Dominic Winter Auctioneers is offering an exciting opportunity to purchase an important sketchbook belonging to William De Morgan, arguably the most innovative designer of the Arts & Crafts Movement, and certainly the foremost ceramic artist of the period.
The small notebook is full of beautifully-executed sketches, drawings and studies, ranging widely in subject, from humorous cartoons to classical figure studies, vase and tile designs to religious scenes. We believe that the vase and tile designs contained in this sketchbook may never have been brought to fruition. The front of the notebook has the artist's distinctive large monogram in ink, formed in the shape of a stick man.
Original artwork by William De Morgan seldom comes onto the market, still less an entire book of sketches; such an item has not, to our knowledge, appeared at auction before.
Also in the two-day sale is a late Fulham period 'Sunset and Moonlight Suite' triple-lustre dish designed by William De Morgan and decorated by Charles Passenger, in very fine condition, as well as two female head studies by William's wife, Evelyn De Morgan.
