Bowl
Alan Caiger-Smith (1930 - 2020)
Category
Ceramics
Date
1977
Materials
Glazed Earthenware
Measurements
110 mm (Height); 352 mm (Diameter)
Place of origin
Aldermaston
Order this imageCollection
Greys Court, Oxfordshire
NT 195175
Summary
Glazed earthenware bowl, decorated with painted scenes of events from the twentieth century on the inside, and inscription around outer rim in honour of Laurence Irving's 80th birthday in April 1977. Made by Alan Caiger-Smith at the Aldermaston Pottery, Berkshire, England with the painted inscriptions by Madeleine Dinkel, 1977.
Full description
Commemorative ceramic bowl made in honour of Laurence Irving's 80th Birthday, commissioned by his sister Lady Elizabeth Brunner. It was made by Alan Caiger-Smith at the Aldermaston Pottery in 1977 with the inscriptions by Madeleine Dinkel. It is decorated with 5 scenes that illustrate various interests from his life. The images represent an RAF biplane, writing (a scribe at work using a feather quill and an unfurled scroll), a red sailed fishing boat and another boat on a calm open sea, gardening (figure picking fruit from tree) and theatre (music notes/knife/comedy and tragedy theatre masks). Each scene is separated by painted ionic columns and decorative draping, similar to that of a theatre drapes. The calligraphy inscriptions on the outer edge and inner centre were completed by Madeleine Dinkle, who worked on Caiger-Smith's important commissions. Inner inscription reads "BRO FROM GUS FOR HIS 80th BIRTHDAY 11th APRIL 1977". Outer inscription reads "WE WERE ENTRUSTED TO ONE ANOTHER IN THE DAYS THAT MATTERED BY CHANCE AND ITS AGENTS TIME AND PLACE". The quote for the outer inscription comes from The Little Girls by Elizabeth Bowen, first published in 1963. Made with Caiger-Smith's traditional technique of fired red clay with a white thin glaze painted with pigments before being fired. Both Caiger-Smith's and Madeleine Dinkel's monograms appear painted on the base.
Provenance
Assigned to the National Trust from the Estate of Lady Elizabeth Brunner, 2022.
Marks and inscriptions
Base: Alan Caiger-Smith's monogram and "MD" (Madeleine Dinkle) handwritten on base in dark green/blue glaze. "TA"[?] impressed into base could be indicative of year, though not instantly recognizable as any of the known dating marks used by the Aldermaston Pottery.
Makers and roles
Alan Caiger-Smith (1930 - 2020), maker Aldermaston Pottery, maker Madeleine Dinkel, calligrapher