Keith Murray (ceramic Artist)
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Keith Day Pearce Murray (5 July 1892 – 16 May 1981) was a New-Zealand-born British
architect An architect is a person who plans, designs, and oversees the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to provide services in connection with the design of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the buildings that h ...
and industrial designer, known for ceramic, silver and glass designs for
Wedgwood Wedgwood is an English China (material), fine china, porcelain and luxury accessories manufacturer that was founded on 1 May 1759 by the potter and entrepreneur Josiah Wedgwood and was first incorporated in 1895 as Josiah Wedgwood and Sons L ...
,
Mappin & Webb Mappin & Webb is an international jewellery company headquartered in England, tracing its origins to a silver workshop founded in Sheffield in . It now has retail stores throughout the UK. Mappin & Webb has held Royal Warrant of Appointment (U ...
and Stevens & Williams in the 1930s and 1940s. He is considered to be one of the most influential designers of the
Art Deco Art Deco, short for the French (), is a style of visual arts, architecture, and product design that first Art Deco in Paris, appeared in Paris in the 1910s just before World War I and flourished in the United States and Europe during the 1920 ...
/ Modern age.


Early life and education

Murray was born in the
Auckland Auckland ( ; ) is a large metropolitan city in the North Island of New Zealand. It has an urban population of about It is located in the greater Auckland Region, the area governed by Auckland Council, which includes outlying rural areas and ...
suburb of
Mount Eden Mount Eden is a suburb in Auckland, New Zealand New Zealand () is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and List of islands of New Z ...
on 5 July 1892. His father, Charles Henry Murray, from
Peterhead Peterhead (; , ) is a town in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. It is the council area's largest settlement, with a population of 19,060 at the 2022 Census for Scotland, 2022 Census. It is the largest fishing port in the United Kingdom for total landi ...
, Scotland, and his mother, Lilian Day George, from
New Plymouth New Plymouth () is the major city of the Taranaki region on the west coast of the North Island of New Zealand. It is named after the English city of Plymouth, in Devon, from where the first English settlers to New Plymouth migrated. The New Pl ...
, New Zealand, had married in New Plymouth in March 1889. Charles, a printer and commercial stationer in Auckland for fifteen years, passed away after a long illness, aged 43, at home in Cheltenham Road, Devonport, on 2 February 1898. In January 1900, his mother, Lilian, married Dr William Chisholm Wilson McDowell at St Mary's Church, New Plymouth. Younger sister Evelyn was a bridesmaid to their mother. Murray was educated at Prince Albert College, Auckland. When he was 13 years old, his stepfather received 12 months leave from the University Board to attend to medical studies at Edinburgh University. In consequence, the family moved to Britain in March 1906, where Murray attended
Mill Hill School Mill Hill School is a 13–18 co-educational Private schools in the United Kingdom, private, Day school, day and boarding school in Mill Hill, London, England that was established in 1807. It is a member of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' ...
in London. After returning to New Zealand in April 1907, he attended King's College in
Remuera Remuera is an affluent suburb in Auckland, New Zealand. It is located four kilometres southeast of the city centre. Remuera is characterised by many large houses, often Edwardian era, Edwardian or mid 20th century. A prime example of a "leafy ...
, by which he passed the December 1908
University of New Zealand A university () is an institution of tertiary education and research which awards academic degrees in several academic disciplines. ''University'' is derived from the Latin phrase , which roughly means "community of teachers and scholars". Uni ...
matriculation examinations.


Career


Architecture and aero club

By 1910–11 Murray was working as a draughtsman for the architect Arthur Pollard Wilson / Wilson & Moodie in Victoria Arcade,
Queen Street, Auckland Queen Street is the major commercial thoroughfare in the Auckland CBD, Auckland, New Zealand's largest city. The northern end is at Queens Wharf, Auckland, Queens Wharf on the Auckland waterfront, adjacent to the Britomart Transport Centre and ...
. In 1910 he took on the office of secretary for the newly formed Aero Club of New Zealand, with Leo Walsh as club president. That year the club entertained Frederick Walker Baldwin and
Alexander Graham Bell Alexander Graham Bell (; born Alexander Bell; March 3, 1847 – August 2, 1922) was a Scottish-born Canadian Americans, Canadian-American inventor, scientist, and engineer who is credited with patenting the first practical telephone. He als ...
during their tour of Australia and New Zealand, they having expressed a great interest, on hearing of the club, to meet with club members and inspect their flying machines. Murray promoted the progress of the Walsh Aeroplane Syndicate's Howard Wright biplane, and club activities. In addition to designing the club's winged emblem badge, he also designed a glider for the club's in-house glider design competition, in which he gained second place out of the six entrants. He worked for Wilson & Moodie until 1914, when, it appears, he moved to England to study architecture.


First World War

Murray served as an officer of the
Royal Flying Corps The Royal Flying Corps (RFC) was the air arm of the British Army before and during the First World War until it merged with the Royal Naval Air Service on 1 April 1918 to form the Royal Air Force. During the early part of the war, the RFC sup ...
(RFC) and
Royal Air Force The Royal Air Force (RAF) is the Air force, air and space force of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies. It was formed towards the end of the World War I, First World War on 1 April 1918, on the merger of t ...
(RAF) during the
Great War World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...
. Having gained Aviator's Certificate No. 1290 in a
Maurice Farman Maurice Alain Farman (21 March 1877 – 25 February 1964) was a British-French Grand Prix motor racing champion, an aviator, and an aircraft manufacturer and designer. Biography Born in Paris to English parents, he and his brothers Richard an ...
biplane at the
Brooklands Brooklands was a motor racing circuit and aerodrome built near Weybridge in Surrey, England, United Kingdom. It opened in 1907 and was the world's first purpose-built 'banked' motor racing circuit as well as one of Britain's first airfields, ...
Military School and confirmation as second lieutenant on 1 June 1915, trained at Joyce Green and
Dover Dover ( ) is a town and major ferry port in Kent, southeast England. It faces France across the Strait of Dover, the narrowest part of the English Channel at from Cap Gris Nez in France. It lies southeast of Canterbury and east of Maidstone. ...
from 16 June, advanced to rank of
flying officer Flying officer (Fg Offr or F/O) is a junior officer rank used by some air forces, with origins from the Royal Air Force. The rank is used by air forces of many countries that have historical British influence. Flying officer is immediately ...
, No. 15 Special Reserve, on 18 August and lieutenant on 1 December, the squadron was deployed to France on observation and reconnaissance duties in December 1915. On 1 March 1916 he was appointed to
flight commander A flight commander is the leader of a constituent portion of an aerial squadron in aerial operations, often into combat. That constituent portion is known as a flight, and usually contains six or fewer aircraft, with three or four being a common ...
and temporary captain, posted to No. 2 Squadron flying Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.2c. Further postings back to No. 15 Special Reserve, from 14 June 1916, and No. 52 Squadron as squadron commander with the rank of major from 21 September 1917, led to command of No. 10 Squadron from 22 October 1917, which had been re-equipping with Armstrong Whitworth F.K.8 and moving to Abeele aerodrome, Belgium. From there the squadron took part in the Battle of Cambrai from 20 November 1917 and the
German spring offensive The German spring offensive, also known as ''Kaiserschlacht'' ("Kaiser's Battle") or the Ludendorff offensive, was a series of German Empire, German attacks along the Western Front (World War I), Western Front during the World War I, First Wor ...
from 21 March 1918. Murray said of the aircraft in relation to the reconnaissance work: "The big A-W was slow, but my pilots liked it for the particular job they had to do, and never regarded themselves as 'cold meat'. Owing to the nature of their work, they were rarely in a position to attack, but when attacked, as they were frequently enough, they gave a good enough account of themselves." Murray was mentioned three or four times in General Sir Douglas Haig's despatches, and conferred the
Military Cross The Military Cross (MC) is the third-level (second-level until 1993) military decoration awarded to officers and (since 1993) Other ranks (UK), other ranks of the British Armed Forces, and formerly awarded to officers of other Commonwealth of ...
in September 1917: "For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty on numerous occasions. He has displayed the utmost skill and fearlessness in ranging our batteries on hostile battery positions. Most of this work he had to carry out at a very low altitude and under very heavy fire, owing to the fact that the target was very well camouflaged, but, in spite of being repeatedly attacked and his machine several times damaged by anti-aircraft and machine gun fire, he was invariably successful." After the war ended he was permitted to retain rank of majorand conferred the Belgian ''Croix de Guerre''. Since joining the RFC, he had flown Avro, Royal Aircraft Factory BE, Grahame-White and Bristol Fighter aircraft. The transport NZSC RMS ''Remuera'' landed Murray and the New Zealand troops to an enthusiastic Auckland welcome on 5 May 1919, but he returned to London by the NZSC RMS ''Ruapehu'' on 23 August, to continue his studies in architecture at the
Architectural Association School of Architecture The Architectural Association School of Architecture in London, commonly referred to as the AA, is the oldest private school of architecture in the UK. The AA hosts exhibitions, lectures, academic conference, symposia and publications. Histo ...
.


Industrial design

Following the war, Murray graduated from the
Architectural Association School of Architecture The Architectural Association School of Architecture in London, commonly referred to as the AA, is the oldest private school of architecture in the UK. The AA hosts exhibitions, lectures, academic conference, symposia and publications. Histo ...
in London in 1921 and that year was elected an associate of the
Royal Institute of British Architects The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) is a professional body for architects primarily in the United Kingdom, but also internationally, founded for the advancement of architecture under its royal charter granted in 1837, three suppl ...
. However a lack of work forced him to make a living as an illustrator for magazines. In 1928 he held his own show at the
Lefevre Gallery The Lefevre Gallery (or The Lefevre Galleries) was an art gallery in London, England, operated by Alex. Reid & Lefevre Ltd. The gallery was opened at 1a, King Street, St James's, in 1926, when rival art dealers Alexander Reid and Ernest Lefe ...
in London but this was not to prove his passion. His visits to exhibitions such as the 1925 Paris Exposition and the 1931 Exhibition of Swedish Industrial Art in London inspired Murray to seek out opportunities to design vases and tablewares for factory production, and as the
Great Depression The Great Depression was a severe global economic downturn from 1929 to 1939. The period was characterized by high rates of unemployment and poverty, drastic reductions in industrial production and international trade, and widespread bank and ...
of the early 1930s further reduced the demand for architecture he became a full-time designer. Murray first approached Arthur Marriott Powell about the possibility of working in
Whitefriars Glass White friars are members of the Order of Carmelites. Whitefriars may also refer to: Related to Carmelites * Whitefriars, Bristol, a former Carmelite friary in Bristol, England * Whitefriars, Coventry, a former Carmelite friary in Coventry, Engl ...
in London. Though his ideas proved unsuitable for their style of glass, he worked as a freelance designer at Stevens & Williams of Brierley Hill in the West Midlands in 1932. The trial pieces were shown in London that year and the 'Keith Murray range' was produced. Between 1932 and 1939 he produced over 1200 designs though many were only issued in quantities of six or twelve. In 1932, he also began working 2–3 months a year for Josiah Wedgwood and Sons.
Josiah Wedgwood Josiah Wedgwood (12 July 1730 – 3 January 1795) was an English potter, entrepreneur and abolitionist. Founding the Wedgwood company in 1759, he developed improved pottery bodies by systematic experimentation, and was the leader in the indu ...
invited him to visit the Wedgwood Factory. He was then employed to produce designs for dinner and teaware. It is here that Murray's famous ribbing designs began to form. His first range was entitled 'Annular'. In 1934 the royal silversmiths
Mappin & Webb Mappin & Webb is an international jewellery company headquartered in England, tracing its origins to a silver workshop founded in Sheffield in . It now has retail stores throughout the UK. Mappin & Webb has held Royal Warrant of Appointment (U ...
approached him and asked if he could produce bowls and vases in silver working to the same designs as his Wedgwood pieces. Most of his work was with vases, bowls and similar cylindrical ware, executed in a clean and restrained style with decoration often limited to deeply incised lines or smooth steps in the shape. The whole piece is usually one colour without applied decoration. From the beginning Murray's stature as a designer was recognised as every piece bore his signature above the Wedgwood mark. In 1935, Murray was consulted on the design of glassware for the Orient Line's new liner, RMS ''Orion'', of which, Brian O'Rorke was architect responsible for interior design. The following year, Murray was appointed architect in charge of designing the new Wedgwood factory at Barlaston, Staffordshire.


Second World War

In February 1939, some seven months before the outbreak of the
Second World War World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
, Murray returned to the RAF as a commissioned officer assigned to the Administrative and Special Duties Branch. Ill health required him to relinquish his commission in January 1942. In the 1942 New Year Honours he was again mentioned in despatches.


Architecture

Following the war he returned to architecture and left the field of industrial design. Murray's work sold well at the time and has become increasingly sought after.


Gallery

File:Box (AM 1988.164-2) (cropped).jpg, Wedgwood cigarette box, c. 1935 File:Vase (AM 2000.83.1).jpg, Wedgwood vase File:Vase (AM 1995.65.2-1).jpg, Basalt ware vase for Josiah Wedgwood and Sons Ltd File:Vase (AM 1995.65.2-5).jpg, Murray's signature on the base of the vase File:Vase (AM 1995.172.1-3).jpg, Wedgwood vase, c. 1935 File:Bowl (AM 1992.222-2).jpg, Black basalt ware bowl for Josiah Wedgwood and Sons Ltd, c. 1938 File:Bowl (AM 1990.80).jpg, Engraved glass bowl for Stevens & Williams, c. 1931–1939


List of works

* * *
Works by Keith Murray from the collection of Museum of New Zealand Te Papa TongarewaWorks by Keith Murray from the collection of the Powerhouse Museum, Sydney, Australia


See also

* Clarice Cliff * Susie Cooper * Charlotte Rhead * Truda Carter


References


Further reading

* * * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Murray, Keith Day Pearce 1892 births 1981 deaths People educated at Prince Albert College People educated at Mill Hill School People educated at King's College, Auckland Alumni of the Architectural Association School of Architecture 20th-century New Zealand architects New Zealand industrial designers New Zealand architects Artists from Auckland 20th-century British architects British industrial designers Royal Designers for Industry Fellows of the Royal Institute of British Architects Art Deco designers Modernist designers Wedgwood pottery Dinnerware designers Royal Flying Corps officers Royal Air Force officers Royal Air Force personnel of World War I Recipients of the Military Cross New Zealand recipients of the Military Cross British recipients of the Croix de guerre (Belgium) New Zealand emigrants to the United Kingdom Architects from Auckland