Medallions of Animals and Plants (medaillons met dieren en planten)

About this artwork.

The porches of the flats in these streets are all decorated with little medallions depicting animals, plants and flowers of the area.

In the post-war period, ceramicist Anno Smith created hundreds of porch and facade pieces for the city of Groningen, intended for residential complexes, schools, shops and factories, among other things – it’s not for nothing that Smith is known as the “greatest decorator”. 

Smith mainly depicted everyday objects and scenes: fish, flowers, playing children and working craftspeople. By decorating the severe, strict and uniform architecture that is so typical of the post-war period with individually designed pieces, each building was afforded an identity of its own; an identity that also immediately marks these pieces as Smith’s. His clients also wanted cheerful performances that had to be understandable for the residents.

Facts & Figures.

• Design
  Anno Smith

• District
  Korrewegwijk & De Hoogte

• Art type
  Art in / on a building

• Material
  Glazed terracotta