Doulton

A pottery factory founded in Lambeth, south London, in 1815. The business specialised in making stoneware articles, including decorative bottles and salt glaze sewer pipes. Originally known as Doulton & Watts, the company took the name Doulton in 1853.

By 1871 a studio had been launched at the Lambeth pottery, and work was offered to 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. Then in 1882, Doulton purchased the small factory of Pinder, Bourne & Co, at Nile Street in Burslem, Staffordshire.

By this time 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. Doulton products also came to the attention of the Royal family. In 1901 King Edward VII granted the Burslem factory the Royal Warrant, which allowed the business to adopt new markings and a new name, Royal Doulton. 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.