WEMYSS WARE
'JOHN BLYTH' CHILD'S TEETHING RING
£101
Scottish Works of Art & Whisky
Auction: Lots 1 - 412 | 20 August 2024 at 10am
Description
glazed earthenware, painted with inscription JOHN BLYTH, unmarked
Dimensions
7cm diameter
Provenance
Provenance: The George Bellamy Collection of Scottish Wemyss Ware
Footnote
Note: This teething ring was possibly commissioned from the Fife Pottery for John W. Blyth, who was later to become the owner of The Blyth Company of Kirkcaldy, linen manufacturers, and whose family lived close to the pottery at the time of his birth. He went on to become a picture collector of renown and his collection hangs today in the Kirkcaldy Art Gallery & Museum. Grandfather of the politician and broadcaster Michael Portillo, Blyth was convener of the gallery’s art committee and a trustee of the National Galleries of Scotland. His own collection, purchased through the Glasgow art dealer Alexander Reid and Edinburgh’s P. McOmish Dott, founder of the Scottish Gallery comprised of mainly Scottish art, in particular S.J. Peploe and the Scottish Colourists. Eventually, the collection became too large for his house and much of it was lent to the gallery. Following Blyth’s death in 1962, his family agreed to sell to Kirkcaldy the 116 pictures, then on permanent loan.