About this objectA Della Robbia red earthenware dish that is slip coated with sgraffito and hand painted decoration. The decoration is in the form of 4 course toothed leaves radiating from the centre in green and turquoise on a red earthenware ground. There is also a pattern of recurring stylised fleur de lys and hearts to the border on a turquoise background.
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 more artistically complex than some of her other work. The use of different tones of green glaze on the fleur de lys indicates knowledge of the properties of the glaze both before and after firing. Wilkins is able to create a complex pattern using a base of three colours, but she still displays an inherent human-ness to the execution of the painting. This was a key part of Morris's Arts and Crafts ideology that separated the movement away from mechanical production.
MakerDella Robbia Pottery (active 1894-1906)
Maker Rolemanufacturer
MakerWilkins, Liz (born 1878)
Maker Roledecorator
Date Made1895
Period19th century
Medium and Materialsearthenware
Place MadeBirkenhead, Merseyside
Style and IconographyArts and Crafts
Inscription and Marksgalleon motif with the initials of the Della Robbia Pottery either side / date/ initials
1895 / D R / L W/ 1895
Techniqueearthenware
Measurementsdiameter: 26cm
Subject and Association Keywordsleaf
Subject and Association Keywordssgraffito
Subject and Association Keywordsfleur-de-lys
Credit LinePurchased from the Christian Jones Collection with the aid of the V&A Museum Purchase Grant Fund
