Flora's Train

"Flora's Train" is a decorative earthenware tile panel consisting of six tiles designed by the Victorian artist and illustrator Walter Crane. The set was manufactured between 1900 and 1901 by Pilkington's Tile and Pottery Company in Clifton Junction, near Manchester. The tiles are made of white earthenware decorated in relief and painted with coloured glazes.

Each tile is set against a pale blue ground and features a distinct female figure whose gown is coloured to correspond directly with the particular flower depicted beside her. The six floral motifs shown across the panel are the cornflower, bluebell, columbine, anemone, poppy, and daffodil. The figures are surrounded by sweeping stems, leaves, and blossoms that fill each composition. The outlines of the designs were pressed in relief to imitate the appearance of tube-lining before being finished with painted glazes. While the visual character of the figures is closely related to Crane's book illustrations, the sinuous floral compositions also reflect the influence of Art Nouveau.