Arts and Crafts Tiles ― William De Morgan

William De Morgan was the principal ceramic designer and maker in the Arts and Crafts movement. Heavily influenced by the art of the Middle East, he was active for nearly 30 years, from the 1870s onwards. He is famous for his vases and decorative chargers, but it is arguably his tiles—still to be found in homes and museums around Britain and the world—that have made the greatest impact. His tiles portray iconic images of animals, ships, and floral designs. He combined a strong design style with rich glaze colors, making blue and green, and a deep orangey red visual trademarks. There were important commissions from royalty and industry, and his ceramics were marketed to the growing middle classes by William Morris, the founder and leading light of the Arts and Crafts movement. The tiles of the arts and crafts movement are now highly collectible, and none more so than those made at William De Morgan’s Chelsea, Merton Abbey, and Fulham potteries. This highly illustrated book, by acknowledged experts on de Morgan, presents the first study of the tiles to be published in more than 35 years.

Rob Higgins is the author of Mid-Century Modern Tiles and William De Morgan. Will Farmer is a fine art and antiques auctioneer specializing in ceramics, glass, and 20th century decorative arts. He appears as an expert on the BBC Antiques Roadshow since 2006. His books include Clarice Cliff and Poole Pottery.