-printed underglaze in brown on a buff ground. The tiles are part of a full series of twelve illustrating subjects taken from Tennyson's 'Idylls of the King', as follows: 3 (in the series). 'Gareth and Lynette', depicting Gareth and Lynette on their journey, with Lynette standing with left arm outstretched and jeering at Gareth on horseback; 4. 'Pelleas and Etarre', depicting Pelleas' first meeting with Etarre, with Pelleas reclining on the ground in a woodland setting and Etarre riding a horse behind a male rider (Gawain?); 5. 'Pelleas and Etarre', depicting Pelleas as he finds Gawain and Etarre asleep in the Pavilion, with him walking past and looking into the scene away from the viewer; 10. 'The Last Tournament', depicting Tristram and Isolt; 11. 'Guinevere', depicting King Arthur reproaching Guinevere. All the figures wear pseudo-medieval clothing. All the tiles have a circular panel containg the scene, with Celtic-like knotwork decoration in each corner.