Kerr & Binns Worcester Plate with Medusa by Bott

A rare Kerr & Binns Worcester plate by Thomas Bott, painted with the head of Medusa in profile on a deep turquoise ground, within an entwined ribbon and scroll border, the rim gilt. Impressed circular factory mark. Signed and dated in white enamel 'T. Bott 1863'. Diameter 25.4 cm. Provenance: Sotheby's Belgravia, English ceramics, June 1977, lot 335. Other Notes: in 1852 two Irish men, William Henry Kerr (1823-1879) and Richard William Binns (1819-1900), took over the management of the Chamberlain & Co. Porcelain works in seven Street Worcester. Thomas Bott was a great enameller born in Kidderminster and worked for Richardsons glass works at Wordsley 1848, exhibition at the great exhibition in 1851. Mr Binns encouraged him to Royal Worcester in 1853 where he was employed on the Shakespeare service and developed his speciality 'Limoges Enamels'. His work obtained distinctions in a Paris Exposition Universelle in 1855 and at the London 1862 international exhibition. He is said to have died from poisoning from licking his brushes.