Collectable Tiles

Doulton Lambeth Handpainted Aesthetic Tile Panel

Style/technique: Pictorial panel handpainted

Manufacturer: Doulton & Co, Lambeth

Pattern Name: Nausicaa

Dimensions: 9" x 18"

Date: circa 1885

A fine handpainted panel featuring the Phaecian Princess Nausicaa painted by Doulton Lambeth on Minton Hollins 9" square biscuit.
The story of the Greek heroine Nausicaa is from the Odyssey of Homer. Nausicaa is the beautiful daughter of King Alcinous and Queen Arete of the Phaeacians. Nausicaa discovers Odysseus on the beach at Scheria and, out of budding affection for him, ensures his warm reception at her parents' palace.
Odysseus, the husband of Queen Penelope and the father of Prince Telemachus, fought among the other Greek heroes at Troy and struggled to return to his kingdom in Ithaca. Though a strong and courageous warrior, he is most renowned for his cunning. He is a favorite of the goddess Athena, who often sends him divine aid, but a bitter enemy of Poseidon, who frustrates his journey at every turn.
Odysseus washed up in the land of the Phaeacians lost and exhausted after a gruelling voyage. Athena intervened to make the Phaeacians foster his journey home, she went by night to the palace of their king and appeared in a dream to Princess Nausicaa. The goddess prompted her to give thought to her wedding day, shouldn't she journey to the pools down by the river and wash her bridal gown?
In the morning Nausicaa awoke with this idea in mind but being modest, she asked her father instead if she might launder the family linen. Could she have the mule cart for the day? This was ordered and Nausicaa departed with her serving maids. At the estuary they washed the linen and laid it out to dry then they bathed in the river and anointed themselves with oil. After lunch they engage in a game of ball, the noise of which rouses the hero Odysseus from his slumber. Tearing off an olive branch to cloak his nakedness he approached the group, the maids ran away at the sight of the brine-encrusted stranger but Nausicaa was unperturbed. Odysseus had to choose between touching her knees in the gesture of a suppliant or staying back and trusting to words, he decided that words were the safer course...................
Ultimately, the beauty and charm of the princess represents another of the many temptations that Odysseus encounters on his long journey home.

The moment when Athena visits the young princess is described in the Odyssey:
"...on this night the goddess, grey-eyed Athena,
entered the palace of Alcinous
to make sure of Odysseus' voyage home.
She took her way to a painted bedchamber
where a young girl lay fast asleep - so fine
in mould and feature that she seemed a goddess -
the daughter of Alcinous, Nausicaa.
One either side, as Graces might have slept,
her maids were sleeping. The bright doors were shut,
but like a sudden stir of wind, Athena
moved to the bedside of the girl, and grew
visible as the shipman Dymas' daughter,
a girl the princess' age, and her dear friend."

Condition: Very good
Price: On application
Ref: 02593

The tiles were fitted in to an original slender mahogany frame with plywood backing, they were a little loose in the frame hence the marks to the edges. There are two short surface scratches that break through the painting and other lesser surface marks which are not immediately visible and not detracting from the enjoyment of this fine piece. Minor marks for such a rare and fine example of the works of this famous London art pottery.
The original frame can be supplied if required, the joints need tightening and the timber waxing, delivery will be a little dearer.
The panel may be viewed prior to purchase, contact us for an appointment.

The image is full size at 72 dpi (about 660 pixels wide) in maximum quality JPEG format. A larger 120 dpi image also in maximum quality JPEG format can be forwarded by email if required.
The image is a little oversize rather than cropped close to the edges so that the edges can easily be seen and any chips etc can be quickly spotted. Surface marks described are usually not visible at all when the tile is viewed straight as one normally sees it and can only be seen with a critical eye when the tile is tilted to catch imperfections in reflected light. For more details of how we describe marks see Condition.

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