Bronze Age Gold from Wales

Teacup and saucer, cup with narrow foot, S shape sides and wide mouth, ornately scrolled ear-shaped handle, notched rim, saucer with footring and notched rim. Decorated with the 'White Rose' pattern; ground pattern of freely drawn black ovals, on saucer and both inside and outside cup, central circular motif of white rose printed in black in cup well and saucer well, green enamel ground around both roses, and bands of green enamel around foot, inside and outside cup rim, and around saucer rim.

This pattern is called 'White Rose'. It is one of at least nine known designs produced by Sutherland for the Modern Art for the Table project, which culminated in an influential exhibition at Harrods in 1934. The project was an attempt to improve the quality of British ceramic design by employing contemporary artists. It was led by Thomas Acland Fennemore, Art Director of E Brain & Company (Foley China), together with Sutherland himself and the designer Milner Gray, who invited leading artists of the day to contribute designs to be made in bone china by Foley and in earthenware by Wilkinson's. The artists involved included Laura Knight, Paul Nash, Ben Nicholson and Frank Brangwyn.