Plate in the "Canton" Pattern
Item
Title
Plate in the "Canton" Pattern
Creator
Edward Colonna (des.) for Gérard, Dufraisseix & Abbot
Date
1899-1902 (ca.)
Medium
Glazed Porcelain
Object No.
2023.1.9
Credit line
Museum Purchase
Marks
Stamped on back in green: "L'Art / Nouveau / Bing" enclosed by designs.
Description
Stickley's purchases in Europe during the winter of 1902-3 show his affection for the lyrical lines of Art Nouveau and demonstrate a side of his aesthetic often hidden from view. While he advocated for “simplicity in all that pertains to the environment of material life under a democracy” his own tastes were more refined and tended toward the very preciousness he warned against. Stickley’s embrace of Colonna’s Canton pattern—itself a reference to the historical value of porcelain—reveals a side of him that is decorative, delicate, and elegant.
Associated names
Siegfried Bing (retailer)