Royal Doulton dates back to 1815 when John Doulton became involved in a pottery in Lambeth, London. John's son Henry joined the firm in 1835 and the business expanded rapidly producing chemical and industrial ceramics. The success of their sanitary ware business enabled Henry Doulton to attempt more artistic interests.

Pictured right: George Tinworth for Doulton Lambeth
a vase with twin griffin handles, 1875 the body of the vase incised with scrolling foliage and enhanced with florets, in green, blue, white and brown 27cm high, artist monogram. Sold at Bonhams Sep 2008 for £1260

In 1867 he employed George Tinworth to establish an art pottery in Lambeth. The company offered work to designers and artists from a local art school and included the Barlow family (Florence, Hannah, and Arthur), Frank Butler, Mark Marshall, Eliza Simmance, and George Tinworth.

Pictured right: Hannah Barlow For Doulton Lambeth
An Unusual Vase with Hounds, circa 1890 the dogs modelled in relief on a salt-glazed ground, enclosed by brown and green foliate borders 37cm high, artist monogram. Sold at Bonhams March 2007 for £3480

Tinworth's work especially achieved great public attention and the firm grew substantially to employ 300 men by the 1880s. 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.

Royal Doulton figurines were first launched in 1913 when Darling (pictured right) modelled by Charles Vyse was named by Queen Mary during a visit to the factory. Since this date over 3000 different figures have been produced in variety of subjects from the traditional ladies to clowns and wizards.

Pictured left: Darling modelled by Charles Vyse

Charles Noke was the man behind revitalising the Staffordshire figure modelling tradition in the 1890s. However, the early models met with limited success. Today, Royal Doulton figurines are famous the world over continuing the excellent work first started by George Tinworth.

Related

George Tinworth Background
Charles Vyse Background