There are a number of vases in the collection at RAMM made by the Martin Brothers. They were actively producing work in the 19th century and were involved in the Victorian Arts and Crafts movement as well as the Gothic Revival – a movement rooted in architecture reminiscent of the Middle Ages.
The four brothers were renowned for their eccentric and quirky designs. With their innovative ceramic and pottery techniques drawing inspiration from a wide range of sources, from medieval crafts to Japanese and Chinese pottery.
Many artists during this time of increased industry and pollution turned to the natural world for inspiration. The brothers pioneered these ideas, incorporating abstract natural forms into their pottery. This concept has sometimes been referred to as the ‘back to nature’ style, where textures and form relate to nature without having any direct reference to a specific object. Part of this process was about celebrating the characteristics of a material i.e. the grain of wood or the texture of a certain clay. This can be seen in these vases by the Martin brothers that have muted earthy tones and dull surfaces.
Each brother played a part and had a specific role within the company. Robert was the designer, Walter was the potter and chemist, Edwin the engraver and decorator and Charles acted as the commercial manager. With 50 years of experience (from between 1873-1923) and each piece being handcrafted, no two ceramics are identical.
This vase (above) displays a characteristic salt-glazed stoneware. This technique is a strong and non-porous form of pottery uses a high-temperature firing method where salt is thrown into the kiln. The salt fuses to the clay to create a semi-matt and speckled looking surface. Unlike other glazing techniques that hide the clay underneath, this approach is more decorative as it marks and engraved the clay.
You can explore more pottery from the Martin Brothers here.
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