C. H. Branham for Liberty and Co – Art Nouveau Yellow Canoe-Form Planter

This planter in glazed earthenware by C. H. Brannam for Liberty and Co exemplifies the expressive modelling of the Art Nouveau movement (1890–1910), c. 1900. Formed as a stylised canoe with elongated, upturned ends, the piece captures the movement’s fascination with organic line and fluid contour central to Liberty’s ceramic range at the turn of the century.

Its smooth yellow glaze flows evenly across the surface, deepening in tone along the inner rim to accentuate the vessel’s sculptural curve. The underside is unmarked, consistent with Liberty’s collaborative production through regional potteries. A contemporary green pierced flower-frog is shown for scale and context; the sale refers to the canoe-form planter only.

Brannam Pottery of Barnstaple, Devon, founded by C. H. Brannam in 1879, supplied Liberty and Co with distinctive art wares noted for bold colour and fluid silhouette.