JAMES LOW / LOWE
James Low, the son of William Low (a Pottery Manager) and Catherine Bald, was born in Abbotshall, Kirkcaldy in October 1851.
In 1871, he was a boarder with the Chalmers family, living in High Street, Abbotshall and worked as a Potter.
Having crossed the Forth to find work, he also found a wife and he married Robina Chalmers in Bo'ness in November 1875.
In 1881, James and Robina had a one year old daughter, Ellen, and were living with Robina's mother, Helen Chalmers, at Hamilton Square, North Street, Bo'ness.
The family are not recorded in the 1891 census.
In 1901, James' occupation is a Pottery Warehouseman and the family (Robina, Ellen and son, James) were living at Scotland's Close, Bo'ness.
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The following photos are of a cup and saucer and a vase, all porcelain and all displaying the mark of The Sevres Porcelain Manufactory.
DONE BY JAMES LOW 1770
Renewed
BY HIS GRANDSON JAMES LOW
BO'NESS POTTERY
Pr. 1873
Jas Lowe
Painter
Bridgeness Pottery
Bo'ness
6/2/92
James Lowe's gilding brushes
The above pieces tell us that James worked at Bo'ness Pottery in 1873 and by 1892 had moved to Bridgeness Pottery, half a mile to the east.
By 1898, James had returned to his previous employer, Bo'ness Pottery, which had become a Limited Company in December 1895.
Using James' marks above as reference, I think that the painted mark below, P.B.P.LD., is the abbreviation for Painter Bo'ness Pottery Limited.
