Design and Art Australia Online

Sarah Florence May Freeman was born in Ballarat in 1888, the eldest in a family of three children (she had two younger brothers) born to Edward Henry Biddles Freeman (1859-1932), a watchmaker and jeweller later of Bridge Road, Richmond and his wife Fanny Gascoyne née Anderson (1864-1939). She was educated locally, married an insurance agent, Charles Albert Archer, at Richmond, Melbourne c.1908 and had two children Thirlie May (known as Shirley) and Ronald Edward Luttrell born 1914 and 1920 respectively. The company transferred the family to Sydney in 1924 and they came to live in Queensland eight years later. Her daughter Shirley began pottery lessons almost immediately with Daisy Nosworthy and in 1934 transferred to the pottery classes conducted by Alice Bott (qv) at Kennigo Street, Fortitude Valley. Mrs Archer shortly joined her daughter at these classes and produced a considerable amount of pottery in the period to 1940. Florence Archer did not sell her work but gave them as gifts especially to her interstate friends. Shirley Archer has noted that most of the pottery that bears her signature (she was active only until 1935) was produced with the considerable assistance of her mother. Florence Archer died in Brisbane and was buried at the Toowoong Cemetery on 14 April 1947.

Queensland Art Gallery: Research Curator, Queensland Heritage

Writers:

Cooke, Glenn R. Note: Research Curator, Queensland Heritage, Queensland Art Gallery

Date written:

2003

Last updated:

2011