Style:
Aesthetic movement medieval musicians
Technique: Transfer print
Maker: Steele & Wood
Dimensions:
7 tiles at 6" x 6"
Date: 1880 (circa )
Condition: Fine
Price: £1450 (approx $1950)
Ref: 05827
A very rare series entitled Lady Musicians,
the full set of seven, designed and printed in
the aesthetic movement taste. Interesting that
the scipt is in French although France had
little home tile industry at the time and
english imports were widespread on the
continent, Brown, Westhead-Moore are well known
for their exports to France of both tiles and
pottery. Super subject matter, music always
popular and women are rarely associated with
skilled activity in art, usually just lazing
around looking beautiful! These would make a
most wonderful gift for the lady musician with a
taste for art and antiques. The non-playing lady
is entitled La Belle aux Chevaux d'Oz which
translate to The Beautiful Horses of Oz
Series of seven designs were not uncommon in
the period, perhaps for days ot the week, or for
fitting in to iron fireplaces with borders,
three per side and one for the canopy. Steele
& Wood were a major manufacturer of the
times and produced many picture series, a
testament to their quality is that their blanks
are often found decorated with fine painted
designs likely not just by the company itself
but by independent decorating studios. Difficult
to identify, few are named or have other clearly
distinguishng marks verso it takes a keen eye to
spot them. Many of the company's tiles are
attributed to Mintons and Wedgwood by the less
skilled dealers, the grip patterns being
somewhat similar although clearly different when
one has learned to recognise them.
In fine condition, dulcimer has a largish
chip bottom edge otherwise a couple of very
small and few very tiny rim chips, surfaces very
near perfect, really great condition to find
such a rare and evocative group of tiles.