Ceramic basket

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This Wemyss ware basket was made between 1882 and 1885 at Robert Heron & Sons' pottery at Kirkcaldy in Fife.

The basket has a wavy rim and a loop handle. The style is known as an 'Epsom' basket.

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: 000-180-000-325-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.1994.16
• Date: Between 1882 and 1885
  c. 1920 - 1930
  
• Material: Earthenware; paint, glaze. Inscription: WEMYSS [impressed] / W G c Y
  Basket, epsom
  
• Dimensions: 168 mm H x 97 mm D
  
• What: Basket, epsom
  
• Subject: Post-medieval pottery and porcelain
  
• Who: Professor Peter H. Davis (Collector and owner)
  Robert Heron and Son, Fife Pottery, Kirkcaldy (Maker)
  
• Where: Scotland, Fife, Kirkcaldy
  
• Event:
• Description: Wemyss Ware epsom basket in monochrome green glazed earthenware, with wavy rim and loop handle, by Robert Heron and Son, Fife Pottery, Kirkcaldy, 1882 - 1885.
  
• References:
  • Fife Pottery Catalogue, No 103 
  • Peter Davies & Robert Rankin, Wemyss ware: A Decorative Scottish Pottery, Scottish Academic Press, 1986 
• Translations:
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