From:Williamson Art Gallery and Museum

Name/TitleDella Robbia Plaque

About this objectA red earthenware plaque that is slip coated with sgraffito and hand painted in an elaborate and highly stylised decoration radiating from the centre. The artist uses green, yellow, blue and turquoise on a brown ground to decorate a highly stylised floral and foliate border.

Walker was a mainstay artist working for the pottery for the majority of its existence. She gained a reputation as being an elite member of the pottery for her painting techniques and artistic designs, even being called on for special commissions. She was also a regular exhibitor at the Walker Art Gallery's Autumn Exhibitions and frequently attended art classes at the Liverpool College for Applied Art and the Art Sheds. The closing of the pottery heavily impacted her finances, later emigrating to Canada in 1908, where she spent the remainder of her life. In her personal life she was described as being free-spirited and also had suffragist sympathies.

The intricate repeating pattern is reminiscent of Islamic patterns and demonstrates the artist's skill in obtaining difficult symmetry. 

The design was painted by Alice Louisa Smith, a working class colourist who suffered with her mental health, spending time in an asylum. She suffered the most when the pottery closed as she remained unmarried without a fixed occupation. After this she disappears from census records.

MakerDella Robbia Pottery (active 1894-1906)

Maker Rolemanufacturer

MakerWalker, Cassandra Annie (1875-1936)

Maker Roledesigner

MakerSmith, Annie (b. 1876 - d. unknown)

Maker Roledecorator

Date Madec.1894-1906

Period20th century

Medium and Materialsearthenware

Place MadeBirkenhead, Merseyside

Style and IconographyArts and Crafts

Inscription and Marksgalleon motif with initials D and R either side
D R
Method: incised
Position: base

Techniqueearthenware

Measurementsdiameter: 38.5cm

Subject and Association Keywordsgeometrical

Subject and Association Keywordssgraffito

Credit LinePurchased from the Christian Jones Collection with the aid of the V&A Museum Purchase Grant Fund

Object Typeplaque

Object numberBIKGM.8226

Copyright LicenceAll rights reserved