A great waterscape scene of two cranes wading
and one flying in the sky above.
This I believe is very nearly the greatest
Pilkington tile I have seen, it would not be for
sale except that I have another for my own
collection. The subject matter is of universal
appeal one of the greatest and most beautiful
examples of birdlife in the natural setting of
shallow water and bullrushes. Designed by Cosmo
Rowe in 1893 the group being the only tiles
deigned by him for Pilkington although there is
a Rowe recorded as having painted for Wedgwood.
He achieves the perfect combination of realism
and style the rippling movement in the water
adding that extra wildness in perfect balance
within a super frame which is just a raised line
apart from the simple and stylish corner
motifs.
The artistic skill is then perfectly
translated in to a finished item by the most
skilled and sensitve modelling I have seen on a
Pilkington tile which furthermore is enhanced by
a wonderful shade of blue which is nice and
consistently applied to the tile.
A most wonderful tile demonstrating
excellence in every stage of the process
culminating in an outstanding work of art.
Verso quite clean, slight staining, no
adhesive residues, P in two opposing
corners.
