Wedgwood Pottery (England, Est. 1759)
Susannah Margaretta “Daisy” Makeig-Jones (British, 1881-1945)
Blue Lustre Fruit Tyg, c. 1928
gilt, lustre, china
2” high x 2 ¾” widest diameter
Description: A Daisy Makeig-Jones designed ‘Ordinary Lustre’ range ‘Fruit’ pattern tyg in the ‘Blue Lustre’ colourway (Z5457) showcasing polychrome fruit, in this case a pear and grapes, delineated by gilt over a mottled blue lustre ground exterior and a contrasting mottled orange lustre interior, set within a gilt patterned border at the mouth and rim.
Makeig-Jones is most famous for her ‘Fairyland’ range of gilt fantasy imaginings on mottled lustre grounds. They are legendary and rightfully fetch into five figures. The ‘Ordinary Lustre’ range, alternately known as ‘Lustre’ or ‘China Lustre’, is that which initially preceded Fairyland and expanded to be produced during the same period, consisting of 27 different gilt over mottled lustre designs it included fruit, birds, butterflies, dragons and other mythical creatures. While many unscrupulous and uninformed dealers try to pass these off as Fairyland, they are not. They are designed by Daisy Makeig-Jones and made using the same decorative principle as the Fairyland range, accounting for their popularity with collectors. The Fruit lustre range even shared the copper-bronze lustre also utilized in early Fairyland pieces however, as the early ordinary lustre range, the design was an adaptation from the existing Wedgwood ‘Pershore’ pattern then stenciled in gilt over a blue/orange (Z5457) or bronze/mother-of-pearl (Z5458) lustre ground. Makeig-Jones frequently utilized existing patterns from Wedgwood, and other artistic sources, and adapted them using hatching, patterning and other more elaborate and imaginative expansions. This tyg, often described by Wedgwood sources as a three-handled straight sided loving mug, is an excellent example of the blue lustre fruit pattern created in 1928 and continuing into the early 1940’s.
Markings: gilt portland vase mark
Condition: Vintage, Very Good
For Accuracy: light wear, as expected on any vintage china. See photographs.
Reference:
Wedgwood Fairyland Lustre: The Work of Daisy Makeig-Jones. Des Fontaines, Una. Born-Hawes publishing Ltd. New York / Sotheby Parke Bernet Publications Ltd. London. 1975. pp. 69-90; 279
