These Norman Conquest Vases were decorated by Thomas Bott to mark the 800th Anniversary of the Norman Conquest in 1866 - they are the culmination of his art in this style he created known as Limoges enamel. They were the last pieces finished by Bott before his early death in 1870.
These ornate yet sombre vases were painstakingly decorated by Thomas Bott to mark the 800th Anniversary of the Norman Conquest in 1866. The scenes that encircle the vases are a faithful reproduction of the drawings by Daniel Maclise that had been exhibited in Pall Mall in 1859. Maclise’s drawings were based on scenes from the Bayeux Tapestry.
These vases exemplify the technique of Limoges enamels which Bott created and mastered at Royal Worcester – to recreate the aesthetic of 15th century Limoges fine enamel painting on metal Bott laboriously applied layers of onglaze translucent white ceramic pigment onto deep rich grounds of cobalt blue. In this way he built up scenes with a level of detail and depth resembling a carved cameo. Bott was continuously awarded in the International Exhibitions of the age. He suffered from ill-health, quite possibly lead poisoning from licking his brush to a fine point (bearing lead-containing pigments) and sadly died at the age of 41 before he could see these vases, his final masterpieces, displayed at the 1871 London Exhibition.
Date: 1868 - 1870
Artist: painter Thomas Bott/ gilder Josiah Davis)
Material: Bone China
Factory: Royal Worcester
Artist: painter Thomas Bott/ gilder Josiah Davis)
Material: Bone China
Factory: Royal Worcester
From the Archive
Original drawing of a cherub by Thomas Bott for Queen Victoria's Dessert Service, c. 1854-1862
Original drawings by Thomas Bott for Queen Victoria's Dessert Service, c. 1854-1862
Original Greek frieze design by Thomas Bott for Queen Victoria's Dessert Service, c. 1854-1862
Illustration of Royal Worcester porcelain by Thomas Bott displayed in the London Exhibition 1871, from the Illustrated London News, July 22nd 1871
Title page for 'Catalogue of a Collection of Worcester Porcelain in The Museum of the Royal Porcelain Works' by R. W. Binns, 1882.
Catalogue entry detail of the Norman Conquest Vases from 'Catalogue of a Collection of Worcester Porcelain in The Museum of the Royal Porcelain Works' by R. W. Binns, 1882, p. 182.
Illustration of the Norman Conquest vase from 'Catalogue of a Collection of Worcester Porcelain in The Museum of the Royal Porcelain Works' by R. W. Binns, 1882.