Leonard King

Designed by Leonard King for Burmantofts

This impressive vase features a striking palette of turquoise, blue, green and rose against a white ground, with stylised floral designs set evenly across a central register. The shoulder is marked with a band outlined in rose featuring five pendant motifs, each enclosing petalled flowers, against a blue and turquoise geometric ground.  The neck bears downward splayed and tapered turquoise lines, while stylised cloud band motifs encircle the base and the lip. In Orientalist fashion, the palette and floral designs are reminiscent of Iznik wares.
The base of the vase is inscribed with the initials ‘LK’ denoting the artist Leonard King who worked for the Burmantofts factory.  Additionally the ‘Burmantofts Faience’ mark ‘BF’ is impressed on the side of the foot.  Burmantofts made ceramic works for nearly a century, yet it was only during the short period from 1880 until 1904 that the company produced artistic pottery.