{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O8064"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O8064/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2008BT8734/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2008BT8734/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2008BT8734","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O8064/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O8064","accessionNumber":"CIRC.834-1920","objectType":"Ewer","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"This ewer was produced in 1872 by the English firm Minton & Co. Its style and decoration imitates fine French earthenware ceramics with detailed inlaid decoration known as either Saint Porchaire or Henri II wares that were produced for the French court around 1550.\r\n\r\nDuring the 19th century, amid the burgeoning popularity of arts from the Medieval and Renaissance periods, these rare French ceramics became highly desirable collectors’ items. Earlier than this, in 1774, the renowned collector and gothic revivalist Horace Walpole is known to have had a Saint Porchaire ewer at his home in Strawberry Hill. \r\n\r\nThe original Saint Porchaire wares were amazing feats of labour and skill with intricate inlaid decoration, a complexity which doubtless contributed to their rarity. Over the centuries, these techniques had been lost.\r\n\r\nIt was Minton’s Art Director, Léon Arnoux, who rediscovered the techniques required to produce such complex inlaid decoration. He produced the first ‘Henri II’ wares in 1858, combining inlaid and painted decoration. Arnoux taught these techniques to Charles Toft Sr. and Minton continued to produce pieces in this style into the 1890s.","physicalDescription":"Earthenware ewer decorated with inlaid with coloured clays, an applied mask beneath the spout and a dragon on the handle.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Toft, Charles (Senior)","id":"A1482"},"association":{"text":"designer","id":"AAT25190"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[{"name":{"text":"Minton","id":"A9175"},"association":{"text":"manufacturer","id":"AAT25230"},"note":""}],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"Earthenware","id":"x29356"}],"techniques":[{"text":"inlay (process)","id":"AAT53850"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Earthenware, inlaid with a pattern of coloured clays.","categories":[{"text":"Ceramics","id":"THES48982"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"CER","id":"THES48594"},"images":["2008BT8734"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"143","id":"THES49867"},"free":"","case":"19","shelf":"2","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Ewer","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Stoke-on-Trent","id":"x29185"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1872","earliest":"1872-01-01","latest":"1872-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Given by H. M. Commissioners for the Exhibition of 1851","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"25.3","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"Historical significance: This <font -i>Henri Deux</font> or <font -i>St. Porchaire</font> ware ewer is an example of the revival of interest in the decorative arts of the Renaissance during the nineteenth century and of the remarkable rediscovery of a lost technology.","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Henri Deux ware ewer, decorated with an inlaid pattern of coloured clays and applied mask and dragon. English, 1872. Designed by Charles Toft and made by Mintons.","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Atterbury, Paul and Maureen Batkin. <font -u>The Dictionary of Minton.</font> Woodbridge: Antique Collectors' Club, 1990. pp.99-100."},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Jones, Joan. <font -u>Minton: The First Two Hundred Years of Design and Production.</font> Shrewsbury: Swan Hill Press, 1993. p.150."},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"See Object Information file in Ceramics and Glass Section office."}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[{"text":"mask","id":"x30067"},{"text":"dragon","id":"x30096"}],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["CIRC.834-1920"],"accessionNumberNum":"834","accessionNumberPrefix":"CIRC","accessionYear":1920,"otherNumbers":[{"type":{"text":"H.M.C. Loan no.","id":"THES57872"},"number":"HMC.941"}],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":["2019LP2322","2019LU6637","2019LW3977"],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-12","recordCreationDate":"1998-06-23","availableToBook":false}}