Vase
Della Robbia Pottery
Category
Ceramics
Date
1896 - 1901
Materials
earthenware with sgraffito and coloured glazes
Measurements
305 mm (Height); 130 mm (Diameter)
Place of origin
Birkenhead
Order this imageCollection
Standen House and Garden, West Sussex
NT 1213662
Summary
Bottle vase, earthenware, low foot, with bulbous body rising to a narrow, long neck, dish shaped rim, decorated by Arthur E. Bells and Hannah Jones, Della Robbia Pottery, Birkenhead, 1896-1901; decorated with sgraffito design of overlapping scales to the body, with a panel of flowers against a ground of unevenly sized circles to the mid body and neck, the design coloured with light and dark blue and green glazes.
Full description
This object was decorated by Arthur Bells and Hannah Jones at the Della Robbia Pottery. The Della Robbia Pottery was established in Birkenhead in 1894, taking its name and inspiration from the maiolica (tin glazed earthenware) masterpieces of Italian Renaissance sculptor Luca Della Robbia. It ran according to Arts and Crafts principles, aspiring to use local labour and materials, and to create works entirely by hand. Della Robbia employed many women as designers and decorators. The ceramics were bold, bright and colourful – the Magazine of Art reported that, with Della Robbia ceramics in a room, ‘the ordinary meal would have the comparative air of a banquet.’ Unfortunately, the venture was never profitable and it closed in 1906 after just 12 years in business. Hannah Jones was born in North Wales and trained at Liverpool School of Art. She joined Della Robbia in its early days and her work was praised by The Magazine of Art (1897), which claimed ‘the best of their colourists is Miss Hannah Jones, who has undoubtedly influenced the work of the other girls at the Pottery’. She was particularly skilled in painted decoration and her work was included among the works sent by Della Robbia to the Cork International Exhibition in 1902. Arthur Bells joined the pottery as a designer and decorator about 1896-7. By 1901, he had left and was working for a local printer.
Marks and inscriptions
Underside of base: 391 (incised, unknown mark) Underside of base: D [boat] R (handpainted overglaze in green, manufacturer's mark) AEB (handpainted overglaze in green, colourist's mark, Arthur E. Bells) HJ. (handpainted overglaze in green, colourist's mark, Hannah Jones)
Makers and roles
Della Robbia Pottery , manufacturer Hannah Jones (fl.1894 - 1906), decorator Arthur E. Bells (b.1880), decorator
References
Hyland 2013: Peter Hyland, The Della Robbia Pottery, Birkenhead, 1894-1906, Suffolk: Antique Collectors’ Club 2013