Lot 217: Robert Ellis Williams (1928-2015) for J. & G. Meakin 'Going Places' trio

Robert Ellis Williams (1928-2015) for J. & G. Meakin
'Going Places' trio
including a cup and saucer and large plate
manufacturer's back stamps
the plate 25cm diameter, with the original artwork comprising three drawings for this series of figures, high speed trains, planes and ships for plates and saucers, each sheet 27.8cm x 30.2cm.

Collection of Robert Ellis Williams (1928-2015)

Robert Ellis William worked as a designer for the firm J & G. Meakin, a company that was amongst the first British pottery works to experiment with modernist design in the art deco and 1950s periods.

As early as 1929, they had introduced the 'Moderne' range with angular shapes decorated with geometric patterns. After 1945 the firm introduced the new streamline Studio shape (1953) and Horizon shape (1955), influenced by American modernist designers particularly Russell Wright and the Studio shape was one of the most commercially successful productions for Meakins until the late-1970s.

At the heart of their manufacture they placed an emphasis on original design and craftsmanship, one of the first companies to do so and Ellis Williams was central to this in the post-1945 period. This collection shows the importance of Ellis Williams as a leading modernist influence on the designs for J & G Meakin, and includes some rare designs that never went into full production.