Object Number 2022.0018.001.005

Object Name

Tile (Fireplace or wall tile)

Title

"Othello" Act I Scene III

Category

Ceramics

Credit Line/Donor

Gift of Sylvia Leistyna Lahvis, PhD

Creator (Role)

Minton factory (Maker)
1793

John Moyr Smith (Designer)
1839-1912

Place of Origin

Stoke-On-Trent, Staffordshire, England, United Kingdom, Europe

Date

1873-1874

Mark or Signature or Inscription or Label

1. Inscription; Central reserve border (top); "OTHELLO I III"
2. Signature; Central reserve (bottom); "[I]MS"

Subjects

Theater; Shakespeare, William; Illustrious Moderns

Materials

Earthenware

Techniques

Printed, Molded, Dust-pressed

Dimensions (inches)

Dimensions (centimeters)

Measurement Notes

Tile is 6" square

Object Description

Web - 06/23/2022

The body of this transfer-printed tile was created via a process known as dust-pressing, that was first patented by Richard Prosser in 1840 and was used by the Minton factory in Staffordshire. The tile's ornament reflects the then-popular fascination with William Shakespeare's plays and was created by the prominent designer John Moyr Smith. This example portrays a scene from "Othello," Act I, Scene III.

The full Minton Shakespeare tile series includes twenty-four scenes, some from well-known plays, and variously are identified as "Anthony and Cleopatra," Hamlet," "King Lear," "Macbeth," "Merchant of Venice," "Midsummer Night's Dream," "Much Ado About Nothing," "Othello," "Romeo and Juliet," "Taming of the Shrew," "The Tempest," "Twelfth Night," and "Winterthur's Tale." Plays referenced on tiles but perhaps less often performed on modern stages include "Cymbeline," "Timon of Athens," and "Troilus and Cressida."

Although the central reserves in the series remain the same, such tiles were available 6" or 8" dimensions, in a range of colorways and with different border details. As well as being used in fireplace surrounds and on walls, these and other tiles formed decorative elements on furniture. Shakespeare series designs also were printed by Minton on tableware and vases.

(Winterthur is grateful to The Transferware Collectors Club for research support provided by the Paul and Gladys Richards Research Grant Program for Studies in British Transferware.)

Bibliography and Bibliographic Notes

[Electronic] Transferware Collectors Club. Transferware Collectors Club Database of Patterns & Sources. Transferware Collectors Club 03/13/2024 https://www.transferwarecollectorsclub.org/members/database
• Same scene and border printed in blue on white tile: pattern title listed as "Othello" Act I Scene III (Alternate Names: Shakespeare; Pattern no. 1408), pattern no. 15623, maker's mark no. 67878. Maker Mintons (1873-1950). From a series of 24 Shakespeare tiles. "...scene pertains to...discussion with the Duke on whether or not Desdemona was duped into marrying Othello because of some sort of trickery. Desdemona claims she married Othello willingly."
[Book] Stapleton, Annamarie. 2020 John Moyr Smith 1839-1912: A Victorian Designer.
• Book focused on John Moyr Smith designs
[Book] Stapleton, Annamarie. 2020 John Moyr Smith 1839-1912: A Victorian Designer.
• Minton Shakespeare tiles series by John Moyr Smith: pp. 72-73, noting this is Moyr Smith's and Minton's largest tile series, featuring 24 central reserve designs on 6" and 8" tiles. c. 1874
[Electronic] van Lemmen, Hans. Minton's Prosser's Patent Tiles 1840-1854. Academia.edu (Journal of the Tiles & Architectural Ceramics Society) 06/23/2022 https://www.academia.edu/40425467/Mintons_Prossers_Patent_Tiles_1840_1854
• Article on dust-pressed tile process at Minton
[Book] Halfpenny, Patricia A. & Williams, Peter. 2000 A Passion for Pottery: Further Selections from the Henry H. Weldon Collection.
• Relief-decorated creamware flask with scene from Othello: pp. 176-77, also showing teapot with same scene and noting Voyez-marked similar footed flasks.