Seven Designs for Decorated Plates

Art Historical Context

In the mid-19th century, the height of Britain's industrial pottery boom, *Seven Designs for Decorated* (1845–55) the creative bridge between artisanal sketchwork and mass production. Created by Samuel Alcock & Company, a prominent Staffordshire ceramics firm, in collaboration with illustrator Alfred Henry Forrester (known as Alfred Crowquill), sheet features intricate pen-and-ink drawings heightened with watercolor. Measuring 16 3/4 x 11 7/16 inches, it showcases seven ornamental motifs dominated by lush leaf patterns—evident from the work's tags—intended for transfer onto dinnerware. These designs reflect the Victorian era's obsession with naturalistic ornamentation, inspired by the Gothic Revival and emerging Aesthetic Movement. Forrester, celebrated for his whimsical book illustrations and caricatures, brought a refined, playful precision to functional art, blending fine lines with vibrant washes to evoke foliage's organic flow. Such preparatory drawings were essential in the pottery industry, guiding engravers and printers to decorate everyday objects with elegance. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department (The Elisha Whittelsey Collection, 1956), this piece highlights how ornamental architecture influenced domestic goods, making high-style decoration accessible. Visitors will appreciate its glimpse into the unsung artistry behind Victorian tableware, where nature's motifs transformed simple plates into cherished heirlooms.

About the Artist

Samuel Alcock & Company|Alfred Henry Forrester [Alfred Crowquill] (British|British) · 1828 |1804 –1859 |1872

British, active ca. 1828–59|British, London 1804–1872 London