Between 1893 and 1906 there was an active and distinguished pottery operating in Birkenhead, The Della Robbia Pottery (the name comes from a family of Italian Sculptors who became famous for highly coloured pottery figures and panels) produced useful and decorative pottery for houses. Flower subjects were popular as well as modelled animals. Jane Fairburn, ceramicist, worked with four schools in Wirral. "I am looking forward to giving a broad age group of children an insight into the work of the Della Robbia Pottery, helping them to produce pottery as diverse in form and decoration as the originals. I hope they will discover the excitement of seeing the development of their ideas from initial designs through to finished items". The children developed their work from flowers, plants, fruit, vegetables and shells. The pots were made in red earthenware clay scratching through white slip to produce their designs with coloured glazes added for the final firing. The exhibition contained an exciting selection of pots from each school, as well as original Della Robbias from the Williamson Art Gallery collection and a few of Janes own ceramic pieces. The experience has helped schools to go on to experiment with ceramics and their underused pottery equipment.

What are Artists-in-Residence? | Meet the Artists Involved | Year 2000 Projects | Final Exhibition | Past Projects | Sponsorship | Preview the Videos | Acknowledgements

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