Vyse, the inveterate recorder of the street vendors abounding the streets of Chelsea, and The Pedlar of 1925, is but one of his discoveries, (Fig. 68). From the subject’s heavy clothing, it is reasonable to assume that she was another of Vyse’s wintertime subjects. The Pedlar woman wears an old felt hat with a green feather. Her dark green thigh length top coat is unbuttoned at the waist, revealing a long claret-coloured skirt. For the first time Vyse models a street vendor figure wearing grey spats, presumably to protect her boots from the filthy streets. From her large wicker basket, overflowing with colourful jumble of ribbons and white lace trimmings, she proffers coloured trinkets, bangles and beads.
The yellow paisley scarf knotted around her neck, contrasting with her dark outer coat. The scarf acts as a link to the colourful collection of trinkets in the central passage of …show more content…
However, it would be an underestimation of her character merely to say she had an interest in political affairs. Keenly interested in the politics of the day, she was more especially interested in the activities of the Communist Party of Great Britain. It was with feelings of great displeasure that on 14th October 1925, she learned of the police raid on the CPGB London headquarters. In London, the arrest and imprisoned of high ranking CP leaders evoked mass protests. Nell insisted that she join the organised marches to Wandsworth Prison, and then to attend a mass rally at the Queen's Hall. London. The organisers of the demonstrations were to demand that the Government should release their comrades. It was to Vyse’s chagrin that her much needed presence at the studio was temporarily deferred. This hiatus was a temporary five day wonder, and Nell as enthusiastic returned to her studio duties, of which her wood ash glaze experiments were fast becoming of major importance to both the