Here for your consideration is a beautiful and extremely rare, Wedgwood pottery, Keith Murray, 9" duck egg blue, tapered, fluted and ribbed, cylindrical vase, pattern number 3991, dating circa 1940.
This vase is in wonderful original condition with no cracks, chips, fleabites, or damage. When you lightly flick the vase it rings beautifully. It does have some age-related patina/patination, commensurate with it’s 83 years of age, but nothing unusual.
The base has the "Keith Murray" "Wedgwood" "Barlaston, Made in England" back-stamp dating it to circa 1940.
This piece of Wedgwood pottery dates to 1940 because the base stamp changed to a circular Etruria KM Wedgwood, Made in England Barlaston stamp when earthenware production transferred to Barlaston in 1940.
Keith Day Pearce Murray (5 July 1892 - 1981) ...
A New Zealand born architect and designer who worked as a ceramics, glass and metal ware designer for Wedgwood in the 1930s and 1940s. He is considered one of the most influential designers of the Art deco style.
Murray was born in the Auckland suburb of Mt Eden. His father, John Murray was from Scotland and his mother Lillian was from Nelson, New Zealand. The family emigrated to England when he was 14. He graduated from the Architectural Association School of Architecture in London in 1921.
His visits to exhibitions such as the 1925 Exposition in Paris, and the 1931 Exhibition of Swedish Industrial Art in London inspired Murray to seek out opportunities to design vases and tableware’s for factory production, and as the depression of the early 1930s further reduced the demand for architecture he became a full-time designer.
He worked as a freelance designer at Stevens & Williams of Brierley Hill in the West Midlands in 1932. The trial pieces were shown in London that year and the 'Keith Murray range' was produced. Between 1932 and 1939 he produced over 1200 designs though many were only issued in quantities of six or twelve. In 1932 he also began working 2–3 months a year for the Wedgwood pottery. His designs in metal were created for Mappin and Webb.
Most of his work was with vases, bowls and similar cylindrical ware, executed in a clean and restrained style with decoration often limited to deeply incised lines or smooth steps in the shape. The whole piece is usually one colour without applied decoration.
From the beginning Murray's stature as a designer was recognised as every piece bore his signature above the prestigious Wedgwood mark. In 1936 Keith Murray was appointed architect in charge of designing the new Wedgwood factory at Barlaston Staffordshire. Following the war he returned to architecture and left the field of industrial design. Keith Murray's work sold well at the time, and has now become increasingly sought-after, as time has passed.
Dimensions as follows ...
Height: 9 inches or 22.8 cm
Diameter: 6.9 inches or 17.5 cm (top)
Diameter: 4 inches or 10.1 cm (base)
Weight: 2lb 12 oz or 1.2 kg
These stunning vases have become so very desirable and collectable and are appreciating in value, since being illustrated in Stephen Johnson and George Perrott's, Keith Murray designer book, page 75. These duck egg blue, Keith Murray vases are just so rare and collectable. They don’t even have a photo of it in the Keith Murray book.
This extremely rare, Wedgwood, duck egg blue, tapered, cylindrical vase is a stunning piece of architectural design pottery.
A magnificent piece of extremely rare, Wedgwood pottery. A really beautiful, eye catching vase that you just can't fail to be impressed by. This very highly collectable and sought-after vase would make a superb gift.
The vase will be carefully packaged and posted, recorded, special delivery with insurance.
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