made at Kirkcaldy, Fife

Dessert dish

This Wemyss ware dessert dish was made between around 1883 and 1930 at Robert Heron & Sons' pottery at Kirkcaldy in Fife. The dish is based on the shape of a quaich - a traditional Scottish drinking vessel.

The exterior of the dish is hand-painted with rough and stylised brambles. The footrim, rim and handles are edged with a band of green.

In the 19th century, Scottish potteries grew in number to meet the increased demand. The largest firms were near the Forth and Clyde rivers and Kirkcaldy became a major centre for potteries. Robert Heron & Co. were famous for their brightly painted, highly fashionable and expensive Wemyss Ware. The characteristic freely-painted decoration was introduced by Karel Nekola, a Czech who arrived in Kirkcaldy in 1883. Wemyss Ware continued to be produced in Kirkcaldy, by a variety of decorators, until the factory closed in 1930.

Record details

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Online ID:	000-180-000-243-C
Image Rights Holder:	National Museums Scotland
Project:	0504: National Museums Scotland Part 2 Project description \| View all records in project
Ref:	National Museums Scotland H.1994.75
Date:	1883 - 1930 Between around 1883 and 1930
Material:	Glazed and painted earthenware. Inscription: WEMYSS
Dimensions:	45 mm H x 150 mm W x 105 mm D
What:	Dish, dessert
Subject:
Who:	Robert Heron & Son, Fife Pottery, Kirkcaldy (Maker)
Where:	Scotland, Fife, Kirkcaldy (Fife Pottery)
Event:
Description:	Small low Wemyss Ware quaich dessert dish hand painted with rough and stylized brambles, Scottish, Fife, Kirkcaldy, Fife Pottery, by Robert Heron & Son, c. 1883 - 1930
References:	Peter Davies & Robert Rankin, Wemyss ware: A Decorative Scottish Pottery, Scottish Academic Press, 1986 Wemyss Ware, p. 119, pl. 254b; p. 44
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