Dudson's "Damascus" pattern, introduced in 1860 and produced until 1911, gave the Victoria...

Dudson's "Damascus" pattern, introduced in 1860 and produced until 1911, gave the Victorian consumer plenty of intriguing detail in a compact, highly usable format. The sides of the simple pear shaped vessel are adorned with two rows of framed panels containing motifs composed of foliage and scrollwork. To frame these panels and form multi-part borders, Dudson employs an imaginative array of linear decorative motifs, including beadwork and both geometric and nature derived figures. The surface is filled, but the profile remains pure.

The designer allowed himself a bit of fancy with the scrolled handle, though still preserving its comfortable fit for the hand.

Dudson's "Damascus" jug illustrates the call for simplification and utility that began to...

Dudson's "Damascus" jug illustrates the call for simplification and utility that began to be sounded by design reformers in the mid-nineteenth century. We see the response to this trend in such elements as:

• the simple pear shape with its sturdy low center of gravity and lack of corners to chip
• the low relief, easy to keep clean
• a design that is easy to produce and easy to offer at an affordable price.

While answering these concerns, Dudson managed to preserve the element of charm and, as the title "Damascus" reveals, an appeal to the Victorian love for the faraway and exotic.