Object Description
A large and very impressive Doulton Lambeth Aesthetic Movement Art Pottery twin handled fruit bowl with stylized floral and fan shaped designs by renowned designer and decorator Louisa J Davis in collaboration with renowned designer and decorator Eliza Simmance dated 1887. The stoneware bowl of wide squat rounded shape has flat topped ear shaped handles applied to either side and stands raised on a narrow round unglazed foot with recessed base with a wide round body with a stepped shoulder and slightly flared short top rim. The body of the bowl is decorated with stylized floral designs and fan shapes set within raised beaded borders and is hand painted in tones of brown, green, blue and white against a dark blue ground with a brown glazed rim. The bowl has impressed makers marks to the base along with date 1887 and is very much a transitional piece between the Aesthetic and Art Nouveau movements reflecting the changing designs of the time. The bowl has incised ES monogram for Eliza Simmance along with assistant marks for Louisa Ayling, Annie Gentle and Louisa Russell.