Jardinière
Medium
Glazed pottery (Minton majolica)
Dimensions
Overall: 17 1/2 × 20 1/2 in. (44.5 × 52.1 cm)
Classification
Ceramics-Pottery
Culture
British, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Purchase, Friends of European Sculpture and Decorative Arts Gifts, 1995
Accession Number
1995.273
Tags
Art Historical Context
This vibrant *Jardinière*, created in 1883 by pioneering British designer Christopher Dresser for the renowned Minton pottery firm, exemplifies the exuberance of Victorian-era decorative arts. Produced in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire—the heart of Britain's ceramics industry—this glazed majolica piece measures an impressive 17½ × 20½ inches, designed as an ornate plant stand or flower pot. Minton majolica, inspired by Renaissance Italian maiolica techniques, featured richly colored, lead-glazed earthenware with sculptural forms and naturalistic motifs, making it a staple for Victorian homes an...
About the Artist
Christopher Dresser|Minton(s) · 1834–1904
Christopher Dresser (1834–1904) was one of the most innovative and prolific designers of the nineteenth century, widely regarded as a pioneer of industrial design long before that discipline had a name. Born in Glasgow, Scotland, he trained at the Government School of Design in London, where he studied under leading educators committed to improving the quality of British manufactured goods. He wen...