CIRCA 1900, PROBABLY DECORATED AT BIRKS, RAWLINS POTTERY IN STOKE, SIGNED L.A. BIRKS

Lawrence Birks, a celebrated pâte-sur-pâte artist, was employed at Mintons for twenty-two years. In 1894 due to the financial circumstances of the factory, he left the company and ventured into business. His company's production focused on quality tableware, however for his own pleasure he continued to pursue this arduous technique. In 1902 a journalist from the Pottery Gazette noticed these works and described them as 'beautiful examples of the most difficult class of fine art ceramics'. See Bernard Bumpus, Pâte-sur-Pâte, The Art of Ceramic Relief Decoration, 1849-1992, London, 1992, p. 163, pl. XXV and the dust jacket for similar examples.