An Arts & Crafts earthenware panel/plaque of rectangular form, relief moulded, depicting a scene of children walking through a cornfield, over a stile and through woodland, by Ellen Mary Rope (1855-1934); c1896, signed and dated. Newly framed.
Inscribed along the top: “JOG-ON-JOG-ON-THE-FOOTPATH-WAY-AND-MERRILIE-HENT-THE-STILE-A-MERRIE-HEART-GOES-ALL-THE-WAY-YOUR-SAD-TIRES-IN-A-MILE-A”
Ellen Mary Rope was very active in the field of decorative arts and indeed designed for the famous Della Robbia Pottery in Birkenhead from about 1886 until they closed in 1906. Her work was always very much in the Arts & Crafts tradition and she exhibited regularly at the Arts & Crafts Society exhibitions from 1889 onwards, showing wall and ceiling decorative panels, nursery decoration, doorplates, and other metalwork. Her Della Robbia design work especially, brought her into public view and her depictions of children and fairies were particular favourites.
Ref: The Arts & Crafts Movement; Artists Craftsmen & Designers 1890-1930; The Fine Art Society; an exhibition held in 1973; exh C21
h: 11” w: 50” inc frame.
