THOMAS FORESTER & SONS Arts and Crafts vase. England, ca. 1910.
Glazed porcelain.
Arts and Crafts vase from the English manufactory of Thomas Forester & Sons Phoenix Ware, in glazed porcelain with peacock and landscape decoration in various colours and gold dust.
Marks on the reverse.
Provenance: Spanish private collection, formed between 1970 and 2010.
Slight chipping on the mouthpiece. Normal wear and tear due to use and the passage of time.
Measurements: 31.5 cm (height) x 20 cm (largest diameter).
Thomas Forester was born in 1832. His father was a warehouseman at the Minton Porcelain Manufactory and Thomas was apprenticed there as an ironmaster. In 1856, Thomas was employed as a manager at the Victoria Works, Shelton, for Lockett, Baguley & Cooper. After a few years he joined Mrs Wardle (Wardle & Co) as a majolica maker. He was invited to take over the works of Messrs Peterinck & Son at Tournai in Belgium. Thomas Forester returned to England and in 1877 started his business on a small building site in High Street, Longton and soon took on additional premises in Church Street: Church Street Mayolica Works. He demolished Church Street Works and built Phoenix Works, which he completed in 1879. In early 1883, he entered into partnership with his sons Herbert and Victor and the company title became '& Sons'. Incorporated as a Limited Company in 1891. In 1893, the firm was recorded as employing 520 people at the Imperial and Phoenix Works and by 1900 employed over 700 people.