THE first ceramic iconic Toby jugs to be made by a renowned artist in more than two decades will be unveiled at Bolton Museum, in an exhibition which should have visitors feeling right at home!

Well-known for his oversized ceramic figures from the early 1990s, Richard Slee has created his first Toby figures in 25 years. He drew inspiration from the objects showcased in homes back in the 1930s, as recorded in the Mass Observation 1937 Mantlepiece reports ­—which recorded what household items were kept and why at that time.

The Bolton News:

(Picture by Madeline Waller)

Bolton was a key town in the groundbreaking Mass Observation project to document life in the 1930s, with photographer Humphrey Spender capturing images of townsfolk at work and rest ­— and 18 of his pictures will feature in the exhibition.

Fast-forward to the 21st century, with a second exhibition ­— Mantlepiece Stories ­— running alongside, which will feature six Bolton residents with their chosen 'mantlepiece objects' in a series of images by acclaimed photographer Madeline Waller.

The Bolton News:

(Picture by Madeline Waller)

Each participant photographed speaks about the meaning behind their chosen objects on display and the stories explored contain loss, hope, achievement, parenthood and the importance of family.

Bolton Council’s Executive Cabinet Member with responsibility for libraries and museums, Cllr Hilary Fairclough, said: “This exhibition is a real coup for Bolton. Richard Slee is one of Britain’s most important ceramic artists.

“The mantelpiece installations Richard has created for the exhibition perfectly capture the bizarre juxtapositions of ordinary and exotic objects in the original 1937 reports.

“It is testament to Bolton Museum’s increasingly high profile that Richard has chosen to show his new works here for the first time and that Arts Council England has elected to support the project with a significant funding award.

“I have no doubt that the exhibition will appeal to a wide range of visitors, both locally and nationally."

The Bolton News:

(Monty Lord. Picture Madeline Waller)

Richard said: “Working from the Mantlepiece Reports and Humphrey Spender’s photographic archive of 1937/8 has set a focus that has been liberating and stimulating, suggesting new creative solutions.

“Works have emerged from the individual written reports prompted by such things as the typing mistake in ‘Block woolly cat’, a detailed description of a Toby jug, or the minimal description of ‘a pair of ordinary vases’.

“These mantelpiece objects and arrangements are an altar to the interior, a landing strip for the everyday, a haven of domestic symbolism.”

The Bolton News:

(Picture by Humphrey Spender, courtesy of Bolton Museum)

The exhibition is part of a wider public programme, funded by Arts Council England, exploring the meaning behind people’s home possessions and is the result of an ongoing collaboration between Bolton Museum, the Mass Observation Archive, University of Sussex and the Museum of the Home.

Mantlepiece Observations opens on September 12 and entry is free.