Soap dish of Wemyss ware, c. 1895

This white glazed earthenware soap dish was made at Robert Heron's Pottery in Kirkcaldy in Fife around 1895. It is part of a Wemyss Ware toilet set which came from Philiphaugh House near Selkirk.

The soap dish consists of a bowl, a base and a lid. The bowl and lid are hand painted with pink cabbage roses. The base of the soap dish is pierced with 21 holes.

In the 19th century, 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 prestigious Wemyss ware.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-100-003-245-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  H.MEK 167 C
• Date: Around 1895
  
• Material: White glazed earthenware
  White glazed earthenware
  White glazed earthenware. Inscription: WEMYSS; WEMYSS
  Lid, soap dish
  Soap dish / base
  Soap dish / bowl
  
• Dimensions: 30 mm H x 90 mm D (base) x 148 mm D (rim)
  50 mm H x 120 mm D (base)
  50 mm H x 85 mm D (base) x 135 mm D (rim)
  
• What: Lid, soap dish
  Soap dish / base
  Soap dish / bowl
  
• Subject: Post-medieval pottery and porcelain (NMAS Classification)
  Post-medieval pottery and porcelain (NMAS Classification)
  Post-medieval pottery and porcelain (NMAS Classification)
  
• Who: Robert Heron and Co. (Maker)
  Robert Heron and Co. (Maker)
  Robert Heron and Co. (Maker)
  Wemyss
  Wemyss
  Wemyss
  
• Where: Scotland, Fife, Kirkcaldy
  Scotland, Fife, Kirkcaldy
  Scotland, Fife, Kirkcaldy
  
• Event:
• Description: Part of a Wemyss ware soap dish of white glazed earthenware - bowl with a small moulded foot and a circular base from which the sides curve out towards a plain rim - part of a toilet set
  Part of a Wemyss ware soap dish of white glazed earthenware - flat circular base pierced by twenty-one holes, with sides which curve up towards an out-turned rim - part of a toilet set
  Part of a Wemyss ware soap dish of white glazed earthenware - lid shaped like a flattened dome, with a small circular knob - part of a toilet set
  
• References:
  • Calder, J. 'The Wealth of a Nation'. Edinburgh: NMS, 1989 pp. 137-8 
• Translations:
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