Austin, Walter Harold. b. 1891, d. 1971. Like his brother, R. H., he was a brilliant draughtsman and won several medals in national competitions for plant drawing in black and white; he won the King's Prize for examination held in drawing the 'life of two plants from seed to death' out of 13,000 competitors and close a watch of which he was very proud. At the factory, specialised in fish, flowers and fruit and also, like his brother, did a great quantity of freelance water colours, a particular favourite being magnificent delphiniums with an unusual quality of blue, 'first painted in white and then in pure blue directly over the white'. Painted on Sabrina ware. Spent a whole year studying delphiniums before he ventured to paint them. Left factory in 1930 in the depression and did part-time painting on furniture for the firm of Rackstraw's in Worcester; his flowers on bedroom furniture were said to be so realistic that butterflies would fly through the bedroom window and land on them; these pieces are signed. He worked off and on at this until about 1948 when demand for this sort of furniture ceased. One day a group of carpenters were standing around admiring him painting; one said 'how does he paint those flowers without any to copy from', to be answered by another 'don't be daft, he makes the b .......'s up'. The price was a matter of negotiation -- about 7s. 6d. for a bureau fall or a front of a drawer or 1 pound for a wardrobe. When asked for a price he would stand back, suck his cigarette and say 'you know, there's a lot of work in that' and eventually a price would be agreed. He would not work in September, when he went to Scotland or Ireland for the fishing -- angling being his favourite recreation, although also very fond of tennis.
Mark : Royal Worcester
Artist : W.H. Austin
Year : 1912
Size : 16 cm Dia.
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