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.
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. The newspaper report at the foot of this page tells us that James moved to Bridgeness Pottery in 1888.
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.
Falkirk Herald, 18 February 1888
Soiree, Ball and Presentation - On Monday evening last the girls in the gilding shop of Messrs J. Marshall & Co., Bo'ness Pottery,
entertained Mr Jas. Lowe, gilder, who has obtained an appointment in the new pottery of Mr Charles Macnay, in the gilding room of the
new pottery. Mr John Macnay occupied the chair. After tea, Miss Katie McCabe, in the name of her fellow-workers, presented Mr Lowe
with a handsome timepiece, in token of their regard for him as a superintendent and instructor. Mr Lowe made a suitable reply, and the
evening was pleasantly spent, songs and recitations being given. An assembly followed. The timepiece was supplied by Mr J. S.
Jeffrey, jeweller, Bo'ness.