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Sir Henry
Doulton encouraged women to work for him and included many notable
artists among them.
Hannah
Barlow was the first and became the most famous and sought-after.
She
joined Doulton in 1871 and her speciality was animal studies using a
traditional sgraffito technique either directly onto the clay body or
through applied slip.
One of
her pots was bought by the eminent and exacting Victorian art critic,
John Ruskin, when he visited the factory.
At
auction today expect to pay around £1,000, although rare pieces cost
more.
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| Art Pottery |
Hannah's
younger sister Florence, specialised in depicting birds and the
pate-sur-pate technique, painting in raised layers of slip, as did
Eliza Simmance, another popular artist.
The
company has produced many innovative glazes and designs throughout
the 19th and 20th centuries, setting Doulton wares among the most
collectable ceramics in the world.
Today
the company, which includes such famous brands as Royal Crown Derby,
Minton, Royal Albert and Paragon, has become one of the largest
enterprises of china makers in the world.
The
founder of the company, John Doulton, trained at Fulham Pottery and
in 1815 set up his own pottery in Lambeth.
Five of
his sons joined him but it was his second son, Henry, (1820-1897),
who is credited with the development of Doulton during the 19th
century.
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| Art Pottery |
He
established the Lambeth Art Pottery, one of the first art studios,
and at their first major public display at the 1851 Great Exhibition
in Hyde Park, each piece received a silver medal.
In 1882
Doulton took over a factory in Burslem, Staffordshire, where they
produced both earthenware and from 1884, bone china.
Henry
Doulton became the first potter to receive a knighthood in 1887. Ten
years later, when he died, Royal Doulton was the leading company
within the ceramic industry.
LAMBETH
Sculptor
George Tinworth was the first of many artists from the Lambeth School
of Art to be employed by Henry Doulton in 1866 and was largely
responsible for the success of the Lambeth Art Pottery studio.
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It was
Tinworth's relief- decorated, salt-glazed stoneware pottery which
became known as Doulton ware.
He was
also the first to model terracotta figures which were mainly small
animals or had a religious connection.
At the
beginning of the 20th century, new designs using stylised Art Nouveau
floral motifs and the geometric Secessionist style were reproduced in
quantity using plaster moulds and the slip-cast method of
manufacture.
Leslie
Harradine worked at the Lambeth studio from 1902-1914 creating, among
others, stoneware figures of Charles Dickens' characters which were
later reproduced in earthenware at Burslem.
Production
at Lambeth was halted during the Second World War and enjoyed only a
brief renaissance before the factory was finally closed in 1956.
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| Art Pottery |
An
accomplished chemist and glaze technician as well as an expert
modeller, Charles Noke was instrumental in the success of the
factory. Noke joined Doulton in 1889 and was Art Director from
1914-1936.
He drew
inspiration from the Lambeth studio and incorporated this with
traditional Staffordshire pottery.
Innovations
introduced at Burslem included flambe and other experimental glazes
inspired by the Far East, figures, character jugs, series and nursery
wares.
FIGURES
In
reviving the 18th-century Staffordshire tradition of figureware,
Noke's aim was to establish a collection of fine quality china
figures suitable for every home.
'The
Jester', 'Cardinal Wolsey' and 'Queen Catherine' were among his
earliest figures which were made on a limited scale.
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| Art Pottery |
Noke's
expertise helped make an impact at the 1893 World's Columbian
Exhibition in Chicago, where the figures were first displayed.
It was
after a visit to the potteries by King George V and Queen Mary in
1913 that the well- known HN collection was developed using sculptors
such as Charles Vyse as well as Noke himself and other talented
modellers, including Leslie Harradine whose figures date back to
1921.
Many of
Harradine's models of children and 'pretty ladies' are highly
collectable today.
More
recent popular modellers include Peggy Davies who worked from 1939
until her retirement in 1984.
The
prefix HN is the initials of Harry Nixon, who was in charge of the
figure painting department at the time of the Royal visit. Queen Mary
paid particular attention to 'Bedtime', exclaiming, 'Isn't he a
darling', upon which the figure became known as 'Darling'.
Harry
Nixon instigated an identifying number for each figure and colourway,
with 'Darling' being HN1, and the system has continued ever since.
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| Art Pottery |
Models
were inspired by literature, theatre and history, and reflected
passing trends, such as the bathing belles of the 1920s.
Over
3,000 figures have been designed with each piece still crafted from
clay and hand decorated to reflect each painter's individual style.
Once
again Charles Noke was the inspiration behind another 18th-century
Staffordshire tradition, the resurrection of Toby jugs which followed
the successful introduction of character jugs in 1934.
The Toby
jug differs from the character jug by portraying the whole body of
the model, instead of only the head and shoulders.
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| Art Pottery |
Originally
the body was modelled on a seated male figure holding a mug in his
hand, with a smile on his face and his period costume included a
tricorn hat which made a perfect spout.
One
theory for the name 'Toby' is that it was named after Shakespeare's
Sir Toby Belch in 'Twelfth Night'.
The ideas
came from popular English literature, songs and legends. Many
well-known faces are recognisable, including one of King Henry VIII
with two handles showing the faces of his six wives, as well as
actors, musicians and sporting heroes.
The
character jug model of Clark Gable had to be withdrawn shortly after
its introduction in 1984 following complaints from his estate.
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| Art Pottery |
A glaze
produced by mixing copper oxide and other materials and allowing
oxygen into the kiln during firing.
It was
first shown at the St Louis Exhibition of 1904 and was a great
success.
Series
wares were mainly produced in earthenware and decoration was applied
by printing an outline onto the shape with enamel colours added by
hand.
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| Art Pottery |
Fhey
depicted traditional English scenes as well as nursery rhymes and
legendary characters.
Famous
illustrators such as Charles Dana Gibson were used in their
production.
Production
of nursery ware at Burslem during the early 20th century was based on
stories from 'Alice in Wonderland' and Kate Greenaway illustrations.
The most
popular range, 'Bunnykins', is unique to Doulton and was designed by
Barbara Vernon, a nun whose illustrations were originally created to
entertain her young relations.
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| Art Pottery |
In 1939
Charles Noke created models from her characters which are still in
production today.
Another
popular range with collectors, first produced in the mid-1980s and
now discontinued, is 'Brambly Hedge', the model mice inspired by Jill
Barklems books. POINTS
TO
WATCH
If
you are buying with a view to future gains be aware that older, rarer
pieces are holding their value ,
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