Art Deco Keith Murray Wedgwood Moonstone Glazed Vase or Wine Cooler

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Art Deco Keith Murray Wedgwood Moonstone Glazed Vase or Wine Cooler

About the Item

An Art Deco period white moonstone glazed vase or wine cooler, designed by Keith Murray for Wedgwood, English, circa 1930s, of tapering circular form with reeded. Signed with printed mark and paper collectors' inventory number label. We love this vase's sculptural neoclassical form, with its silky smooth surface and substantial weight. Keith Day Pearce Murray was born in New Zealand in 1892 and was later to become both architect and potter. He together with Josiah Wedgwood V, Tom Wedgwood and John Wedgwood were to combine in the creation in probably the most important event in the history of 20th century Wedgwood, the Barlaston factory. However, throughout the 1920s he struggled to find work as an architect, which encouraged him to look at other forms of design. In 1931, Keith Murray produced some designs for Arthur Marriott Powell, Director of Whitefriars Glassworks and later in 1932 was employed by Herbert Williams-Thomas of the Stevens and Williams Glassworks. This association with Powell resulted in Murray being introduced to Felton Wreford who was Manager of Wedgwood’s London Showrooms and it was he who invited the designer to visit Etruria. On his visit to the factory Josiah Wedgwood V encouraged Murray to study the various processes in the manufacturing of good quality ware and invited him to design for Wedgwood on a freelance basis. In October 1932, Keith Murray helped Tom Wedgwood with the design for two vegetable dishes in the new Annular shape. Through this, in 1933, Wedgwood secured the architect/designer’s services. Keith Murray designs were functional making jugs, bowls and tablewares which bore a close resemblance to his love of architecture. Pieces that he produced at this time used 18th century methods to simply decorate the ware but above all were functional using new bodies and glazes developed by Norman Wilson in the tradition of the first Josiah. Keith Murray’s pieces that he designed found prominence in an exhibition held at John Lewis in Oxford Street from 13th November to 2 December 1933 and included 124 shapes designed by him. By 1935, Keith Murray’s work in ceramics was more renowned. In this same year, his pieces formed part of an important exhibition held at the Royal Academy and attracted a lot of attention. In fact the art critic for the Times newspaper wrote - ‘Nothing in this exhibition is more gratifying than the work as designer of Keith Murray, in ceramics, glass ware and silver’. Wedgwood’s own exhibition at the Grafton Galleries in 1936 featured many of Keith Murray’s tablewares including Lotus, Weeping Willow also known as Green Tree, Iris, Pink Flower and Pink and Red Pimpernel and at least two border patterns, Lotus and Radio. This exhibition was to point out Wedgwood’s continuing link between art and industry. Because of the simplicity of Keith Murray’s designs they remained in production throughout the whole of the Second World War and formed a large part of the Wedgwood catalogue of glazes, bodies and shapes current for 1940-1950. The only bodies that were not produced during the war were red bodied stoneware, the copper and bronze basalt but from 1940 onwards Black Basalt, Moonstone, matte green, matte straw and the two-tone slip wares were still in production. As we have seen Keith Murray’s latest contribution to Wedgwood in the 20th century however, was the building and opening of the new Barlaston factory in 1940 which set the standard for the rest of the industry to follow. Source: Wedgwood Museum, citing Keith Murray Designer. A Perrott’s Price Guide by Stephen Johnson, edited by George Perrott.

Creator:
Wedgwood (Maker),Keith Murray (Designer)
Dimensions:
Height: 8.13 in (20.66 cm)Diameter: 7.25 in (18.42 cm)
Style:
Art Deco (Of the Period)
Materials and Techniques:
Earthenware,Glazed
Place of Origin:
England
Period:
1930-1939
Date of Manufacture:
circa 1930-1940
Condition:
Wear consistent with age and use.
Seller Location:
Essex, MA
Reference Number:
1stDibs: LU837714438231

Shop All Wedgwood

Wedgwood

Arguably the most celebrated of all English ceramics makers, Wedgwood was founded in 1759 by potter Josiah Wedgwood (1730–95) in Staffordshire, which was home at one time to hundreds of pottery workshops. The company is famed for its Jasperware — molded neoclassical stoneware vases, plates and other pieces inspired by ancient cameo glass, featuring white figures, scenes and decorative elements set in relief on a matte-colored background. The best-known background hue is light blue, but Wedgwood’s iconic silhouettes also appear on green, lilac, yellow, black and even white grounds. Some antique Wedgwood dinnerware pieces and other items feature three or more colors.

The Wedgwood firm first came to prominence for its tableware, which quickly gained favor in aristocratic households throughout Britain and Europe. In 1765, Wedgwood was commissioned to create a cream-colored earthenware service for Queen Charlotte, consort of King George III. The queen was so thrilled with her new china that Wedgwood was given permission to call himself “Potter to Her Majesty,” and the decorative style became known as Queen’s Ware.

Not to be outdone, Catherine the Great of Russia commissioned her own set of Wedgwood china in 1773. Nearly 200 years later, the firm created a 1,200-piece service for the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. In recent years, leading designers including Jasper Conran and Vera Wang have collaborated with Wedgwood — in the tradition of such distinguished 18th-century artists such as the painter George Stubbs and metalsmith Matthew Boulton.

From plates and other dinnerware to decorative items like urns, cachepots and candlesticks, Wedgwood designs lend a traditional air to Anglophile interiors. And even if you have to make your own tea, you may find it comforting to sip it from a delicate cup that was manufactured in the same Stoke-on-Trent kiln that produced Her Majesty’s tea service. Be sure to keep your pinky raised.

Find antique Wedgwood pottery on 1stDibs.