by Lewis Foreman Day
A pottery plaque, circa 1870's
Designed and painted by Lewis Foreman Day (1845-1910)
Provenance, Probably Lewis Foreman Day's Household (staff).
Signed verso
'Lewis F. Day
13 Mecklanburg Sq, W.2.'
26cm diameter
£3,300
The portrait itself is most likely to depict one of Lewis Foreman Day's own house staff; this is supported by three factors. The first is the motto 'Virtus non Stemma' translated as 'Worth not Birth'. The second is the head dress worn in the depiction; it seems more likely for a member of house staff to wear such an item.
Finally Joan Maria Hansen writes in her 2008 biography of Lewis Foreman Day, that two members of household staff worked for the Day family for many decades, a Cook and a Nurse/Housemaid. It is also noted in the biography that some furnishings designed by Day were given to members of his family, and it is entirely plausible that this portrait plaque was given to a household staff person who was so closely associated with the Day family for so many years.
I wish to acknowledge Joan Maria Hansen for assistance with this research.
Joan Maria Hansen, Lewis Foreman Day (1845-1910) Unity in Design and Industry, 2007
Elizabeth Rycroft, Lewis Foreman Day (1845-1910), D A S Journal Number 13, 1989
Michael Whiteway and Charlotte Gere, Nineteenth Century Design, 1993
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