About this objectA Della Robbia red earthenware beaker. It is thinly slip coated with sgraffito and hand painted decoration in the form of sprigs of coarse-toothed foliage. and below a cartouche with yellow flowers. The name "Charles" is incised in a large cartouche. On the reverse is a large sprig with blue flowers.
Liz 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 and managed to receive some success as a craftswoman.
It can be assumed that this is an early work, as it still shows some amateurish applications of the glaze. There is a large amount of bleeding in the green foliage as well as the blue flowers on the reverse. It does show artistic promise and the lettering of "Charles" is neatly incised.Â
MakerDella Robbia Pottery (active 1894-1906)
Maker Rolemanufacturer
MakerWilkins, Liz (born 1878)
Maker Roledesigner and decorator
Date Made1895
Period19th century
Medium and Materialsearthenware
Place MadeBirkenhead, England
Style and IconographyArts and Crafts
Inscription and Marksmark and initials and date
DRPM / LW / 1895
Method: inscribed and painted green
Position: base
