We came across these wonderful pieces of Royal Doulton pottery a couple of weeks ago, over in Nacogdoches, TX. We found tham in a book and were very surprised about their values... Thank You Nacogdoches! You never know what you will find in the country! I found a wonderful display case in Tyler the other day, and we are really hoping to get some deals in Canton this weekend.
Royal Doulton
 | |
| Type | Private company, part of a plc |
|---|---|
| Industry | Pottery |
| Founded | 1815 |
| Founder(s) | John Doulton, Martha Jones & John Watts |
| Headquarters | Stoke-on-Trent, England |
| Key people | Henry Doulton |
| Website | http://www.royaldoulton.com |
The Royal Doulton Company is an English company producing tableware and collectables, dating to 1815. Operating originally in London, its reputation grew in The Potteries, where it was a latecomer compared to Spode, Wedgwood and Minton. Its products include dinnerware, giftware, cookware, porcelain, glassware, collectables, jewellery, linens, curtains, and lighting.
Three of its brands are Royal Doulton, Royal Albert and Minton. Together, the three brands make up Doulton Home, which is now part of the Waterford Wedgwood group. Most of the pieces in these three brands are today manufactured in the Far East and Indonesia.
History
The Royal Doulton Company began as a partnership between John Doulton, Martha Jones, and John Watts, with a factory at Vauxhall Walk, Lambeth, London. The business specialised in making stoneware articles, including decorative bottles and salt glaze sewer pipes. The company took the name Doulton in 1853.
By 1871, Henry Doulton, John's son, launched a studio at the Lambeth pottery, and offered work to designers and artists from a local art school, including the Barlow family (Florence, Hannah, and Arthur), Frank Butler, Mark Marshall, Eliza Simmance, and George Tinworth. In 1882, Doulton purchased the small factory of Pinder, Bourne & Co, at Nile Street in Burslem, Staffordshire, which placed Doulton in the region known as The Potteries.
When the Anglican St. Alban's Church was built in Copenhagen, Denmark, in 1887 with Alexandra, Princess of Wales as one of the driving forces, Doulton donated and manufactured an altarpiece, a pulpit and a font. They were executed in terra cotta with glazed details to the design of Tinworth.[1]
By this time Doulton was popular for stoneware and ceramics, under the artistic direction of John Slater, who worked with figurines, vases, character jugs, and decorative pieces designed by the prolific Leslie Harradine. Doulton products came to the attention of the Royal family. In 1901 King Edward VII sold the Burslem factory the Royal Warrant, allowing the business to adopt new markings and a new name, Royal Doulton. The company added products during the first half of the 20th century while manufacturing fashionable and high-quality bone china.
The Lambeth factory closed in 1956 due to clean air regulations preventing urban production of salt glaze. Following closure, work was transferred to The Potteries.
Recent developments
On 30 September 2005, the Nile Street factory closed. Some items are now made in the parent company Waterford Wedgwood in Barlaston, south of the Potteries Conurbation. Almost all other Doulton pieces are made in Indonesia.
Royal Doulton Ltd (along with other Waterford Wedgwood companies) went into administration on 5 January 2009.
The future of the archives of Royal Doulton and Minton are unclear as a consequence of the acquisition of Waterford Wedgwood by KPS Capital Partners.[2]
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