- Style/technique: Pictorial print
- Manufacturer: Mintons China Works
- Pattern number: 1347*
- Dimensions: 6" x 6"
- Date: circa 1875
An early picture series from Mintons introduced around
1872, rather more adventurous than most of their series,
not often found and great in this colourway which is
perhaps the best suited to the subject matter. Spirits of
the Flowers features twelve subjects, this being
Anemenoe.
The series is widely attributed to Moyr Smith but this
is questioned by the author of a book on his works
Annamarie Stapleton who says there is no evidence that
Smith did these but there is evidence for C O Murray who
was a colleague of Smith's. The book includes two
pictures on page 47 of stained glass panels designed by
Moyr Smith and a series of nursery rhymes that he
designed for W B Simpson which are very similar in style
to the Spirits of the Flowers and Water Nymphs tile
series. John Moyr Smith was a famous illustrator, one may
say cartoonist, his works appearing in such publications
as the satirical magazine Punch. I certainly believe it
feasible perhaps likely that he adapted his style to suit
the subject matter the classical style being most
appropriate to literature and classical subjects such as
Shakespeare and the Musicians and a more irreverant style
for the humorous nursery rhymes and other light hearted
subject matter.
I think it matters little who designed the tiles,
having myself collected art nouveau tiles many of which
the manufacturer was unknown let alone the designer,
beauty is in the eye of the beholder and should not be
constrained by the perceived wisdom of who is a great
artist and who is not for often the great artists were
really just great at marketing and adopted the visions of
others.
*Pattern number 1347 in light blue, Mintons usually
applied different pattern numbers to different standard
colourways.
Verso very clean with Mintons name and badge.
