Art Pottery

Art Pottery

ART POTTERY

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.

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.

Art Pottery

At that time the factory was the foremost Victorian manufacturer of stoneware drainpipes and conduits required for the ambitious Victorian sewage system, but Henrys ambition was to become the 'greatest potter in Lambeth'.

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.

Art Pottery

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.

BURSLEM  Art Pottery

Art Pottery

At Burslem, fine earthenware was used for transfer-printed tablewares with a new, stronger, translucent white china for more expensive items.

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.

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.

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.

TOBY & CHARACTER JUGS

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.

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.

Art Pottery

A sign that a rare piece commands a higher price is confirmed by the £2,990 paid for one at auction at Phillips recently.

FLAMBE WARE

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

Series wares were mainly produced in earthenware and decoration was applied by printing an outline onto the shape with enamel colours added by hand.

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.

NURSERY WARE

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.

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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