Designs for Tureens and a Platter

Art Historical Context

"Designs for Ture and a Platter"1845–55) is a delicate preparatory drawing by Alfred Henry Forrester, better known by his pseudonym Alfred Crowqu, in collaboration with Samuel Alcock Company. Forrester, a prolific Victorian illustrator and caricaturist, lent his whimsical yet precise hand to these designs for elegant serving dishes—tureens for soups and stews, and a grand platter. Created during Britain's industrial boom, this sheet captures the era's fascination with ornate tableware, blending functionality with decorative flair. Rendered in graphite, pen and ink, brush, and wash on a modest 16 3/4 x 11 7/16-inch sheet, the work showcases Forrester's mastery of mixed media. Fine ink lines delineate intricate patterns, while subtle washes add depth and shadow, evoking the glossy sheen of anticipated ceramics. Samuel Alcock & Company, a leading Staffordshire potter, likely used such drawings to guide production of earthenware for middle-class dining tables. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department, this piece highlights the behind-the-scenes artistry of 19th-century design. It reveals how illustrators like Crowquill bridged fine art and manufacturing, democratizing luxury through mass-produced ornamentation inspired by Renaissance and Rococo motifs. A charming glimpse into Victorian domestic life!

About the Artist

Alfred Henry Forrester [Alfred Crowquill]|Samuel Alcock & Company · 1804–1872

Alfred Henry Forrester, widely known by his pseudonym Alfred Crowquill, was a versatile British illustrator, author, and caricaturist whose whimsical creations captured the Victorian imagination. Born on 10 September 1804 in London to public notary Robert Forrester, he shared a prolific collaboration with his elder brother, Charles Robert Forrester (1803–1850), who wrote under the name Hal Willis....