Vase with "Old Bogey" pattern

Designer Christopher Dresser British, Scottish

Manufactory Minton(s) British

ca. 1867

On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 516

This vase shows Christopher Dresser’s prolific work on behalf of Minton, the largest industrial manufacturer of ceramics in Victorian England. This design was shown at the 1867 Exposition Universelle in Paris. In his 1873 publication, The Principles of Decorative Design, Dresser described the strange horned and winged creature on this vase as "Old Bogey," which may allude to the fascination with the Occult that swept through Victorian England at the time. Indeed, "Old Bogey" was used as a term to refer to Satan, and could be found in the illustration of Eliphas Lévi’s book, Dogme et Rituel de la Haute Magie (1855).

Artwork Details

Overview

Signatures, Inscriptions, and Markings

Provenance

Title: Vase with "Old Bogey" pattern
Designer: Christopher Dresser (British, Glasgow, Scotland 1834–1904 Mulhouse)
Manufactory: Minton(s) (British, Stoke-on-Trent, 1793–present)
Date: ca. 1867
Culture: British
Medium: Bone china
Dimensions: confirmed: 11 7/16 × 5 1/2 × 5 1/2 in., 3.1 lb. (29 × 14 × 14 cm, 1.4 kg)
Classification: Ceramics-Pottery
Credit Line: Gift of Lawrence A. and Janet Y. Larose, 2021
Object Number: 2021.153.5
Curatorial Department: European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

More Artwork

A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.

Wine bottle holder, Christopher Dresser British, Scottish, Electroplated metal, British, Sheffield — Wine bottle holder
Christopher Dresser
Hukin & Heath
ca. 1880

Clutha vase, Christopher Dresser British, Scottish, Glass, Scottish, Glasgow — Clutha vase
Multiple artists/makers
ca. 1890

Traveling tea set, Christopher Dresser British, Scottish, Gilt and silver-plated brass; split bamboo; leather covered wood with velvet on the underside and glazed cotton linings, British, Birmingham — Traveling tea set
Christopher Dresser
Hukin & Heath
ca. 1879

Panel of four tiles, framed, Christopher Dresser British, Scottish, Earthenware with inlaid colored clays (encaustic), British, Stoke-upon-Trent — Panel of four tiles, framed
Christopher Dresser
Campbell Brick & Tile Co.
ca. 1880

Spoon, Christopher Dresser British, Scottish, Glazed brown earthenware, silver, British, Linthorpe, Yorkshire — Spoon
Christopher Dresser
Linthorpe Pottery Works
1879–82

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.