Page 7 - A Family Of Artists: 360 Tour Guide to De Morgan Collection at Cannon Hall Museum

A Family of Artists THE DE MORGAN COLLECTION
William De Morgan 1839-1917
William De Morgan was one of the most important ceramic artists of the Arts and Crafts Movement. He initially trained as a fine artist at the Royal Academy Schools but his artistic direction changed when in 1863 he met William Morris.
He was heavily influenced by the Arts and Crafts ethos and by 1872 had decided to set up his own company making ceramics.
De Morgan sold his imaginative wares through his own workshop and through Arts and Crafts retailers such as Morris and Co. In addition, he worked on a range of commissions, producing tiles and ceramics for manufacturers of other interior products such as fire place surrounds. He made spectacular ceramics and tiles for stately homes and the P&O shipping line.
By marrying Evelyn, William became part of the extended Spencer-Stanhope family and spent time at Cannon Hall and in Florence. De Morgan decided to stop making ceramics in 1904 at which time he embarked on his second career as a writer. He wrote seven novels and a further two were finalised by his wife after his death.
www.demorgan.org.uk www.cannon-hall.com