William De Morgan valuation
English potter and tile designer who revived lustre glazes, and later a novelist.
William De Morgan (1839–1917) was born in London, studied at the Royal Academy Schools and became a lifelong friend of William Morris, designing tiles and stained glass.
What a work by William De Morgan is worth
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Bio
William De Morgan (1839–1917) was born in London, studied at the Royal Academy Schools and became a lifelong friend of William Morris, designing tiles and stained glass. He rediscovered the technique of lustre glazing and took inspiration from Islamic pottery for his designs of fantastic birds and fish. He worked in Chelsea and at Merton Abbey before moving in 1888 to Fulham, in partnership with the architect Halsey Ricardo. After giving up pottery he became a successful novelist with Joseph Vance (1906). His wife was the painter Evelyn De Morgan.
What comes to market is lustre chargers, vases and tiles. Impressed marks often record the pottery and the period, and the painters who decorated pieces sometimes added their initials, so a buyer will look closely at the base. Lustre should be checked for wear, and pieces for cracks, chips and restoration, which is often hard to see and shows up under ultraviolet light.
At a glance
- Born
- 16 November 1839, London
- Died
- 15 January 1917, Chelsea
- Movement
- Arts and Crafts
Whitebank Fine Art is an art advisory and gallery, not an auction house, and is not affiliated with any auction house or with the artist, their estate or their representatives. This page describes the range we advise on. Nothing here is investment advice.
