Rookwood Pottery (Maker). Othello Plaque. 1884. Cincinnati. White slip decorated earthenware with Standard glaze Seen as exotic, Islamic-style decorative motifs enjoyed great popularity in the United States in the 1880s, and William Shakespeare’s play Othello offered a famous example of a Moorish subject. Created by Rookwood Pottery, one of the earliest art pottery makers in the United States, this rare plaque may have been commissioned to commemorate a local production of the play. The designer evoked the main character’s Moorish origins by inscribing his name in pseudo-Arabic script and usin
Rookwood Pottery (Maker). Othello Plaque. 1884. Cincinnati. White slip decorated earthenware with Standard glaze Seen as exotic, Islamic-style decorative motifs enjoyed great popularity in the United States in the 1880s, and William Shakespeare’s play Othello offered a famous example of a Moorish subject. Created by Rookwood Pottery, one of the earliest art pottery makers in the United States, this rare plaque may have been commissioned to commemorate a local production of the play. The designer evoked the main character’s Moorish origins by inscribing his name in pseudo-Arabic script and using concentric bands of stylized foliate and calligraphic motifs reminiscent of Islamic architectural decoration.
Size: 3000px × 2682px
Photo credit: © WBC ART / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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