A very lovely pair of Aesthetic Movement miniature vases designed by Christopher Dresser for the Linthorpe Pottery c1880. The vases are of trilobed form with short cylindrical necks and everted rims. Relief decorated with highly stylised foliate design. Attractive olive-green glaze with a slight metallic lustre. Yellow-ochre to rims and inside necks. Clear impressed Chr. Dresser signature and HT for Henry Tooth together with impressed Linthorpe Pottery mark. The vases measure 7.5 cm in height.
 
In 1879 John Harrison (a local businessman) established Linthorpe Pottery in conjunction with Christopher Dresser, one of the most influential designers of the late 19th century. Dresser acted as artistic director at the Pottery until 1882 and continued to submit designs whilst the Pottery remained in production. Dresser recommended Henry Tooth, an artist from Buckinghamshire working at that time on the Isle of Wight, as pottery manager. Henry Tooth, with no prior experience of clay or pottery left Ryde for Linthorpe, spending time at the T.G. Green pottery in Church Gresley, Derbyshire to get a foundation in ceramics. Henry Tooth had brought Richard Patey with him from the Isle of Wight, who managed the pottery after he left in 1882 (to establish to Bretby Pottery in partnership with William Ault). Linthorpe Pottery was only in existence between 1879 and 1889. For more information on Linthorpe Pottery visit our Maker's History pages.