The British Buzz: The Relevance of Beekeeping to 19th century British Ceramic Design

Title: The British Buzz: The Relevance of Beekeeping to 19th century British Ceramic Design

Lecturer: Leslie Lambour Bouterie, Independent Scholar, Visiting Curator of Ceramics at James Madison’s Montpelier and Visiting Scholar for the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation

Description: Leslie Lambour Bouterie, an independent scholar specializing in British ceramics and transferware production, is also a dedicated beekeeper. She recently concluded an eight-year tenure in the apiaries at Monticello, the historic home of Thomas Jefferson, and she continues to serve as Associate Beekeeper at Highland, the historic home of fifth president James Monroe.

At the 2016 TCC Annual Meeting, Leslie shared her dual passions for transferware and beekeeping in a presentation exploring the history and importance of beekeeping in the 18th and 19th centuries and its strong influence on transferware production. Building upon this initial contextual research, she will share additional information and visually rich images focusing on bee and beekeeping motifs which were used in the decorative arts and in transferware design as pattern elements, maker’s marks, and as visual metaphors to teach moral lessons. Throughout the 1800’s, the “buzz” continued, as bee motifs enjoyed enduring popularity among British and American consumers.

Our Speaker: Leslie Lambour Bouterie, Independent Scholar, Visiting Curator of Ceramics at James Madison’s Montpelier and Visiting Scholar for the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation.