Vintage Burleigh Ware Starburst Cream and Black Ceramic Ewer, Burgess and Leigh England

At 20 cm tall, this Burleigh Ware starburst cream and black ceramic ewer is the largest and most formally elegant piece in the atomic starburst series, the tall sculptural form with its cream exterior, glossy black interior, and bold starburst decoration giving it a presence on the shelf or sideboard that the smaller pitcher and jug in the series cannot quite match.

Made by Burgess and Leigh of Burslem, Staffordshire, a pottery that has been trading since 1851, this ewer represents a striking departure from the house's more traditional blue and white transfer-printed ranges. The atomic starburst decoration and bold two-tone colourway place it firmly in the mid-century modern aesthetic, and the ewer form, with its tall body, high-set handle, and elegant spout, gives the starburst motif a vertical emphasis that suits the radiating lines of the design particularly well. Burgess and Leigh's decision to apply this forward-looking decoration to a traditional ewer form creates an interesting tension between the classical and the contemporary that gives the piece a character beyond either element alone. The piece is in good condition throughout.

• Maker: Burleigh Ware (Burgess and Leigh), Burslem, England
• Dimensions: 20 cm (H) x 16 cm (W)
• Condition: Good
• Features: Cream exterior, black interior, atomic starburst decoration, tall ewer form
• Period: 20th century
• SKU: CBD-0021

The largest piece in the Burleigh Ware atomic starburst grouping. Pairs naturally with the starburst jug (CBD-0020) and the starburst pitcher (CBD-0019) for a complete mid-century display in the Burleigh Ware collection.