ticketsMember | Make a donation

Wave bowl

Designer Attributed to Christopher Dresser British, Scottish
Manufacturer Linthorpe Pottery Works British
ca. 1880
Not on view
This bowl, covered in a turquoise-green glaze with a yellow and green striped interior, is molded to suggest a cresting wave. Further molded with gadrooning and a band of small circles, the bowl reflects various sources upon which Christopher Dresser relied. Japanese prints strongly influenced European decorative arts in the second half of the nineteenth century. The powerful curve of Katsushika Hokusai's famous woodblock print The Great Wave at Kanagawa, which was known in the West, is echoed in the shape of this bowl.

This bowl was made by the Linthorpe firm following Dresser's trip to Japan in 1876/77. While not copying Japanese prototypes, Dresser, unlike his contemporaries, abstracted key design elements that suggest Japanese aesthetics.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Wave bowl
  • Designer: Attributed to Christopher Dresser (British, Glasgow, Scotland 1834–1904 Mulhouse)
  • Manufacturer: Linthorpe Pottery Works (British, 1879–1889)
  • Date: ca. 1880
  • Culture: British, Linthorpe, Yorkshire
  • Medium: Glazed earthenware
  • Dimensions: Overall: 7 × 7 × 4 1/2 in. (17.8 × 17.8 × 11.4 cm)
  • Classification: Ceramics-Pottery
  • Credit Line: Purchase, James David Draper Gift, in memory of Robert Isaacson, 2001
  • Object Number: 2001.549
  • Curatorial Department: European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

More Artwork

More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Wine bottle holder, Christopher Dresser British, Scottish, Electroplated metal, British, Sheffield
Wine bottle holder
Christopher Dresser
Hukin & Heath
ca. 1880
Clutha vase, Christopher Dresser British, Scottish, Glass, Scottish, Glasgow
Clutha vase
Multiple artists/makers
ca. 1890
Traveling tea set, Christopher Dresser British, Scottish, Gilt and silver-plated brass; split bamboo; leather covered wood with velvet on the underside and glazed cotton linings, British, Birmingham
Traveling tea set
Christopher Dresser
Hukin & Heath
ca. 1879
Panel of four tiles, framed, Christopher Dresser British, Scottish, Earthenware with inlaid colored clays (encaustic), British, Stoke-upon-Trent
Panel of four tiles, framed
Christopher Dresser
Campbell Brick & Tile Co.
ca. 1880
Spoon, Christopher Dresser British, Scottish, Glazed brown earthenware, silver, British, Linthorpe, Yorkshire
Spoon
Christopher Dresser
Linthorpe Pottery Works
1879–82

Related Content

Timeline of Art History

Entries from The Met's art encyclopedia.

Publications

Books, guides, and catalogues published by The Met.

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.