Framed Ceramic Shakespeare Tiles after J. H. Bacon, 1930

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Glazed ceramic surfaces carry richly coloured narrative scenes inspired by the plays of william shakespeare, designed in the manner of … Read more Glazed ceramic surfaces carry richly coloured narrative scenes inspired by the plays of william shakespeare, designed in the manner of miniature edwardian genre paintings. The first tile illustrates a scene from as you like it, showing rosalind in the forest of arden alongside companions near a substantial tree trunk inscribed with her name. The companion panel renders hamlet and ophelia, capturing the two central figures in period attire upon a stone terrace overlooking an open body of water, inscribed with the scene title along the lower edge. The panel depicting hamlet and ophelia bears the painted signature 'j. H. Bacon' towards the lower right corner, referring to the british painter and illustrator john henry frederick bacon. Each composition relies on soft tonal washes and delicate figurative drawing to delineate the drapery of the costumes and the natural foliage. Fine glaze crazing extends uniformly across the surfaces, typical of decorative earthenware tiles manufactured during the interwar era, probably from the 1930s. Both tiles are secured within matching giltwood frames featuring open pierced scrollwork borders and beaded sight edges. The frames retain their solid wooden backboards, fastened with small brass screws, and are equipped with folding easel struts alongside wire loops for either tabletop display or wall mounting. One backboard preserves a printed paper trade label for w. F. Gadsby ltd, picture frame makers and art dealers of market place and braunstone gate, leicester.

each framed square measures approximately 19 cm high by 19 cm wide. Well balanced as a pair, the framed tiles offer decorative appeal suited to a library, study, or mantelpiece setting. See less