Thursday, April 16, 2009

A Brief History of Royal Doulton




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The Royal Doulton Company is one of the most famous English companies which has been producing tableware and collectables as far back to 1815.It actually originated in London but it is in the The Potteries where it started to become one of England’s most important and noted manufacturers.Modern day amongst it’s products includes a variety of diverse items.From dinnerware, giftware, cookware, porcelain, glassware, collectables, jewellery, linens, to curtains and lighting.

The company's three key brands are Royal Doulton, Royal Albert and Minton. Together, the three brands make up Doulton Home, which then became part of the Waterford Wedgwood group. Most of the pieces in these three brands are today are not however manufactured in the United Kingdom, but in the Far East and Indonesia.
The Royal Doulton Company began as a partnership between three people.John Doulton, Martha Jones and John Watts. They had their first factory in Vauxhall Walk, Lambeth London. At that time the business specialised in making stoneware articles, which included decorative bottles and salt glaze sewer pipes. The company took the name Doulton in the year 1853.
By 1871, Henry Doulton, John's son, had started a studio at the Lambeth Pottery, and offered work to other designers and artists from a local art school. Their names included the Barlow family (Florence, Hannah and Arthur), Frank Butler, Mark Marshall, Eliza Simmance and George Tinworth. In 1882, Doulton purchased a small factory from Pinder, Bourne & Co, at Nile Street in Burslem, Staffordshire, which placed Doulton in the region known as The Potteries.By now Doulton had become one of the most popular brands of stoneware and ceramics, under the artistic direction of John Slater. Who worked across a wide variety of figurines, vases, character jugs, and decorative pieces. Many designed by the prolific and popular Leslie Harradine all of which are very desirable and collectable.

Doulton products also came to the attention of the Royal family.In 1901 King Edward VII granted the Burslem factory the Royal Warrant.The business then changed its markings and name to Royal Doulton, which we know it as today. The company continued to add products during the first half of the 20th century while retaining its reputation as a prime manufacturer of fashionable and high-quality bone china across the world.
The Lambeth factory didn’t close until 1956 due to new clean air regulations that prevented the production of salt glaze in the urban environment. Following closure, all work was moved up to The Potteries. Thus severing their link with London forever.
On 30 September 2005, the Nile Street factory also had to close as the land had been sold to developers. Some items are now made at a location of parent company Waterford Wedgwood in Barlaston, to the south of the Potteries Conurbation.Now almost all other Doulton pieces are made in Indonesia.

Sadly Royal Doulton Ltd (along with other Waterford Wedgwood companies) went into administration on 5 January 2009
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