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 The long tale of
Royal Doulton china and Royal Doulton figurines begins with a man with
no ties to nobility whatsoever. John Doulton, born in 1793 in Fulham,
England, entered the craft of ceramics at an early age when he
apprenticed for the Fulham Pottery Co. of London. Doulton was known as
a "thrower," meaning he produced wares such as pots, jugs, pitchers and
bowls from clay "thrown" upon a potter's wheel. In 1817, John Doulton
partnered with John Watts to create a new pottery house, which
eventually relocated to Lambeth, England. To view Royal Doulton porcelain marks, click here.
 Although the Doulton name
today is more commonly associated with fine china and porcelain
figurines, the Doulton and Watts pottery house focused initially on the
production of industrial materials such as tiles and chemical-storage
vessels. By the 1830's, John Doulton's sons had joined the management
of the factory. While the first half of the nineteenth century saw
mostly the production industry-related products, interest in practical
or decorative items for the home grew over time. John's sons,
Henry and Frederick, eventually left Doulton and Watts to produce their
own specialized industrial ceramics, particularly pipes. His oldest
son, John Doulton, Jr., also left Lambeth in 1847 to open his own
factory. Economic hardships quickly forced all three firms to
dissolve, but in 1853, they regrouped together under the single name
"Doulton and Co."
During the second
half of the nineteenth century the Doulton china and porcelain factory
divided its production among industrial materials and household
ceramics. By 1885, Royal Doulton was producing for an international
market and gaining widespread recognition and renown. Winning honors
at major international exhibitions, Royal Doulton prodced a variety of
figurines, vases, jugs and dinnerware utilizing both under- and
on-glaze decorating techniques. The company hired the most talented
artists including the famous art director Charles Noke.
In 1887, Queen Victoria
knighted Henry Doulton. This title was bestowed upon him in honor of
the tremendously important work of Doulton & Co. in producing ceramic
vessels that filtered bacteria and other contaminants out of drinking
water. As the Industrial Revolution had severely polluted London's
primary source of drinking water, the River Thames, Doulton's
innovations did not come a decade too soon. In 1907, King Edward II
conferred the honor of a Royal Warrant upon Doultan and Co., making it
the "Royal Doulton" china and ceramic manufactory. This prestige
encouraged the company to explore new directions, and produce works of
a more decorative or artistic nature.
It was around this
time that Royal Doulton figurines, as well as the famous "character
mugs," were entered into production. A number of Royal Doulton china
patterns also emerged, the most famous of which include Carlyle,
Coronet, English Renaissance and Juliet. Royal Doulton continued to
produce a full line of miniatures and full-scale figurines for the home
well into the first half of the 20th century.
Today, Royal
Doulton is still one of the world's leading manufacturers of tableware
and other collectibles. The company has also taken over the production
of Royal Albert and Beswick, and is now the largest manufacturer of
ceramics in all of Britain. |
Royal Doulton
China "Burgundy" Pattern
Royal Doulton Figurines / Decorative Items