William 'Quaker' Pegg (1775–1851)

William 'Quaker' Pegg (1775–1851) is regarded by many as being the finest flower painter to have ever worked in ceramics. Our small collection of flower subjects by him, new this week, bear Pegg's distinctive flamboyant yet natural style, in which the leaves are markedly shadowed and appear to fold and curl.

Pegg was employed at the Derby porcelain factory and established his mastery at an early age. But Pegg's passion for his art was in tumultuous conflict with his ardent Quaker beliefs. This led him to burn most of his personal sketchbooks from his earlier period, which is why extant drawings date from after his return to the Derby factory in 1813.

Works by Pegg are highly collectable and can be seen at the Royal Crown Derby Museum and V&A.