ROBERT (SCOTTIE) WILSON (1889–1972), SCOTTISH/CANADIAN
CASTLE, TREE AND SWANS (GREEN GROUND); SWANS AND CASTLES (WHITE GROUND), CIRCA 1960

Two plates with hand-painted overglaze on English marked pottery; the first title, painted in colours on a plate of green ground, with “Carnival / Johnson Bros./ Made in England” stamp to the underside. The second title, painted in black with gold leaf trim on a plate of white ground, with “Johnson Bros / Made in England” stamp to the underside; each signed “Scottie” mid-right and lower right respectively.


Diameter 10 ins; 25.4 cms

Provenance:
Collection of Prof. Frank Watt, Toronto

Literature:
Henry Sandon, “Royal Worcester Porcelain” (third edition), 1978, pgs. 72, other designs illustrated, Nos. 212 and 213.

Note:
This lot of two decorated saucers on Johnson Brothers English pottery appear to be unique, hand-painted designs signed by the artist and neither appears to have been produced in a series.

Born as Louis Freeman, Robert Wilson (known as Scottie Wilson) left his home in Glasgow when he was nine years old to be a drummer boy in the army. There he acquired the nickname “Scottie”—commonly applied to Scottish soldiers—which would stick with him throughout his life. After emigrating to Toronto in the early 1930s, he changed his name before opening a secondhand shop. 

Wilson began drawing in his mid-40s, inspired by First Nations totem poles, which are frequently seen in stylized form in his work, as well as by birds, fish, flowers, and fauna, possibly inspired by his youth in Scotland.

Art dealer Douglas M. Duncan encountered Wilson’s work, and gave the artist an exhibition at the Picture Loan Society in 1943.

Wilson returned to the UK in the late 1940s, and exhibited his work at venues including the Arcade Gallery in London and at Galerie Maeght in Paris. His work came to the attention of Pablo Picasso and Jean Dubuffet, who both admired and collected the self-taught artist’s works. 

Later in his career, Wilson’s work caught the notice of the Royal Worcester porcelain and china company. The artist created artwork for production, designing a series of dinnerware, which was produced until 1965.  Waddington’s has sold several watercolours by Wilson, one being circular in shape, suggesting that it may have been intended for a plate design.


Estimate: $500—700