C19 'Modernist' Coffee Set

I thought I would write a longer description of this set as I find It very interesting. It came off the internet but I have no doubt about it's authenticity. This is all right and nothing makes me suspicious in any way. The quality of this set is excellent and although not identical, the cups do have a very nice balance to them and a certain lightness. Please see AA. Page 24. for a similar black managaneze oxide set with white rim. To be honest I prefer the all black exterior with white interior of this set. This item is a White clay item and the book dates it to the early 50s, probably something like 1954 - Crawford Street. It has an interesting set of marks but as usual I will not disclose them here.

"Among the standard lines produced at this time the illustration show a fifteen piece wax resist coffee set, grey on white; wax resist pint sized cups and saucers; a black and white coffee set with extruded handles, painted thickly with manganese oxide, then white glazed inside and around the top - this design showed the influence of Lucie Rie, a lifelong friend of Brigitte's" (AA.Page 24)

I did some reading as the term 'Modernist' did see to span some period of time and many forms of Art. I always consider Modernism to be the 20s 30s where the principals of Architects such as Le Corbusier and Lubetkin, then Artists like Mondrian, Picasso and Duchamp led the way.

I like this statement on Wiki - "In Britain and America, modernism as a literary movement is generally considered to be relevant up to the early 1930s, and "modernist" is rarely used to describe authors prominent after 1945. This is somewhat true for all areas of culture, with the exception of the visual and performing arts. Modernism was a wide movement, rejecting the sentimental past and a "revolt against the conservative values of realism 19th century". I mention this as this set is so different to what Briglin is known for. This coffee set represents something more, it tips it's hat to what would have been the peers of mid-C20th ceramics. It was a path that was not followed at Briglin.

Coffee Can & Saucer x6 - These are surprisingly delicate and finely made. The white interior to the cup and slight white rim to the saucer make these very striking. The white under glaze is slightly creamy. It is not perfect by any means but contrasts to the black oxide of the cup and saucer. The Saucer is coloured with a sponge or brush on the wheel whilst the cups are thickly dab painted with the brush marks and inconsistencies being visible. The handles are perhaps a little crude but the shape is pleasing and they are consistent.

Coffee Pot - Small and far more usable than the large and later versions (see C9). The lid is crisp and finely made again contrasting the thick drippy creamy glaze against the brushed and slightly ochre colour of the exterior. Nice marks to the base. I filled this pot and tried it and it is much more manageable when pouring that the larger ones.The handle is just right, it looks proportionally correct and is hefty enough to be practical. On later pots the handle moves southwards. Unfortunately I won't be using this set. I would fear others damaging it and also I hate coffee! (Yuuuckhh). I had a bit of trouble photographing this set. Black and white items on a white background are not easy. The camera thinks everything is 18% grey so you have to trick it into the correct exposure and focus manually - or just take a lot of photos until you get lucky.

Milk Jug - Almost square, with the width matching the height. The handle is central and matches the symmetrical handle on the pot. There is a slight cant to the exterior shape, tapering to the bottom.

Sugar Bowl - Last but not least. if you look closely in AA. Page 24. you will see an almost identical shaped sugar bowl in the picture. Note the pleasing slight curve to the outside edge and simple proportions.

This set is not the thick, uncaring, churned but decorative and commercial items that you mostly see. It was defiantly not made by a untrained hand. It makes me think this is a set possibly by Eileen or Brigette after comparing it to other know pieces by them. I wonder if anyone knows? The words I would use to describe this set are fine, elegant, stark, considered, crisp and in the tradition of Briglin, very usable. I want more.

[ I will update the photos soon as these are not right ]