William Frend De Morgan

Place: London

Born: 1839

Death: 1917

Biography:

Early Life and Influences

, a renowned English potter, tile designer, and novelist, was born on November 16, 1839, in Gower Street, London. As the son of distinguished mathematician Augustus De Morgan and his highly educated wife Sophia Elizabeth Frend, De Morgan's desire to become an artist was supported from a young age.

Career and Innovations

At 20, De Morgan entered the Royal Academy schools but soon became disillusioned with the establishment. His meeting with William Morris introduced him to the Pre-Raphaelite circle, influencing his work. De Morgan began experimenting with stained glass and ventured into pottery in 1863. By 1872, he had shifted his interest wholly to ceramics, initially working in Fitzroy Square.

Chelsea Period (1872-1881)

De Morgan set up a pottery in Chelsea, where he stayed until 1881, marking his most fruitful decade as an art potter. This period was characterized by variable technical quality, with De Morgan making extensive use of blank commercial tiles. However, he developed a high-quality biscuit tile of his own, admired for its irregularities and better resistance to moisture.

Notable Commissions and Works

• Between 1882 and 1900, De Morgan was commissioned by T. E. Colcutt to produce tile panels for the public rooms of 12 P&O liners.
• A earlier commission in 1880, to produce similar panels for the Tsar's yacht, Livadia.
• De Morgan's decoration of pottery included chargers, rice dishes, and vases, often signed by his decorators including Charles Passenger, Fred Passenger, Joe Juster, and Miss Babb.

Eastern Influences and Lustreware Technique

De Morgan was particularly drawn to Eastern tiles, making a breakthrough in 1873-1874 by rediscovering the technique of lustreware found in Hispano-Moresque pottery and Italian maiolica. His interest in the East permeated his design and color notions, leading to a "Persian" palette: dark blue, turquoise, manganese purple, green, Indian red, and lemon yellow.

Legacy and Resources

• Discover De Morgan's artworks on Wikioo.org
• Learn more about De Morgan's life and work on Wikipedia
• Explore the William Morris Gallery, a museum dedicated to De Morgan's friend and collaborator, on Wikioo.org

• November 16, 1839: Born in Gower Street, London
• 1863: Ventured into pottery
• 1872: Shifted interest to ceramics
• January 15, 1917: Passed away

• The Annunciation (by Simeon Solomon, featured on Wikioo.org)
• Sunrise, Inverness Copse (by Paul Nash, featured on Wikioo.org)