A fine circular ceramic bowl designed, hand-painted and glazed by Jessie M. King with her initials on the base, along with her usual symbols of a brown rabbit and a green gate

[Kirkudbright, Scotland]: , 1910. A Fine Ceramic Bowl Hand Painted by Jessie M. King

KING, Jessie Marion. A fine circular ceramic bowl designed, hand-painted and glazed by Jessie M. King with her initials on the base, along with her usual symbols of a brown rabbit and a green gate. [Kirkudbright, Scotland ca. 1910].

Diameter: 6 1/2 inches; 165 mm. Depth: 1 5/8 inches; 42 mm.

Jessie Marion King (1875–1949) was a Scottish artist celebrated for her contributions to illustration, design, and the decorative arts. While she gained early recognition for her distinctive book illustrations, she also became known for her hand-painted (truncated) ceramics—a vital and expressive part of her artistic output.

King’s ceramics are notable for their intricate decoration and delicate, often whimsical motifs. She embraced the Art Nouveau style, incorporating flowing lines and organic forms in her designs, which frequently featured floral patterns, animals, and imaginative scenes. She typically sourced plain ceramic blanks and embellished them with her original designs before having them glazed. A hallmark of her pottery is her signature, often accompanied by symbolic motifs such as a brown rabbit and a green gate, serving as her artistic monogram.

Following her move to Kirkcudbright in 1915, King devoted significant time to decorating pottery items such as mugs, bowls, plates, and ornamental boxes. These works were primarily sold to visiting tourists and have since become highly prized by collectors. Institutions like the Hunterian Museum in Glasgow now preserve and exhibit her ceramic work, ensuring her legacy endures.

King worked extensively across different media throughout her career, including jewellery design, ceramic decoration, and book illustration. From the 1890s until her death in 1949, she practiced in Glasgow, Salford, Paris (where she co-founded the Shieling Atelier), Kirkcudbright, and the Isle of Arran. In the early 20th century, she also taught bookbinding and ceramic decoration at the Glasgow School of Art, further influencing a generation of artists and craftspeople. (Inventory #: 06208)