Man Diagram V by Glenys Barton - 1976
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Man Diagram V by Glenys Barton
© Wedgwood Museum
‘Man and Space’ describes a ceramics project undertaken by a local art student, Glenys Barton. In 1976 she worked alongside factory operatives to produce a collection of some 26 modern figure studies, mostly in the bone china body with the addition of two black basalt plaques. Items were made to order with the understanding that no more than 20 of each would be undertaken.
In 1976, Wedgwood chairman, Sir Arthur Bryan invited a local art student, Glenys Barton, to work on the factory in the production of her designs. Glenys worked alongside the operatives who were experts in the traditional field of modelling and working with bone china to complete her project ‘Man and Space’. Extremely avant-garde - this was the epitome of Sir Arthur’s desire to compliment general factory production with the creation of pure artistry. Mostly in stark white bone china with the exception of 2 black basalt plaques, the range shows man in relation to his environment. Titles such as ‘Jungian Shadow’, and ‘Life Diagram’ suggest psychological as well as physical states. When the whole range of some 26 pieces was complete it was exhibited at the Crafts Advisory Council. Each item was made to order, with the specification that no more than 20 of each piece would be made
- Type of object: Plaques and medallions/plaque
- Mark: MAN DIAGRAM V WEDGWOOD GLENYS BARTON MADE IN ENGLAND [All printed in blue]
- Year first produced: 1976
- Body: Bone china
- Glaze: Unglazed
- Material: Ceramic
- Decoration: Lithographed
- Accession number: 9649
- Dimensions: 279 mm (diameter), 10 mm (height)
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Related people
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Glenys Barton
Designer
Glenys Barton - Designer
A native of the Potteries, Glenys trained at the Royal College of Art in the Ceramics School. She was the British prize-winner at the International Ceramics Exhibition, 1972. In 1976 she was invited to become ‘Artist in Residence’ at the Barlaston factory by Sir Arthur Bryan. She produced a series of sculpturally inspired plaques and figures in bone china and black basalt, which mainly featured the male nude figure, the torso or the head, in geometric and architectural settings. Some 30 individual subjects in all were produced, culminating in an exhibition of Barton’s work that was shown by the Craft Advisory Committee.
