Description

Keith Murray Wedgwood C1930’s 19 cm Tall Off White Ribbed Bomb Moonstone glaze

Part of a collection of Art Deco ceramics we are listing.

Keith Murray (5 July 1892 – 16 May 1981) was a New-Zealand-born British architect and industrial designer, known for ceramic, silver and glass designs for Wedgwood, Mappin and Webb and Stevens & Williams in the 1930s and 1940s. He is considered to be one of the most influential designers of the Art Deco /Modern  age.

Originally trained as an architect, Keith Murray created 1200 designs for Wedgwood between 1932 and 1940.

He began to make designs for Wedgwood on a commercial basis in 1933. Murray’s plain modern designs for bowls, vases and lamp bases were at first made in cream earthenware and black basalt but, by the end of 1933, they were produced using new matt glazes designed by Norman Wilson. These ‘Siennese’ glazes were first available in a matt white finish called ‘Moonstone’, followed by a matt straw, April green, dark green, turquoise and matt grey.

His shapes were characterized by their simple clean forms and effective use of the company’s new matte glazes.

His distinctive designs are much collected and there is an example in the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.

Most of his work was with vases, bowls and similar cylindrical ware, executed in a clean and restrained style with decoration often limited to deeply incised lines or smooth steps in the shape. The whole piece is usually one colour without applied decoration

Murray’s simple, clear lines ensure it will fit well into a contemporary home.

The unusual shape of this footed vase features five bold ridges, with different diameters, to create a shape that is usually referred to as a ‘Football’ vase or a ‘Bomb’ vase. It has an off white Moonstone’ silky glaze.

Standing 19cm tall and @ 19cm in diameter it is an impressive piece of design that will not date.

Very good vintage condition with only a teeny firing fault ( see photo) which does not detract from the overall effect