Doulton Lambeth Hannah Barlow Horses Vase

Description

Doulton Lambeth Hannah Barlow & Florence C. Roberts Horse Vase

This magnificent early 20th-century Doulton Lambeth art pottery vase showcases an exceptional artistic collaboration. Measuring 27 cm high by 13 cm wide, the vase presents an impressive baluster form with a rich cobalt blue glaze along the flared neck and lower pedestal.

The central body features a continuous 360-degree sgraffito landscape. Renowned artist Hannah Barlow incised six horses, young foals, and distant farm outbuildings directly into the buff stoneware clay. Framing this pastoral scene are intricate tubelined floral borders in white, sage green, and ochre, meticulously executed by artist Florence C. Roberts. A mottled olive-yellow interior glaze completes the aesthetic harmony of the piece.

This vase represents an absolutely delightful addition to ceramics collection and as a collaboration piece a sound investment for the future.

Artist Backgrounds

Hannah Barlow (1851–1916)

Hannah Barlow stands as one of Doulton Lambeth’s most celebrated and influential artists. Joining the pottery in 1871, she became the first female ceramic artist employed by Henry Doulton. Barlow specialised in the technique of sgraffito, incising freehand sketches directly into wet clay without pre-drawn outlines. Her lifelong love of animals and the English countryside inspired her iconic depictions of horses, cattle, sheep, and wildlife. Today, museum collections worldwide hold her works as highlights of the Victorian and Edwardian Art Pottery movements.

Florence C. Roberts

Florence C. Roberts served as a highly skilled artist and senior assistant at the Doulton Lambeth studio during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. She frequently collaborated with principal artists like Hannah Barlow, specialising in decorative floral borders, tubelining, and glaze applications. Her refined geometric and botanical patterns provided the ideal frame for Barlow’s naturalistic animal studies.

Provenance & Marks

The base of the vase bears clear, authentic studio markings that provide exceptional provenance:

• Royal Doulton Lambeth Stamp: Features the official Royal Warrant mark, indicating manufacture after 1901.

• Hannah Barlow Monogram: Hand-incised monogram signature (HBB).

• Florence C. Roberts Monogram: Incised artist monogram (FcR).

• Factory Markings: Includes thrower marks, pattern references, and series identification numbers (613, 220).

Condition Report

This piece remains in perfect, unrestored original condition.

• Structure: Free from cracks, chips, hairlines, or restorations.

• Glaze & Surface: The cobalt glaze retains full gloss and brilliance. The sgraffito details remain crisp and defined.

• Base: Clean, clear factory markings without ground-down foot rim damage or post-production defects.