Carlton Ware (England, Est. 1890)
Violet Irene Ellen Elmer (British, 1907-1998)
‘Awakening’ Vase, c. 1931
Ceramic, 3453
6 3/8” high
Notes: Violet Elmer, active at Carlton China from 1928-1938, was a leading Art Deco designer whose work has been compared to that of French artist Sonia Delaunay. Unrestrained her geometrically abstract fantasy designs are highly imaginative and “elevated the [Carlton] ware from excellent to outstanding.”
Markings: Carlton Ware script mark
Condition: Antique, Very Good
For Accuracy: insignificant wear, as expected on any vintage vase. There is some wear in the interior from use with flowers. See photographs.
Biography: Violet Elmer (British, 1907-1988). A talented English ceramics designer whose work has often been overshadowed by more famous contemporaries like Clarice Cliff, Susie Cooper, and Charlotte Rhead. Despite her relative obscurity, her contributions to the decorative arts during the period of 1928-1937 are noteworthy.
Born on March 29, 1907, in Grandpont, Oxford, Violet Elmer was the youngest of three children in the Elmer family. Her early education included attending the Central Girls School in Oxford and later enrolling at the City of Oxford College of Technology in New Inn Hall Street. Her artistic talent became evident in her late teens when she won a National Arts Competition in 1924/5, showcasing her skills in still life, historic style, wallpaper, and carpet design. This success marked the beginning of her promising career. A turning point came when an exhibition of her artwork was held in The Potteries, where her work caught the eye of Mr. F. C. Wiltshaw of Wiltshaw and Robinson’s Carlton Ware Pottery in Stoke-upon-Trent. They expressed interest in acquiring her paintings, leading to her eventual position as a designer at the factory. Her designs adorned various earthenware items, including ginger jars, vases, chargers, tea and coffee services. Despite the intricacy and costliness of her designs, the skilled workforce successfully brought her visions to life. After her design career, Violet, now Mrs. Lawton, and her husband stylishly decorated their home in Westlands, Newcastle-under-Lyme, where they lived for over four decades. They were well-regarded in their community, known for their love of children and involvement in charity work, as well as interests in rambling, drama, and gardening. Violet survived her husband by several years, passing away on March 8, 1988.
In summary, Violet Elmer’s artistic legacy deserves recognition, as she was one of the finest designers of her time, leaving behind a lasting impact on the world of ceramics. Her artistry lives on as her unspoken obituary.
References:
Collecting Carleton Ware, pp.50.
Carlton Ware Newsletter #40. Ian Harwood & Jerome Wilsome. Violet Elmer – Artist and Designer (1907-1988)
Violet Elmer at the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge. Elaine Girling. 2016.07.05
