Marvelling at the masterpieces in a museum is one of life’s simple pleasures. So we were honoured when we were approached to create a Melody Rose collection for the Sir John Soane’s Museum.
The collection went on to achieve accolades winning the 2020 Tableware Internationals Award of Excellence for the collaboration.
With the ‘lockdown’ coming to an end and museums and galleries reopening, we thought it’d be a perfect time to share the story behind the museum and our award winning collection for them.
Sir John Soane’s (1753-1837) was one of the most prominent architect’s of the Regency era and a dedicated collector of paintings, sculpture, books, drawing, furniture and architectural fragments and models. He won numerous high profile projects including the Bank of England and began to repurpose his home as a museum for students of architecture.
Based in Lincoln’s Inn Fields, in London, the museum and library has been an attraction since the early nineteenth century and is one of the country’s most unusual and significant museums.
THE COLLECTION
We were asked to create a set of fine china tableware for the museum shop, to coincide with its exhibition Hogarth: Place and Progress.
For the project we were given access to the imagery of the eight paintings that make up English artist, William Hogarth’s famous ‘A Rake’s Progress’.
The series of eight paintings created in 1734 tell the story of Tom Rakewell, a young man who follows a path of vice and self destruction after inheriting a fortune from his miserly father, finally ending up deranged and penniless in Bedlam, after his failure to establish himself in society.
The paintings are not only a renowned work of art and social commentary but their cautionary tale still holds the same fascination, importance and relevance today.
Read more about the craftsmanship behind Melody Rose tableware
THE DESIGNS
Four of the eight paintings were selected for the project: The Heir, The Gaming House, The Orgy and The Arrest. Our designer, Melanie Roseveare, deconstructed the paintings, with several central characters chosen to highlight moments of particular scandal and sorrow. These play out across handcrafted fine bone china plates (22.5cm), teacups and saucers all finished with beautiful 22kt burnished gold.
Of course it’s not all doom and gloom, there’s vice, humour and playfulness too, fitting in with the Melody Rose signature style, and bringing a contemporary feel to the work.
Immortalised on the tableware, the story and characters connect past and present, and invite lively conversation over lunch, dinner or afternoon tea.
Visitors to the Sir John Soane’s Museum can take away a luxurious piece of British craftsmanship that pays homage to one of England’s most famous artist’s work, and can be enjoyed every day.
Find out more about Sir John Soane’s Museum
See more collections from Melody Rose.
