WILLIAM DE MORGAN (1839-1917)

The design for the tiles forming the sides of this composition, executed in blue, green and purple watercolor, was given to the Victoria & Albert Museum (accession no. E.699-1917) by Evelyn de Morgan in 1917, and is also illustrated in M. Greenwood and R. Dennis, The Designs of William de Morgan, Ilminster, 1989, p. 126, fig. 699. An executed tile is held in the collection of the British Museum (reg. no. 1980,0307.16). The motif is recorded as having been designed prior to 1888, the year in which De Morgan and Halsey Ricardo entered into partnership to operate the Sands End Pottery in Fulham.