Florence Eleanor Bland was born in Brisbane on 22 April 1890, the only daughter of Charles Edwin Bland and Margaret Ann née Murtagh. She was educated in Ipswich and later exhibited with the Ipswich Technical College at the Queensland National Association in 1905. She enrolled at the Central Technical College in 1914 where she received an honours for Painting I and later began pottery classes at the College in 1923 with L. J. Harvey. She worked in association with fellow potter Mrs Littlejons. She exhibited pottery 1925-28 at the Arts and Crafts Society of Queensland where in 1927 a “toilet set in a soft dull green tone” received special comment and at the Royal National Agricultural and Industrial Association 1923-29 where she was awarded several prizes.

In 1928 her vessel with scraffito decoration received special comment from L. J. Harvey who acted as the judge of the pottery section. It, and a work by Kitty Collings were described as “. . . admirable examples of work with two clays, which had only recently been done.” This particular vase was reproduced in the 1983 publication 'L. J. Harvey & his School’ (p. 40). A note by Florence Bland was inserted in the vase which stated it was the first example of double scraffito work and that it was her idea to attempt such a piece. There is no reason to doubt this assertion as other suggestions by students were taken on board by Harvey and incorporated into the School style. Double scraffito is one of the most complex decorative techniques produced by the Harvey School in Brisbane.

Florence Bland numbered her pieces consecutively and while she produced only 80 plus works this is a considerable output for a member of the Harvey School. She had ceased making pottery prior to her marriage to Ernest S. O’Riley on 2 October 1942 and died in Brisbane on 22 March 1982.

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