Royal Doulton
A brand of pottery and stoneware, made by Doulton and Co, of London and later of Stoke-on-Trent
See also - Royal Doulton: 1912 Catalogue and Price List
1815 John Doulton went into partnership with Martha Jones and John Watts at a stoneware factory in London.
By the 1870s 3 businesses, which had grown from the original pottery, were brought together as Doulton and Co
By 1871, Henry Doulton had launched the Lambeth Studio with local designers and artists who experimented with a variety of materials and glazes in an industrial setting. Their names included the Barlow family, Frank Butler, Mark Marshall, Eliza Simmance, and George Tinworth. Today their pioneering work commands increasingly high prices.
1877 Henry purchased a major shareholding in the factory of Pinder, Bourne and Co at Nile Street in Burslem, Staffordshire – a facility that handled tableware as well as ornaments and earthenwares.
1897 On the death of Sir Henry Doulton the business was converted into a limited company Doulton and Co Ltd; Mr. Henry Lewis Doulton became Chairman and Managing Director.
1901 The Burslem factory was granted the Royal warrant by the new king, Edward VII. Now the business could adopt a bold new logo – adding a crown to the British lion – and a classic brand name – Royal Doulton.
1913 Royal Doulton launched its definitive HN Series of Pretty Lady figurines and these collectables went from strength to strength.
1913 Acquired James Stiff and Sons of London Pottery.
Under Charles Noke, Royal Doulton successfully moved into the market for Character Jugs. Established Bunnykins as nurseryware in 1934, moving into collectable figurines by 1939.
Between the World Wars, the name Royal Doulton became synonymous with the finest English china across the world. Innovation and inspiration were key to its growth, whether that be flambé ware, titanian ware, or bone china.
1960 Royal Doulton introduced a new product – English Translucent China (ETC), which is now better known as Royal Doulton Fine China - it offered the excellent translucent quality of bone china, without the expense.
1966 Royal Doulton became the first china manufacturer to receive the Queen’s Award for Technical Achievement.
1968 Doulton merged with Mintons.
1968 Doulton acquired Dunn, Bennett and Co, described as the "Minton of the hotel trade"[1]
1971 S. Pearson and Son acquired Doulton and Co and the outstanding interests in Allied English Potteries that it did not already own[2]. As a result Royal Albert, as a part of Allied English Potteries, joined with Royal Doulton. Thus three key names – Royal Doulton, Royal Albert, and Minton – came under the umbrella brand of Doulton Home.
1975 Ridgway Potteries, suppliers of Ridgway Steelite china, became Royal Doulton Tableware Ltd
1983 Royal Doulton sold its Steelite and Dunn Bennett hotelware business to a new company which would continue producing the products at the same location; Doulton concentrated on fine china and porcelain.[3]
2005 Doulton and its various historic names were sold to the Waterford Wedgwood group.
- Note: See also Doulton and Co.
Royal Doulton’s largest and most expensive figure takes 160 hours to hand paint and costs more than £14,000. Its collectables have proved so popular that it launched the Royal Doulton International Collectors Club (RDICC) in 1980. Royal Doulton Archives give the business and its designers access to some 10,000 watercolours dating back to 1815. And the Doulton Lambeth pedigree lives on with modern limited edition Lambethwares.
From the twentieth century onwards, the pedigree of the Lambeth and Burslem Studios has been followed through with the work of key individuals. It also has a Design Studio based in Stoke-on-Trent, and a state-of-the-art production facility based in Indonesia. Nevertheless, the family links remain – Michael Doulton is the Honorary President of the RDICC.
Today, Royal Doulton is at the forefront of retail and e-tail with a lifestyle offer that covers the classic and the contemporary, tableware and collectables, oven to tableware, and personal style.
See Also
Sources of Information
- [1] Royal Doulton Website