About this objectA Della Robbia red earthenware vase in a baluster shape. It is coated in white slip with sgraffito and hand painted decoration in the form of plants and leaves coloured brown on a yellow background. At the centre, there is a cartouche with the inscription "I.H.S".
Wilkins joined the pottery aged 15 and stayed until 1904, when she went on to marry Samuel Sergeant. She was from a working class background and had no formal artistic training. Despite this she was skilled in her sgraffito work and as a colourist, receiving special attention for pieces at the Home and Industry Exhibition in 1900. Her presence at the pottery can be described as being at the heart of the ideals of William Morris, as she was from a humble background who managed to receive some success as a craftswoman.
This piece is simplistic in the design of the brown foliage, but there is detail and precision in the cartouche. The "I.H.S" stands for "Iesus Hominum Salvator", which translates from Latin as "Jesus, Saviour of Mankind. This could suggest that she was more focused on the religious message she wanted to convey on the vase rather than the overall artistic design.Â
MakerDella Robbia Pottery (active 1894-1906)
Maker Rolemanufacturer
MakerWilkins, Liz (born 1878)
Maker Roledesigner
Date Made1901
Period20th century
Medium and Materialsearthenware
Place MadeBirkenhead, Merseyside
Style and IconographyArts and Crafts
Inscription and Marksmark
DRPM
Ship between DR
1901 LW 2 underlined in green
Method: inscribed
Position: base
