School of Art

Contact Details

School of Art
Aberystwyth University
Buarth Mawr
Aberystwyth
Ceredigion
SY23 1NG

Tel: +44 (0)1970 622460

Fax: +44 (0)1970 622461

Email: artschool@aber.ac.uk


Display artist/maker:

Louise Powell

Born: 1882   Died: 1956

Calligrapher, ceramacist and designer. Née Lessore, granddaughter of the ceramic painter Emile Lessore (1805-1876) and sister of the painter Thérèse Lessore (1884-1945). Studied at the Central School of Arts and Crafts alongside Eric Gill (1882-1940). As a friend of May Morris, daughter of William Morris, she became involved with the Arts and Crafts Movement designing needlework and hangings but specialising in manuscript illumination. She adapted the latter skill to ceramics collaborating with her husband Alfred Powell (1865-1960) for Wedgwood & Sons Ltd. They had studios in London and the Cotswolds where they hand painted Wedgwood unglazed pottery blanks with designs which combined calligraphy with motifs of stylised flowers and animals. Many of these designs were derived from 18th-century Wedgwood pattern books. The pottery was then sent to Wedgwood for glazing and final firing. They trained paintresses in Wedgwood's Etruria factory, creating a revival in free-hand painting and Alfred also designed a selection of standard shapes. The under-glaze decoration is difficult to do correctly as, unlike over-glaze design, it cannot be wiped off if a mistake is made. She was a member of the Society of Scribes and Illuminators.

Objects in the collections associated with this artist/maker

[Bowl] C317 Ceramics

[Cup and saucer] C324 Ceramics

[Dish] C335 Ceramics

[Jar] C311 Ceramics

[Jug] C315 Ceramics

[Jug] C316 Ceramics

[Jug] C343 Ceramics

[Large bowl] C331 Ceramics

[Large dish] C332 Ceramics

[Large dish] C334 Ceramics

[Large plate] C330 Ceramics

[Large plate] C333 Ceramics

[Lidded jar] C313 Ceramics

[Lidded jar] C314 Ceramics

[Lidded sugar basin] C309 Ceramics

[Lidded sugar basin] C310 Ceramics

[Mug] C340 Ceramics

[Mug] C342 Ceramics

[Plate] C321 Ceramics

[Plate] C322 Ceramics

[Soup cup and saucer] C318 Ceramics

[Vase] C344 Ceramics

The Souls of the Just WD347 WaterColourOrDrawings




 
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