Della Robbia
Arguably the Art Pottery that most successfully practiced the principles of the Arts and Crafts Movement as advocated by Morris and his contemporaries.
Local labour and raw materials were utilized, women’s’ artistry celebrated, artists paid a “living wage” and the factory employed artists such as “Shirley” who had profound disabilities and painted with his mouth.
Founded by Conrad Dressler and Harold Rathbone, the pottery was named after the Italian Renaissance pottery of the 15th Century and was supported by King George V, Queen Victoria and Edward VII and retailed through department stores such as Liberty’s and Morris & Co.
Sadly their socio-economic principles contributed to their lack of commercial success as the cost of production was so high and the factory was forced to close in 1906.
