“Step into the world of Victorian design with these intricate sketches for luxury tableware. This drawing reveals the elaborate ornamentation and refined forms that defined mid-19th century decorative arts.”
This sheet presents a fascinating glimpse into Victorian-era design, showcasing five distinct objects: two ewers, two bottle-shaped vases, and a covered tureen. Rendered in delicate pen and ink with touches of watercolor, these designs are not just functional but highly decorative, reflecting the ornate tastes of the mid-19th century. Each piece is meticulously drawn, with attention given to the curves, handles, and finials, suggesting a designer's keen eye for form and embellishment. The subtle washes of watercolor hint at the metallic finishes or ceramic glazes intended for these luxury items. It's easy to imagine these elegant objects gracing a fashionable dining table or a collector's cabinet, embodying the period's love for elaborate craftsmanship and refined aesthetics.
- Artist
- Alfred Henry Forrester [Alfred Crowquill]
- Date
- 1845
- Medium
- Pen and ink, watercolor
- Location
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art
- Dimensions
- sheet: 16 3/4 x 11 7/16 in. (42.5 x 29 cm)
- Collection
- Drawings and Prints
- Credit line
- The Elisha Whittelsey Collection, The Elisha Whittelsey Fund, 1956
What to Notice
Five details hide in plain sight. Here’s where to look.

The delicate floral patterns etched into the ewers and vases.
The whimsical, almost fantastical, animal-head spouts on the ewers.
The intricate finial (top ornament) on the covered tureen.
The subtle watercolor shading that gives the objects a three-dimensional feel.
1 more detail is waiting.
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Further Works by Crowquill]
Designs for a Decorated Dish, or Platter, and a Biscuit Barrel
1845 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Designs for Two Ewers, a Carafe (two alternate designs), and a Covered Tureen
1845 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Eight Designs for Decorated Cups
1845 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Seven Designs for Decorated Cups
1845 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Six Designs for Decorated Cups
1845 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Ten Designs for Decorated Cups
1845 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Three Designs for Decorated Cups
1845 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Three Designs for Decorated Cups and Two Designs for a Candlestick
1845 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
More works to explore
Beyond Crowquill]: works from the same years.
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The Cottage by the Roadside, Stormy Sky
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Snow Storm: Steam-Boat off a Harbour's Mouth
J. M. W. Turner · 1842 · National Gallery
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Wooded Landscape
Gustave Courbet · 1848 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1830s–1860s
Arab Horseman Attacked by a Lion
Eugène Delacroix · 1849 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1830s–1860s
The Virgin Adoring the Host
Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres · 1841 · Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts
Same era · 1830s–1860s
Mount Chocorua and Moat Mountain from North Conway
William Hart · 1850
Same era · 1830s–1860s
Olive Trees
Vincent van Gogh · 1853 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Same era · 1830s–1860s
Young Spartan Girls Challenging Boys
Edgar Degas · 1860 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1830s–1860s
Portrait of Fred Adelbert Haywood
School of William Matthew Prior · 1848 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1830s–1860s
Mr. James Mackie
Samuel Alcock & Company · 1830 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1830s–1860s
Portrait of Mary Ann (c.1796–after 1880), Wife of the Reverend George Balleine
Philip John Ouless · 1846 · Jersey Museum and Art Gallery
![Designs for Two Ewers, Two Bottle-shaped Vases and a Covered Tureen by Alfred Henry Forrester [Alfred Crowquill]](https://images.artwhisper.app/artworks/2d24df19-f80b-4bd4-9675-f9441c3a3b83/0df1bbf6-4be4-4b9c-9521-acf91656ad13_lg.jpg)