Sculptor, normally referred to as Wallace, rather than Robert. Born Upper Thames Street. He was the lead sculptor in the art pottery factory run by him and his three brothers, producing from the 1870s through to 1914, when the Martin Brothers Potters closed. A small amount of work continued to be produced until Wallace died, the last of the four.
Wallace trained as a sculptor and started the pottery in 1873 in Fulham (Pomona House, 111 New King's Road - still there and looking very much the artists' studio). It moved to Havelock Road, Southall (all redeveloped, nothing from the period remaining) in 1877. The brothers divided the work as follows: Walter - glazing and firing, Edwin - colouring, Charles (b. September 1846) - advising about customer preferences. The creative work of the sculptor was Wallace's. He specialised in fantastique, grotesque and wondrous beasts.
In 1870 he joined the Plymouth Brethren and attended weekly meetings for the rest of his life.
In the c.1900 photograph Wallace is seated at the left, with behind him, reading left to right: Edwin, Walter, Charles.
The Phillips 2015 catalogue Wondrous Beasts, Feathered Fantasies is very informative with many photos of the work. From that catalogue: "1874: Wallace is introduced to the ironmonger Frederick Nettlefold, a patron who purchases and displays the Martin Brothers' works in his showroom, and orders tiles for the boardroom fireplace after visiting Pomona House. 1877: Nettlefold advances the Martin Brothers the money to secure premises at Southall Middlesex." Nettlefold continued as a good patron until his death in 1913.
