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Middlesbrough 'claims' designer Christopher Dresser | Middlesbrough 'claims' designer Christopher Dresser |
(1 day later) | |
The "father of industrial design" is being honoured in the Teesside town where he aimed to set up an art industry colony. | The "father of industrial design" is being honoured in the Teesside town where he aimed to set up an art industry colony. |
Christopher Dresser has also been described as the forgotten figure of the Victorian art world, as he never gained the recognition of contemporaries such as William Morris. | Christopher Dresser has also been described as the forgotten figure of the Victorian art world, as he never gained the recognition of contemporaries such as William Morris. |
However, he created what were effectively some of the first designer labels in ceramics, wallpaper, textiles, glass and pottery ware. | However, he created what were effectively some of the first designer labels in ceramics, wallpaper, textiles, glass and pottery ware. |
In 1879, Dresser helped found Linthorpe Art Pottery in Middlesbrough to provide employment for redundant ironworkers. | In 1879, Dresser helped found Linthorpe Art Pottery in Middlesbrough to provide employment for redundant ironworkers. |
A £10,000 bequest has now led to the formation of the Christopher Dresser Society at Teesside University, to recognise his work and create a resource for further scholarship. | A £10,000 bequest has now led to the formation of the Christopher Dresser Society at Teesside University, to recognise his work and create a resource for further scholarship. |
It is being launched with a lecture and symposium later, and there will also be behind-the-scenes events at the Dorman Museum, which holds the world's largest collection of Linthorpe Pottery. | It is being launched with a lecture and symposium later, and there will also be behind-the-scenes events at the Dorman Museum, which holds the world's largest collection of Linthorpe Pottery. |
Dresser was born in Glasgow in 1834 and went on to travel widely in Japan, America and across Britain. | Dresser was born in Glasgow in 1834 and went on to travel widely in Japan, America and across Britain. |
Although he was based in London for much of his life, there were a number of ties to the North East. | |
Dresser was particularly concerned with unemployment in the region. | Dresser was particularly concerned with unemployment in the region. |
'Consultant designer' | |
Paul Denison, principal lecturer in design history at Teesside University, said: "Research suggests he had family in Darlington and North Yorkshire, and his father at one point lived in Stockton. | Paul Denison, principal lecturer in design history at Teesside University, said: "Research suggests he had family in Darlington and North Yorkshire, and his father at one point lived in Stockton. |
"He found the environment for manufacturing particularly fruitful, the people welcomed him with open arms and were more to his liking than London society, which appeared to exclude him." | |
However, his main local legacy is the Linthorpe Pottery. | However, his main local legacy is the Linthorpe Pottery. |
Mr Denison said: "The story goes that he knew John Harrison, owner of the Sun Brickworks and suggested to him that the clay used to make bricks was also suitable for domestic ware. | Mr Denison said: "The story goes that he knew John Harrison, owner of the Sun Brickworks and suggested to him that the clay used to make bricks was also suitable for domestic ware. |
"Dresser said 'what you should be doing is making pottery'. | "Dresser said 'what you should be doing is making pottery'. |
"Harrison set it up and employed Dresser as what we'd now call a consultant designer, but was then an arts superintendent. | "Harrison set it up and employed Dresser as what we'd now call a consultant designer, but was then an arts superintendent. |
"He was paid at piece rate to produce a certain number of designs. He ended up doing hundreds." | "He was paid at piece rate to produce a certain number of designs. He ended up doing hundreds." |
Originally, it was envisaged the "arts industry" complex would branch out into other areas but the Dresser/Harrison association only lasted four years. | Originally, it was envisaged the "arts industry" complex would branch out into other areas but the Dresser/Harrison association only lasted four years. |
It is not clear why they parted ways - one theory is that Dresser's designs were considered too avant garde. | It is not clear why they parted ways - one theory is that Dresser's designs were considered too avant garde. |
Yet it was perhaps his perceived commercialism that was responsible for his relative lack of present-day recognition. | |
Local talent | Local talent |
Mr Denison said: "He doesn't get quite the attention he deserves. | Mr Denison said: "He doesn't get quite the attention he deserves. |
"There was a period between 1904, when he died, and the 1930s, when he was almost written out of history. | "There was a period between 1904, when he died, and the 1930s, when he was almost written out of history. |
"This had something to do with the fact that there was a sort of pecking order for who got written about and who didn't. | "This had something to do with the fact that there was a sort of pecking order for who got written about and who didn't. |
"His contemporary William Morris, who was actually born in the same year, won out. | "His contemporary William Morris, who was actually born in the same year, won out. |
"Dresser was considered to be very commercial. | "Dresser was considered to be very commercial. |
"His signature was his brand - in that respect they were the first designer labels." | "His signature was his brand - in that respect they were the first designer labels." |
The Christopher Dresser Society hopes to bring wider recognition for an influential figure in the history of design. | The Christopher Dresser Society hopes to bring wider recognition for an influential figure in the history of design. |
"His peripatetic life means that nobody has really laid claim to him," Mr Denison said. | "His peripatetic life means that nobody has really laid claim to him," Mr Denison said. |
"Since Middlesbrough has this amazing collection of Dresser ware, it is appropriate that we bring his name to a wider audience. | "Since Middlesbrough has this amazing collection of Dresser ware, it is appropriate that we bring his name to a wider audience. |
"Dresser was concerned with unemployment, and the same circumstances prevail now. | "Dresser was concerned with unemployment, and the same circumstances prevail now. |
"Maybe there's a way of thinking about locally-produced material, using locally-tapped talent. | "Maybe there's a way of thinking about locally-produced material, using locally-tapped talent. |
"There are lessons here from history." | "There are lessons here from history." |
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