The Artistic Home
British art pottery from the Ian and Rita Smythe Collection
Displaying art pottery was key to creating a fashionable, 'artistic' home in the late 1800s. This display showcased the creativity and innovation of British art potteries and their artists, many of them women, who painted and decorated wares by hand.
This display is now closed at V&A South Kensington
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Display highlights
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Vase, by William De Morgan, 1881 – 1904, London, England. Museum no. C.238-2018. © Victoria and Albert Museum, London -
Dish, decorated by Alice Rathbone and Ruth Bare, made by Della Robbia Pottery, 1903, Birkenhead, England. Museum no. C.127-2018. © Victoria and Albert Museum, London -
Pilgrim bottle, painted by Eliza Jameson Strutt, made by Minton Art Pottery, 1872 – 73, London, England. Museum no. C.91-2018. © Victoria and Albert Museum, London -
Plaque, painted by William Stephen Coleman, made by Minton Art Pottery, 1871 – 75, England. Museum no. C.61-2018. © Victoria and Albert Museum, London -
Vase, painted by Leonard King, made by Burmantofts Pottery, about 1885 – 90, Leeds, England. Museum no. C.218-2018. © Victoria and Albert Museum, London -
Vases, painted by Mary Butterton, made by Doulton Lambeth, about 1885, London, England. Museum no. C.175-2018. © Victoria and Albert Museum, London -
Vase, painted by Alice Louisa Jones, made by Della Robbia Pottery, 1903 – 06, Birkenhead, England. Museum no. C.128-2018. © Victoria and Albert Museum, London -
Charger, painted by Charlotte H. Spiers, 1882, London, England. Museum no. C.86-2018. © Victoria and Albert Museum, London -
Vase, painted by Margaret E.Thompson, made by Doulton Lambeth, about 1900 – 05, London, England. Museum no. C.165-2018. © Victoria and Albert Museum, London
Related events
Past events
Features

William De Morgan – an introduction
Meet an imaginative and innovative 19th-century artist-potter

Arts and Crafts: design for the home
Which British designers applied Arts and Crafts principles in creating objects for the home? Find out in our A to Z guide.

Furnishing the aesthetic home
"If you want a golden rule that will fit everybody, this is it: have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful".
The Artistic Home
Header image: Charger, painted by Rebecca Coleman, made by Minton Art Pottery, 1871 – 75, London, England. Museum no. C.79-2018. © Victoria and Albert Museum, London