William De Morgan Fantastic Duck Tiles

De Morgan Fulham Period

A peasant will stand on the top of a hill for a very long time with his mouth open before a roast duck will fly in. ~Spanish proverb

Fulham Indigo Ducks

William De Morgan Fantastic Ducks. Early Arts and Crafts Tile design by William De Morgan, Fulham period, circa 1888.

Indigo Ducks were done on six-inch squares during De Morgan's Fulham period. Their process is relatively unique for Fulham tiles. For a decade, De Morgan and his wife wintered in Florence, Italy, due to health concerns. De Morgan continued to design tiles and would have his new tile patterns painted onto paper locally, then sent to London and transferred onto the tiles. The indigo ducks, however, were stenciled, probably done as a cost-saving measure, but with excellent effect. A double application of glaze resulted in their darker necklaces.

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Merton Abbey and Fulham Fantastic Ducks

During his Merton Abbey and Fulham periods, De Morgan created many tiles with fantastic creatures, such as the Fantastic Birds and Beasts and later his Fantastic Bird panel. I especially like the Fantastic Ducks because, while being characteristic of De Morgan and early English Arts & Crafts, they work very well in American Arts & Crafts (Craftsman) style homes.

William De Morgan fantastic ducks in indigo, blue and blue on white, and Fulham ducks

From left: Indigo fantastic ducks, Blue and white ducks, Fulham ducks

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Blue and White Fantastic Ducks

The earlier ducks were two-color tiles, usually done in blue or red on a white background. Lewis Carroll's fireplace at Oxford has several of the two-color tiles installed. In addition to the Fulham Indigo ducks, I have two other versions: The deep indigo and white ducks shown with the ships and galleons, and a blue-and-blue version which works well with the Fantastic Birds and Beasts. I will also be adding a red and white version as I finish up the tiles for the Lewis Carroll fireplace reproduction tiles.