A good pair of Royal Worcester vases by Harry Davis, dated 1916


Of slender ovoid form, the classically moulded feet and necks in old ivory and gold, the twin handles applied with human masks at the terminals, painted with storks wading in a shallow pool within a continuous desert landscape, distant mountains and palm trees outlined against the matt blue sky, signed H Davis, 27.8cm high, printed marks, shape number 1410 (2)
|Storks at an Oasis had been a speciality of Walter Powell and under Royal Worcester factory rules no other artist was allowed to tackle this subject. The First World War changed everything and late in 1915 Walter Powell joined the 1st Worcestershire Regiment. Harry Davis remained in the depleted painting department until later in 1916 when he too enlisted. These vases were painted early in 1916 when Harry was the only artist with enough experience to paint on the matt blue background. Powell never returned and the painting of storks was later given to George Johnson and Albert Shuck. Only a small number of vases painted with this subject by Harry Davis are recorded.