Bell

Modeled by Eric Owen, Wedgwood

1953/55

Eric Owen was chief modeler and sculptor at Wedgwood from 1946 to 1967, and retained a studio there from his retirement until his death in 1974. Although Owen was responsible for modeling many tableware shapes and portrait medallions, he also created a variety of whimsical pieces that, although modeled, decorated, and fired at Wedgwood, were never part of regular Wedgwood production. The bell is an example of Owen’s “after hours” work.

See More of the Collection

Black basalt tripod incense burner on a round base decorated with a band of Greek key, the oblong body supported by three legs in the form of Egyptian sphinxes on paw feet, a band of fluting and two bands of beading around the lower part of the body, the plain cover with ball finial is a facsimile.
Round portrait medallion of gray-blue jasper laminated between two dark blue jasper dip surfaces, with a gray-blue portrait bust of a man to left.
Cast iron portrait medallion modeled in high relief with the image of the Swedish botanist Carolus Linnaeus (Carl von Linné; 1707-78) in profile right in civilian dress with a sprig of Linnaeus borealis, or twinflower, in his buttonhole and wearing the Order of the Polar Star, a Swedish order of chivalry, below the portrait is the name LINNÆUS, at the top is a hook to hang.
Dragon lustre bowl with wide lip, lavender/blue exterior and pale turquoise pearlized interior. A continuous pierced golden band pattern is set at the upper and lower rim of the bowl. Two outstretched four-legged, four-clawed golden dragons with scales and curled tail stretching across nearly half of the bowl, each. The dragons have a fierce look with bulging eyes, two horns, a mane and spikes along their backs. The spikes, part of the face, horns and claws are highlighted with red glaze. The wide lip is decorated with a golden geometric pattern over a blue glaze. A golden husks of wheat design is arranged below. Three framed medallions depicting different Asian-inspired architecture and vegetation intersecting the band design. The bottom and the lower half of the bowl are decorated with a large intertwined four-legged, four-clawed golden dragon, which is not well defined. The outline of the dragon is done in gold over a wash of blue glaze with some red highlights.