Wedgwood mid-century Queensware pottery Taurus the Bull by Arnold Machin C.1950

Considered to be the first British Iconic piece of contemporary pottery, Wedgwood’s famous Queensware pottery Taurus the Bull, modelled by Arnold Machin, the Zodiac designs once believed to be by Eric Ravilious or/and Eric Fraser. After the death of both Eric Ravilious (died 1942) and Eric Fraser, Arnold Machin wrote a letter to the Wedgwood Museum (V&A extract below) stating that he was solely responsible for both the modelling and the designs. Although this is widely accepted today, Art books written during the production of the piece attributed the designs to either one. Also Sotheby’s and Christie’s early descriptions also attribute the designs to these two other designers. So not only is this piece an iconic design piece but also it has now some controversy over its creation. Bearing both impressed and printed mark. The piece was designed between 1940-45 but went into production in 1950.

Note: It is not unusual to have items sometimes change attributions, as more references, fragments being found etc… increases the expert knowledge known about a particular item. Our reference to the earlier publications is to assist buyers by relating some of the earlier history of the piece, in no way does it challenge today’s thinking.

Arnold Machin letter – reference taken from the V&A Collections: In April 1979 Arnold Machin wrote to the Museum stating:

‘I designed … a Zodiac Bull which I think is the most interesting piece of the period. It was made during the war and at that time Wedgwood were manufacturing mainly army mugs and utility ware which would be produced by semi-skilled labour. Even the moulding weams were part of the design and the forms were simplified so that the workers who finished the mugs with a sponge were able to use the same process on the bull without any extra care or skill. The decoration of the zodiac signs were drawn by myself on the lithographic plates and all the decoration including eyes, nostrils etc., were mechanically achieved thus eliminating the necessity of any special skills and preserving the original quality’

Circa 1950+

Good Condition – a very good example

16 inches (40cm) width X 6.5 inches (16.5cm) height X 6 inches (15cm) depth approx

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