Perhaps one of the most versatile artists at the Lambeth factory, Eliza proved that she was more than capable of adapting her style to changing contemporary styles. Just like the equally versatile Frank Butler, Eliza was a leading artist in the art nouveau movement for the Lambeth factory.

Eliza demonstrated her adept touch at most of the techniques that were made at the Lambeth studio and her skill on Silicon ware shows equal flair as her tubelined decoration.

I recall early on in my Doulton’s initiation being introduced to a student preparing a thesis on Eliza and great discussion was had on her change of spelling of her first name. No real trigger was mentioned but it is something worthy of note.

Of all her styles it is perhaps the many and varied art nouveau designs the Eliza completed in the early 20C that she is perhaps best known for today. It was these designs that really stood her apart from the other Doulton artists from the earlier Victorian period. Over her career the variety of designs she conjured up is mind boggling to us today – no two were ever identical and each was a fresh take on a theme or style.

Eliza‘s long career at Lambeth came to a close in 1928, just as tastes were again changing. Today we can only imagine what she must have made of the changes over her career at the Lambeth factory where production had slowed significantly by the time of her departure, from when she started in 1873 as a former student at the Lambeth School of Art under John Sparks.