The Home Beautiful: The Well Spring Vase, 1847-1865

The Well Spring
Richard Redgrave
Minton, 1865
The Victoria & Albert Museum

The design of this vase, dating to 1847, was known as the “Well Spring” and was developed by painter and writer Richard Redgrave (1804-1888). If the name is familiar to regular readers of this site, it’s because I’ve often mentioned Sir Richard in his role of Surveyor of the Queen’s Pictures, under Queen Victoria.

Redgrave originally produced the design in 1847 for Felix Summerly's Art Manufactures. This design is a great example of the early Victorian decorating ideal of the decoration of an object describing its function.

So, how did this vase and its design come about? The design, and others like it, was promoted by Henry Cole (1808-1882)—a proponent of the philosophy of form echoing function. Cole was approached by the Society of Arts in 1845 about a prize to be given for designs for a tea service. Cole decided to enter the contest, but preferred to use a pseudonym—Felix Summerly. Summerly/Cole won a silver medal in the 1846 competition and his design was produced by Minton. But, Cole yearned for more and personally wanted to “promote public taste.” To this end, he decided to start his own manufacture wherein well-known painters, such as Richard Redgrave, could produce designs specific to certain objects. Thusly, Cole founded in 1847 “Summerly's Art Manufactures.” The concern produced these sorts of objects for three years, but by 1851 Cole was distracted by the Great Exhibition and let other manufacturers, especially Stoke-on-Trent’s Minton, produce the designs which had originally created for Summerly’s.

However, before the end of Summerly’s, Cole enjoyed an association with many fine artists. The “Well Spring” was Richard Redgrave's first design for the Summerly scheme. Redgrave submitted the design to Henry Cole in January of 1847. The original design of a handled vessel, the handles shaped like leaves, was described by Redgrave as “the Water Jug.” The two-handled porcelain vase was adorned with scenes of water plants and water lilies in a garland.

While this example is clearly taken from Redgrave’s original design for the vase, the object itself was not made by Summerly’s, but, later by Minton in 1865. It is inscribed underneath: “MINTON & CO Modelled in 1847 Manufactured in 1865.” 

Painting of the Day: Sweet Summertime, 1869

Click image to enlarge."Sweet Summertime"
Richard Redgrave, 1869
The Victoria & Albert Museum

Richard Redgrave (1804-1888) was known for his majestic English landscapes. Redgrave had a deep affection for the land and his passion showed in his paintings. Painted in 1869, this scene of shepherds depicts Wotton Meadows, near the Redgrave’s home in Surrey.

The canvas is signed, “Richd Redgrave 1869.” While today we remember Redgrave as a painter, he was also an educator and key player in the Royal Collection. This troubled the artist throughout his later life as he felt more associated with these roles than with his beloved artwork. According to the V&A, “In 1847 he began his official career in art education as Master at the Government School of Design, becoming Head Master in 1848, Art Superintendent 1852, Inspector General 1857, and Director 1874.”

Redgrave was also famously appointed as “Inspector of the Queen's Pictures” by Queen Victoria. For Her Majesty, Redgrave compiled a catalogue of the Royal Collection from 1857-1879. He wrote in 1856:

“I regret to find that I am so identified with office work that it is almost forgotten that I am a painter.”