Charles Wileman Foley Intarsio Art Nouveau Long Neck Vase C.1899

A gorgeous Charles Wileman Foley Intarsio Art Nouveau vase c1899. The vase is of a squat baluster form with long neck and out-turned rim. Attractive sinuous Art Nouveau floral and foliate design encircling the body and neck of the vase. Geometric design to inside and outside of rim. Cw Foley Intarsio mark used 1894 to 1910 and pattern number 3200. The vase measures 22 cm in height and 13.5 cm maximum diameter. The origins of Shelley (Foley) pottery were in the district known as Foley in the potteries and goes back to pre-1829. By 1872 several changes in ownership resulted in the company being known as Wileman & Co but using Foley mark. The appointment of Frederick Rhead as Art Director in 1896 had a dramatic influence on the style and variety of earthenware products produced. This included the introduction of ‘Intarsio’ ware, which became one of their most popular ranges of art pottery produced by Wileman & Co – exhibited by Liberty’s, one of the main trend-setters of the time. Rhead left the company in 1905. In 1910 the trade name was changed to Shelley Potteries Ltd. and a new mark bearing the name ‘Shelley’ was introduced.