Built in 1887, Wightwick Manor is a shrine to the Arts and Crafts movement.

The sumptuous interiors and original De Morgan tiled fireplaces provide the perfect setting for the De Morgan Collection to be housed in a purpose-built gallery in the grounds.  The exhibition Look Beneath the Lustre invites visitors to discover how the wonderful De Morgan artworks were created.

The magnificent Tile Library can be visited in a specially-created display space which allows everyone to see many hundreds of William De Morgan’s tiles in the De Morgan Collection, which were formerly all held in store and not publicly accessible.

In the realm of decorative arts, William De Morgan is well known for his creativity and innovation, particularly in the field of ceramic tiles.  Born in 1839, De Morgan was a Victorian-era artist renowned for his remarkable contribution to the Arts and Crafts movement. His legacy endures through his intricately designed and vividly coloured tiles, particularly his glistening lustreware, each a testament to his unique artistic vision and exceptional craftsmanship.

William De Morgan initially embarked on his artistic journey as a stained-glass artist. However, he soon shifted his focus to ceramics, a decision that would shape his artistic legacy. In collaboration with the esteemed designer and writer William Morris, De Morgan became an integral part of the Arts and Crafts movement, which sought to revive traditional craftsmanship in the face of industrialisation.

In 1873, William De Morgan established De Morgan & Co. and primarily sold painted tiles from his early premises in Chelsea, London. His designs were so popular that they were commissioned by everyone from the artist Frederic, Lord Leighton for his majestic Holland Park home (now Leighton House Museum) to P&O ocean liners who ordered tiles for over 12 luxury interior decorative schemes.

De Morgan’s tiles are a fusion of various influences, including Islamic, Persian, and Hispano-Moresque designs. His fascination with Middle Eastern and Islamic ceramic traditions is evident in the intricate geometric patterns and vibrant colour palettes that characterise many of his tile creations.  The use of cobalt blue, turquoise, and rich earth tones reflects his admiration for Persian and Islamic aesthetics.

De Morgan’s fabulous Iznik Tiles, inspired by the 15th century ceramics he worked with at Leighton House will be on display for the first time. They are a marvellous example of how De Morgan adapted designs to create his own beautiful artworks.  The original design worked over two tiles, but De Morgan’s design works over four, so he has expanded the original design.

Designs have been placed on display which have never been seen by the public before.  For the first time we have noticed that the fruit and branch tile has a butterfly on the extreme edge, meaning it is probably part of a larger panel.

Now we can also display the beautiful ‘Sunflower Tile’.  This Aesthetic movement emblem was proudly worn by Oscar Wilde, who inspired the creation of Wightwick Manor with his 1885 ‘House Beautiful’ Lecture.