Pitcher 1875 - 1885

This pitcher was created by Christopher Dresser, a Scottish designer operating in the late 19th century. He embraced Japanese design principles during a time of Victorian maximalism. Dresser challenged the prevailing aesthetic of his era, advocating for simplicity and functionality in design. His travels to Japan and studies of Japanese art profoundly influenced his aesthetic. He integrated elements like asymmetry, clean lines, and natural motifs, which are visible in the pitcher’s streamlined form and understated ornamentation. During the Victorian era, tea ceremonies became central to social rituals, particularly for women. Tea accoutrements like this pitcher signaled respectability and elevated taste. Dresser's designs, however, were more accessible. His proto-modernist pieces democratized good design for the rising middle classes. Dresser’s pitcher speaks to a shift in design thinking, from excessive ornamentation to the essential beauty of form and function.