In a two pronged appeal to consumers who identified with the Aesthetic Movement and its pr...

In a two pronged appeal to consumers who identified with the Aesthetic Movement and its predilection for Japanese design, Wedgwood's "Panama" combines a studies of exotic birds with patches of  far eastern style pattern and panels of fruit and flowers. The decoration centers on the lid which features pairs of perched birds balanced by floral reserves and tied together with a graphic scale pattern. The border which dominates the tureen body and under tray alternates prunus sprays with blocks of fruit and foliage which show the influence of William Morris.

This version of the pattern  is executed in a soft brown transfer against Wedgwood's ivory body.  The birds' plumage is defined  with a rust colored wash, while touches of blue and yellow pick out the floral sprays. Wedgwood also uses ochre lustre to highlight the floral reserves on the lid and the border blocks of fruit and foliage. Edges and handles are finished with a stripe of reddish enamel.

We generally think of the Wedgwood "Panama"pattern in terms of  flat table pieces --...

We generally think of the Wedgwood "Panama"pattern in terms of  flat table pieces -- round plates and oval platters.  These pieces conveniently display the prominent bird study in a central vertical panel.  It is intriguing to see how Wedgwood adapts this design to the squared off contours of their lidded piece. The rectangular bird panel is transformed  into arch shapes (well, lunettes to be pedantic) and the lustered blocks of fruit and foliage now highlight the chamfered corners of the tureen.