Vase
Della Robbia Pottery
Category
Ceramics
Date
1900
Materials
earthenware
Measurements
280 mm (Height); 230 mm (Diameter)
Place of origin
Birkenhead
Order this imageCollection
Erddig, Wrexham
NT 1145736
Summary
Vase, ‘Large Dutch Vase’ shape, glazed earthenware, low bulbous body, foot rim, narrow flaring neck with vertical rim, Della Robbia Pottery, Birkenhead, 1900; decorated over the body with an organic sgraffito pattern consisting of stylised leaf-like patterns and areas of circular motifs, designed and executed by Elizabeth (Liz) Wilkins, turquoise coloured glaze.
Full description
This vase was decorated by Elizabeth (known as Liz or Lizzie) Wilkins, who worked at the Della Robbia pottery in her home town of Birkenhead, Merseyside. She worked primarily as a sgraffito artist, decorating pots with incised decoration, and as a ceramic colourist, painting designs in coloured enamels and glazes. Wilkins was fifteen when she joined the pottery shortly after it opened in 1894 and worked there for ten years. Among her most important work were the panels she painted for a fountain for the Savoy Hotel, which was commissioned from Della Robbia and worked on by a number of its artists. The Della Robbia Pottery was a short lived operation, in business from 1894 to 1906. It took its name and inspiration from the maiolica (tin-glazed earthenware) masterpieces of Italian Renaissance sculptor Luca della Robbia (c.1400–82) as well as the Pre-Raphaelite art movement in Britain. The studio was established according to Arts and Crafts principles, aspiring to use local labour and materials, and to create works entirely by hand. It employed many women as designers and decorators. The shape of this vase is called ‘Large Dutch Vase’ (number 19). It is shown with a small cover in the 1896 company catalogue, which is missing from this example.
Provenance
Given by Philip Yorke III (1905-1978) along with the estate, house and contents to the National Trust in 1973.
Marks and inscriptions
Underside of base: D [image of a boat] R (Della Robbia workshop, incised) Underside of base: 19 LW 00 (Liz Wilkins, 1900, incised) Underside of base: 72 (incised)
Makers and roles
Della Robbia Pottery , pottery manufacturer Elizabeth 'Liz' Wilkins (b. c.1878), decorator
References
Hyland 2013: Peter Hyland, The Della Robbia Pottery, Birkenhead, 1894-1906, Suffolk: Antique Collectors’ Club 2013, see Appendix A