Who was Gemma Travers?

Who was this artist?

Pieces decorated by this decorator turn up infrequently, but often enough to know that if it was a "cottage" operation then her output was of some significance.

She only used Fenton blanks and her decorations bear strong similarity to Beth Weissman's Roses and Bows. Any connection between the two entities besides the similarity of style is unknown. So far pieces have turned up on Fenton's Silver Crest, Peach Crest, and Diamond Optic Ruby Overlay blanks. Shapes are quite varied ranging from vases to baskets and vanity sets.

Her decorations were painted on a professional level, the designs were well balanced and executed with a trained eye and hand. She used both china and enamel paints and both were fired for durability. The gold leaf is duller than that seen on Beth Weissman or Charleton pieces. This difference in lustre may indicate a lesser quality gold leaf or a different formula or process altogether.

The larger, flamboyant signature is quite different than most signed pieces from other decorators of this period and hers are always executed in a Burnt Sienna color of china paint. One piece, a vase, is signed on the neck leading one to believe this artist had a lot of freedom in personal promotion. Theoretically, I think these factors point to a productive cottage industry operating on a higher scale both in quality and quantity than most.