Dessert dish

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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: 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
  Dish, dessert
  
• 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 
• Translations:
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