Preserve jars

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These three Wemyss ware preserve jars were made at Robert Heron & Sons' pottery at Kirkcaldy in Fife. They date from between around 1883 and 1930.

The jar on the left is decorated with hand-painted blackcurrants. The centre jar has brambles and autumn leaves while the right hand jar has hand-painted plums. All jars have matching lids and the jar on the right also sits on a matching plate.

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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• Online ID: 000-180-000-375-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland Part 2
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  
• Date: Between around 1883 and 1930
  
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  • Peter Davies & Robert Rankin, Wemyss ware: A Decorative Scottish Pottery, Scottish Academic Press, 1986 
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