Do you have a Religious Plaque or Panel by George Tinworth of Doulton Lambeth?

Christ’s Kingdom by George Tinworth

George Tinworth was a well known artist for Doulton Lambeth in the late Victorian to early Edwardian period. Most people know him for his vases or his whimsical mice and frogs, but he also produced Christian religious plaques and panels in both large and small forms. Large forms were for chapels, churches and cathedrals, where to this day some of his panels can be seen. He also created small versions, for Christians to display in the home or for churches and chapels to use in smaller rooms and settings.

A brief background to his plaques and panels

George Tinworth, The Incredulity of St Thomas, circa 1874

Mediums – George Tinworth was an ardent Christian who was strongly influenced by his mother in his youth. He was well versed in the books of the Bible, and soon put his skill towards creating Christian, religious objects once he started at the Doulton Lambeth studio. In the early days, George experimented with making plaques in stoneware which he added typically cobalt blue colour to and glazed. An example of such is a plaque, illustrating Doubtful Thomas as he stands before Jesus, is provided here to the left.

George Tinworth – The Messengers come to Job

As time passed towards the late 1870s, George Tinworth found himself creating his plaques and panels in both stoneware and terracotta. Terracotta he found easier to work and more refined to bring out the smaller details in the small plaques, whereas stoneware is a harsher medium and more difficult to achieve detail with. It is quite common to find the identical plaques created to the same size in both stoneware and terracotta. We are not sure how many he made of each plaque or panel as there are certainly known duplicates of many out there to be found. The terracotta was not glazed. Occasionally, one can observe limited use of white paint to highlight garments, head dress or jewellery. An example is provided to the right. Job’s wife’s necklace is painted white.

Religious Text and scope – It is very common, but not in all cases, where religious texts are quoted. Most large rectangular panels will show quotes that are from the King John Version of the Bible. Smaller square plaques may just have a religious title and maybe a Bible book reference, but no quotes. In the examples above quotes can be seen clearly on both, often wrapping around the edges of the plaques. Sometimes quotes may even appear in the decorated scene. Whilst not common place, George Tinworth sometimes added his own comments to the plaques. These can be quite humorous or direct, showing his opinion of the subject being portrayed very clearly. From a scope perspective, George Tinworth was very prolific across both Old and New Testaments, and he often chose a scene from either, but then used quotes from both to speak prophetically to the coming Christ.

George Tinworth, Samson Throwing Down the Pillars

Relief-work – George Tinworth created his plaques and panels in two formats. Firstly is his signature technique we simply refer to as deep relief. With this technique, the figures are fully sculpted into the clay or stone, which creates huge depth to the piece. This was both acclaimed and criticised in the day by art experts as having wonderful effect, but also missing the classical school of finer relief work. The second is bas-relief, where the relief work is far flatter and more classical in its execution. These are most often seen in his smaller square plaques, although he did create larger bas-relief plaques. An example of bas-relief is to the left, showing Samson throwing down the pillars.

Have a plaque to sell or value?

We at GT Art Pottery are Christians and this website is so named in homage to George Tinworth and his legacy. Whilst his vases and whimsical figures are more commercial in nature due to their secular nature, we believe Tinworth plaques should be handled with a respect that aligns to their subject: God, Christ and the Bible.

As such, we will be delighted to provide a fair valuation on any piece shared with us, or we can offer to buy it. We have significant knowledge in valuing these pieces. We will then seek to either keep the item or work with Christian institutions, public bodies or known private Christian collectors only, not selling them onwards commercially for maximum profit and gain, being respectful to our beliefs.

Phone or Whatsapp us on 07850210032 to receive a valuation or to discuss selling your plaque.

Alternatively you can email us at info@gt-artpottery.com or through our contact page

Some further resources:

Borough of Lambeth – George Tinworth

George Tinworth Wikipaedia