Image: Vase (AM 1995.65.2-5)

Description: Vase, cylindrical body with two raised bands separated by ribbed bands near base to exterior and further ribbed bands to exterior near rim, dark brown matt body vase, Keith Murray for Wedgwood, England artist-maker (if applicable) designed by Keith Murray ARIBA (born 5 July 1892, Mount Eden, Auckland – died 16 May 1981, London, England) for Josiah Wedgwood and Co Ltd, England brown basalt ware measurements height 224 x diameter 106 (at base) mm printed mark on base facsimile signature ‘Keith Murray’, WEDGWOOD, MADE IN ENGLAND’ (in red-orange) impressed marks ‘WEDGWOOD’ and ‘MADE IN ENGLAND’ Keith Murray’s works are noteworthy products of industrial manufacture in collaboration with external designers. Falling closely within other European design-art movements, his work also considers the modernist vocabulary of form and material. It addresses the significance of industrialised and standardised production, reduced ornamentation integral to the materials and construction, strong silhouette and functionalism. Auckland-born Keith Murray (born 5 July 1892, Mount Eden, Auckland – died 16 May 1981, London, England) is internationally acknowledged for his architecturally informed and machine-turned works that he designed for Josiah Wedgwood and Sons Ltd, England. It can be said that Murray’s work provided the prototype for production lines for the Auckland commercial firm, Ambrico, later known as Crown Lynn. In 1948, Ernest Shufflebottom a skilled hand-thrower from Josiah Wedgwood and Sons Ltd, England was brought out to work for Ambrico. Shufflebottom’s works established a successful range for the New Zealand market against the competition of works like Murray’s for Wedgwood. Murray’s techniques have continued to inform contemporary studio potters and ceramicists such as Auckland potter, John Parker who has skilfully acknowledged the significance of the Murray and Shufflebottom- Crown Lynn ancestry in his work. This hand-thrown vase, with its flared sides and lathe-turned horizontal grooves, is an exceptional example of Murray’s work produced with a brown basalt body. vase, designed by Keith Murray, ARIBA (born 5 July 1892, Mount Eden, Auckland – died 16 May 1981, London, England), for Josiah Wedgwood and Co Ltd, England, Burslem, Staffordshire, England, 1933 - 1940 Keith Murray's immediate significance to Auckland is that he was educated at Kings College. He is however more respected and acknowledged for his architecturally informed designs and machine-turned works for Josiah Wedgwood and Sons Ltd, England. Murray's works are noteworthy products of industrial manufacture in collaboration with external designers. This falls closely within other European design-art movements. Although deriving from an Art Deco source his work also considers the Modernist vocabulary of form and material. It speaks of the significance of industrialised and standardised production, reduced ornamentation integral to the materials and construction, strong silhouette and functionalism. It can be said that Murray's work provided the prototype for production lines for the Auckland commercial firm, AMBRICO, later known as Crown Lynn. In 1948, Ernest Shufflebottom a skilled hand thrower from Josiah Wedgwood and Sons Ltd, England was brought out to work for AMBRICO. He established his own department and introduced the technique of hand thrown and then hand turned lathe finishing developed in Murray's work. Shufflebottom's works were usually a matt white finish and we have a representative collection. Shufflebottom works established a successful range for the New Zealand market against the competition of works like Murray's for Wedgwood. Murray's techniques have continued to inform contemporary studio potters and ceramicists such as Auckland potter, John Parker who has skilfully acknowledged the significance of Murray and Shufflebottom- Crown Lynn in his work.
Title: Vase
Credit: API data Catalogue record Photo
Author: Josiah Wedgwood & Sons Ltd; Keith Murray
Permission: This image has been released as "CCBY" by Auckland Museum. For details refer to the Commons project page.
Usage Terms: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0
License: CC BY 4.0
License Link: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Attribution Required?: Yes