Thanks very much, mart and ipcress...
I know the RCD website quite well, and use it for dating etc., but it doesn't tell much/anything about the artists who produced this great work.
I've tried numerous searches on the web for info - but not much shows.
A friend over there in the UK has Margaret Sargeant's book "Royal Crown Derby" but I'm told there isn't much info in that re artists.
Good suggestion to ask/email RCD and see if they will help.
Info I've gleaned in the past:
Cuthbert Gresley and his younger brother Harold, trained under J.P.Wale
In 1893 both Gresley brothers started work at the Derby Porcelain factory.
Cuthbert was a truly accomplished ceramics painter with flowers and landscapes being his specialities, but he turned his hand to painting anything that was required.
He was regarded as one of Derby’s finest artists and worked on the service presented by Derby on the marriage of Princess Mary of Cambridge.
Cuthbert Gresley loved music and was a reasonably accomplished singer. He lived at Chelleston and Shelton Lock in Derbyshire, England.
The Gresley dynasty of painters covers three generations and includes: Harold Gresley, Cuthbert Gresley, James Stephen Gresley and Frank Gresley. (antique-marks.com/derby-artists)
Cuthbert Gresley
Born in Ockbrook in 1876 Cuthbert was to become a significant designer decorator at the world renowned Royal Crown Derby Porcelain Company. In 1894 he was apprenticed as a china painter under the tutorship of John Porter Wale Head of the painting room.
He was responsible for many commissioned services for royal households notably King George the V1 and Princess May of Cambridge. In his private life he was better known for his floral paintings in watercolour. (derbysketchingclub. co.uk)
You see by these two small info's that C Gresley was indeed employed by RCD as a china painter. He commenced in 1894 under John Porter Wale and flourished in the company and went on to design and to work on services for royalty. As far as I can tell, his reknowned paintings were very much a part of his private life. He undoubtedly worked on many many china services during his tenure at RCD. In later years as his skills advanced he may (or may not) have ceased working on factory production services.
Hopefully, RCD will help to uncover some history.
