Description

Extended Data

Birth Place

Townsville, Qld, Australia

Biography

Jessica Mary Woodroffe was born in Townsville on 27 April 1897 to Frederick Woodroffe (who was to become a noted gardening judge and writer) and his wife Agnes née Maynard (who exhibited flower paintings and embroideries). She was a student at the Kangaroo Point Girls State School before enrolling at the Central Technical College. She had the example of her mother who was a painter and embroiderer. She studied modelling and design with her art subjects 1914-18 and was invited by L. J. Harvey to make up the numbers for his first night pottery class in 1916. Subsequently, she produced a considerable quantity of pottery in the studio her father made beneath their home in Main Street, Kangaroo Point. She held the first solo show of pottery in Brisbane at the Sheldon Gallery, Queen Street from 7-14 December 1922. Very few of the more than 100 items on display were left unsold. An unidentified review remarked of the display that: 'Bowls, jars, plates etc. in rich glowing colours and artistic designs abound. The various articles, which have been appropriately arranged in separate groups which include a simply delightful float bowl with a most artistic bird ornament, a dull blue plate with a latticed edge, a jade casket with a quaint fish design, and a white jar distinctively patterned in blue. Distinctly novel also is the hen egg cup. Many of the bowls display fluted edges and floral effect, and in several instances colours have been blended with the most happy result. The whole exhibition is noteworthy for its sound craftsmanship and exquisite finish’. A small bowl dated 1921 with a deep maroon glaze suggests it was glazed in the Central Technical College’s kiln as it is not a typical Stone’s Pottery glaze. Jessie Woodroffe favoured underglaze decoration and she recalls collecting the bisque fired pieces from Stones Pottery to decorate before the glaze firing. Miss Woodroffe exhibited pottery at the Queensland Art Society 1919-21 and from 1922-32 (as well as other craft work) at the Arts and Crafts Society of Queensland. The artistic finish and fine quality of the glazes were frequently commended as in 1922 when she and the work of Mrs Devereux were praised. Unfortunately, no specific description of her work is given apart from 1928 when an “effective piece of pottery with a seascape showing palms against a sunset sky” was mentioned by The Brisbane Courier on 13 November 1928. She also exhibited pottery with the Queensland National Agricultural and Industrial Association (QNG&IA) 1921 and 1928-9. She was represented in the Central Technical College exhibit at the British Empire Exhibition at Wembley in 1924 with a bowl decorated with bats (for which she received the first prize in the 1921 QNA&IA). She also sold some of her pieces through the Austral Book Club, Brisbane during the 1920s. She gave up pottery when she went to work for the firm of Murray Frazer Ltd. in Charlotte Street, as a half tone engraver even though L. J. Harvey asked her to work as his assistant at the College. She died in the H.M.Weller Garden Settlement, Chermside, Brisbane on Christmas Day 1990. Queensland Art Gallery: Research Curator, Queensland Heritage Writers: Cooke, Glenn R. Note: Research Curator, Queensland Heritage, Queensland Art Gallery, Brisbane, Qld Date written: 2003 Last updated: 2011

Born

b. 27 April 1897

Summary

Jessie Woodroffe attended L.J. Harvey's first pottery class at the Central Technical College, Brisbane in August 1916 and was the first potter to have a solo exhibition of her work in Brisbane - at the Sheldon Gallery in December 1922.

Gender

Female

Died

25-Dec-90

Age at death

93