Compton Pottery Figure of St. George, Arts and Crafts, Surrey, England, Late 19th C.

Description

Here we have a fine and rare free-standing Arts and Crafts figure of St. George. Made to a design by Mary Seton Watts, he stands magnificent and courageous, clad in tarnished full plate battle armour with the Sword of Righteousness and the Shield of England, head bowed pensive, in humility. Supremely coloured, with great definition to the casting this is an outstanding example in excellent condition, with the PAG (Potter’s Art Guild) stamp to the base.

This terracotta figure was given an initial firing but not glazed. After firing, it was cold painted using egg tempera and finally wax polished, a medieval technique in keeping with Arts and Crafts values.

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Mary Seton Watts, the Scottish wife of pre-Raphaelite painter and sculptor George Frederic Watts together opened the Watts Gallery in the Surrey village of Compton in the late 19th century, designed in the Arts and Crafts style.

Mary, being the principle designer at the Compton country potteries, set up local evening classes and because of the rapid mechanisation within the nationwide farming industry, also took on many local redundant agricultural labourers to teach them useful new pottery skills. She was guided and influenced by her friends, Edward Burne-Jones, Walter Crane and William De Morgan, who were major creative forces within the Art Nouveau movement.

The output of the Compton group resulted in the formation in 1899 of the Compton Potters’ Arts Guild (PAG), consequently, many of the manufactured wares were stamped with this symbol.

The innovative terracotta garden ornaments and wonderful painted models produced by the local workers, expanded into a production centre of mainly Gothic Revival, Arts and Crafts and latterly Art Nouveau pottery. Recommended by Gertrude Jekyll, these marvellous products were featured and sold by many London shops, including Liberty & Co.

Date
Late 19th century.

Dimensions
8 ½’’ H x 3 1/3’’ W        o/a approx.

Condition
Excellent condition, with only very minor surface wear commensurate with age.

Price
£1150   $1415-USD

Reference
The Compton Pottery by Hilary Calvert and Louise Boreham

Ref Number: 221142G
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