Frances A Baker, Potter
One of the earliest extant items produced at the Blackheath
School of Art is the earthenware vase with sgraffito decoration featuring
hounds chasing a stag and birds in a treed landscape created by Frances A Baker
in 1901. This vase is now in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum
and can be seen on display in the ceramics study collection cabinets albeit on
the top shelf of the cabinet strategically placed behind two other objects.[1]
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| Frances A Baker, Vase, 1901, Victoria and Albert Museum. Source: http://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O16962/vase-baker-frances-a/ |
The school of art student exhibition of 1904 refers to ‘creditable canvases’ (paintings) by
Miss Baker amongst others.[2] Baker’s creative skills were also recognised by the panel of
examiners from the National Board of Examiners as she was the winner of a
National Book Prize for her Design of printed
muslins in 1903.[3]
Looking through census records there are so many Frances
Bakers listed that it is currently impossible to discover any more information
about the Frances Baker who attended the Blackheath School of Arts in the
1900’s. I will add more information as it becomes available.
[1]
The actual location is - Ceramics Study Galleries, Britain & Europe, room
139, case 34, shelf 4
[2] “Art
Exhibitions: Blackheath School of Art”, Arts
& Crafts Magazine, vol. 1-2, Hutchinson & Company, 1904, p.325.
Baker is a common name although it is my assumption that it is possibly Frances
Baker referred to as ‘Miss Baker’.
[3] National Competition 1903, List of Students
Awarded, 1903, p. 14.
