Beautifully decorated Art Nouveau Royal Doulton stoneware vase by Frank Butler c1905. Elongated shouldered vase with narrow foot and long neck with everted rim. Stylised tubeline design encircling the body on a stippled pale olive-green ground. Attractive Art Nouveau design which combined with its form creates a particularly elegant piece. Impressed Royal Doulton mark (used 1902-1922) and pattern number 838. Monogrammed FAB for Frank A Butler, EB (Ethel Beard) and rg (L Rawlings). The vase measures 24 cm in height.
 
Frank Butler attended the Lambeth School of art but began his artistic life as a designer of stained glass. John Sparkes introduced him to Doulton where his creative talent flourished - despite being deaf and virtually mute. Butler was known for his originality of designs reflecting changing styles from Victorian up to and beyond Art Nouveau. Butler worked at Doulton's for almost forty years from 1872 to 1911. Ethel Beard was a Senior Assistant working at Doulton's from c1890 to the 1930s. She worked alongside a number of Doulton artists as well as completing her own work. Miss L. Rawlings is recorded as a Senior Assistant at Doulton c1911. For more information on Doulton visit our Maker's History pages.