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The Doulton story comprises three parts – Doulton Lambeth, Doulton Burslem and Royal Doulton. This section will give a brief summary of the Doulton Lambeth era. The Doulton story began in London rather than more traditional areas, before the firm expanded into Burslem in Staffordshire in 1877 where it still trades to the present day.
Mottoes Jug Emily Partington Vase
John Doulton was born in 1793, became an apprentice potter at age 12 and completed his apprenticeship at age 22. He commenced employment with a firm at Vauxhall Walk, Lambeth, London owned by Mrs Martha Jones and John Watts. The firm mostly made bottles, mugs and jugs. Mrs Jones had been widowed but continued her part ownership on behalf of her son who was to take over his share of the business. However, he was wanted by the law and fled from the factory to avoid arrest, escaping to South America never to be seen by his mother again. Accordingly, a vacancy occurred and John Doulton was invited to join the firm in 1815 to become Jones, Watts and Doulton. Mrs Jones withdrew in 1820 leaving Watts and Doulton to carry on. They could not agree on the order of their names so that a sign on one side of the factory read Watts and Doulton while a sign on the other side read Doulton and Watts. The latter was easier to say and in time this became the agreed title. The business moved to larger premises in Lambeth High St. in 1826 and took advantage of the new sanitary movement to introduce stoneware water pipes as well as chemical containers, industrial ceramics and wares commemorating the Reform Act.
John Doulton
John Doulton’s eldest son John joined the firm in 1832. His second son Henry Doulton joined the firm as an apprentice at the age of 15 in 1835. Over the following years, Henry helped to develop a wide range of industrial ceramics, stoneware pipes and decorative figures. They displayed their wares at the Great Exhibition at the Crystal Palace in London’s Hyde Park in 1851 and the London International Exhibition in 1862. John Watts retired in 1853 and the firm became Doulton and Co. with Henry Doulton as the principal manager. In 1863, after a long period of reluctance, Henry Doulton agreed to work with John Sparkes, head of the nearby Lambeth School of Arts, to commence making ceramic works of art. It was this move that undoubtedly secured the future of the firm. One of Sparkes’ most gifted students was George Tinworth who was to work with Doulton for the next 40 year making a vast array of religious, historic and whimsical wares.
High St 1875
John Doulton died at the age of 80 in 1873 having overseen a transformation from making industrial wares to the introduction of salt-glaze art stoneware that was to make the firm so famous. At about this time, Henry Doulton greatly expanded the Art Studio with further students from the School including Hannah, Florence and Arthur Barlow. Over the next 20 years there were hundreds of artists, designers and assistants working at the studio producing individually designed and decorated works shown at many exhibitions. The desire for more accessible and less expensive artistic wares led to the introduction in the 1880s of methods to make large numbers in the same design to become known as repetitive or series ware. The Doulton firm expanded into Burslem in the Staffordshire potting region in 1877. Henry Doulton received the much prized Albert medal in 1885. and was knighted by Queen Victoria to become Sir Henry Doulton in 1887. He died in 1897 aged 77.
George Tinworth
George Tinworth was born in 1843 in South London, the son of a wheelwright in a very poor family. Although he was to follow his father’s occupation, his obvious talent for art led him to pawn his coat to be able to commence lessons at the Lambeth School of Art at age 19. From there he moved on to the Royal Academy Art School in 1864 and won several medals for his work. He then obtained a position with the Doulton Lambeth factory in 1866 and was soon appointed by Henry Doulton to become the principal designer producing Art Pottery. He designed decorative vases, jugs and humorous figures and animals, as well as biblical scenes. He introduced a wide range of mice figures, originally intended as menu or flower holders. His History of England Vase was one of the major pieces made for the Chicago World's Fair in 1893. His eventual fame led him to mix in high circles but he never lost his association with his humble origins. He continued working at Doulton Lambeth for over 40 years and died in 1913.
Hannah and Florence Barlow were the seventh and ninth of nine children born to Benjamin Barlow, a bank manager, and his wife Hannah. Their brother Arthur was the third child. They were born at Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire. All were to achieve fame as artists at the Doulton Lambeth factory. Hannah and Arthur Barlow were employed by Doulton in 1871 to decorate salt glazed stoneware and Florence joined them later. Their country upbringing led them to a love of nature and Hannah later had a small private zoo at her home. The girls agreed that Florence would paint flowers and birds and Hannah would concentrate on horses and other animals. Their Art Pottery was extremely time-consuming and expensive to produce but became widely renowned. Hannah later lost the use of right hand but was able to use the left hand just as well to continue with her work. Hannah finally retired in 1913 having worked at Royal Doulton for over 40 years.
George Tinworth Hannah Barlow
Florence Barlow
Sir Henry’s son, Henry Lewis Doulton became managing director, and the family business was converted into a limited company in 1899 to became Doulton & Co. Limited. The firm was granted a rare Royal Warrant of Appointment and became Royal Doulton in 1901. Utilitarion wares continued to be produced at Lambeth rather than Burslem. However, the Lambeth arm of the company had suffered falling profits since the turn of the century and it was eventually decided to scale back work in London in 1920 to concentrate on the firm in Burslem, staff numbers falling by attrition. Famous artists such as Leslie Harridine continued to produce fine art work, and production continued until the Lambeth Pottery was finally closed in 1956.
Backstamp Marks for Doulton Lambeth
The following marks indicate the approximate dates that pieces were introduced:
X 1-1500 1883-1886 X 7601-8240 1912-1920
X1501-4000 1887-1893 X 8241-8450 1921-1923
X 4001-5200 1894-1896 X 8451-8700 1924-1927
X 5201-5940 1897-1902 X 8701-8800 1928-1929
X 5941-6600 1903-1905 X8801-8900 1930-1933
X 6601-7600 1906-1911 X8901-9000 1934-1945
Reference: The Doulton Lambeth Wares by Desmond Eyles, revised by Louise Irvine.
The Barlows
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