Donald Gilbert

Donald Gilbert (1900-1961) was an accomplished scultpor and artist who studied at the Birmingham Central School of Art, The Royal College of Art and The Royal Academy. He was born in Burcot in Worcestershire, the son of the sculptor Walter Gilbert and was heavily influenced by the Art Deco movement.

He designed a series of Art Deco figures from Rudyard Kiplings 'Junge Book' for Ashtead Pottery, consisting of 'Mowgli', the man cub, 'Akeela', the wolf, 'Baloo' the bear, 'Bagheera', the black panther and 'Kaa' the snake. These models were produced in the Pearl barley 'k' glaze. There are similarities between these ceramic items and other bronze works of animals including, bears, antelopes, frogs and panthers.

As well as a number of animal pieces for Ashtead Potters and Denby Pottery, other notable works include busts of Edward Elgar (displayed at the Guildhall Worcester) and also John Logie Baird (on display at the National Portrait Gallery, London). Another piece, recently sold in auction, is a bronze sculture crouching monkey, raised on a stepped variagated stone plinth base and signed by the artist - 1920, and also a bronze of his father. He created a bronze figure on a plinth which was emblematic of winter. Architechural features include a sculpture of 'The Fountain of Money guarded by lions' for the Bank of England designed in 1957.

Donald Gilbert designs for Ashtead Potters Ltd.