Flower bowl

This Wemyss ware flower bowl was made between around 1883 and 1930 at Robert Heron & Sons' pottery at Kirkcaldy in Fife. The shape of this bowl, with its flat sides tapering to a flat base, is known as as 'Fife' flower bowl. A 'Fife' flower bowl could also be a dog or cat bowl with the addition of appropriate motifs or lettering.

The exterior of the bowl is hand-painted with blue carp in a pool topped by yellow waterlilies and grass. The rim is decorated with a band of pale blue.

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.

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