This Sunflower tile was produced around 1870–72 and decorated in red lustre on a 6-inch tile. The design is attributed to William Morris or William De Morgan, who created a number of variations of the pattern during this period. Examples were made on both Dutch tin-glazed and English lead-glazed blanks. The dense silhouette version is thought to be among the earliest, while the red-toned type, as seen here, became the most commonly encountered. The bold sunflower head, enclosed by scrolling foliage, reflects the strong, flattened forms characteristic of Morris & Co. decorative design of the early 1870s.
