In 1815, John Doulton invested his life savings
(£ 100) in a small pottery. In Vauxhall Walk, Lambeth, he and the
foreman John Watts were taken in as partners by Martha Jones, widow
of the former owner. The pottery produced salt glazed utilitarian
items and pitchers, plain figural bottles and stoneware items.
Within long the company divided their production in two
directions. One part concentrating on the production of china and
fine ceramics, where as the other part developed industrial design
og water purifiers in particular.
The water purifying section
The pottery gained big success in producing water filters in
1827. The water in London was heavily polluted and the cholera and
typhoid epidemics were rampant, water filters coming in as the big
saviour. By 1862 the Doulton company had developed purifiers
capable of removing even micro bacteria with 99 % efficiency.
Developed by Henry Doulton - John Doulton's son, who joined the
company in 1835.
The china ware section
From 1858 until his death, John Doulton directed the pottery in
Lambeth. Production soon included faience, impasto,
silicon, carrara, marqueterie, chine and rouge flambe.
Henry Doulton introduced new technological innovations to the
ceramics production. By 1878 the production included the famous
figurines, jugs and tableware. In 1884 Doulton
expanded production to include porcelain and earthenware, later
that year decorated porcelain was introduced as well.
The Whole Company
Today the whole company employs more than 6000 people worldwide.
Industrially the Royal Doulton factories are among most modern and
efficient factories in the world. Having bought up most rivals,
industrially as well as in decorative wares, the company that Sir
John Doulton founded through his visionary and entrepreneurial
genius, must be said to have kept up its inheritance. Today his
company is a huge, modern, thriving international enterprise with
sale and distribution in more than 80 countries.
Royal Doulton
In 1815, John Doulton invested his life savings
(£ 100) in a small pottery. In Vauxhall Walk, Lambeth, he and the
foreman John Watts were taken in as partners, by the widow Martha
Jones, who had inherited a pottery from her late husband. The
pottery produced salt glazed utilitarian items and pitchers, plain
figural bottles and stoneware items.
Before long the company divided their production into two
directions. One part of the company concentrated on the production
of china and fine ceramics, whereas the other part of the company
developed industrial design and water purifiers in particular.
The water purifying section
The pottery earned big success in the industrial production of
water filters in 1827. The water in London was heavily polluted and
the cholera and typhoid epidemics were rampant, water filters
coming in as the big saviour. By 1835 Queen Victoria commissioned
the company to produce water purifiers for the Royal household and
by 1862 the Doulton company, based on the advancement in Pasteur's
micro biologic research, had developed purifiers capable of
removing micro bacteria with 99 % efficiency. This new filter
element (Manganous Carbon) removed chemical contaminants and
bacteria as well as bad taste and odour - developed by Henry
Doulton, John Doulton's son, who had joined the company in
1835.
Henry Doulton, the highest honoured potter, was
knighted by the Queen (Queen Victoria) for his lifesaving efforts,
and by 1901 King Edward VII gave the company the specific rights to
put "Royal" in their name.
By 1882 the company acquired a factory in the Midlands -
motherland of the Staffordshire potteries, and now the home of "The
Doulton Drinking Water Purifier Company". The split-up of the
company was definitively established.
The china ware section
From 1858 until his death, John Doulton was the manager
of the pottery in Lambeth. When John Watts retired,
Doulton started experimenting with a more decorative line of
pottery. Many glazes and decorative effects were developed.
Included in production was soon to be found faience, impasto,
silicon, carrara, marqueterie, chine and rouge flambe.
John Doulton's son Henry Doulton joined the company in 1835, and
introduced new technological innovations to the ceramics
production. By 1878 it was possible to purchase the "Pinder, Bourne
and Company" factory in Burslem. Only four years later a new
factory was built in Burslem. This factory produced, and still
does, the famous figurines, jugs and tableware. In
1884 Doulton expanded the production to include porcelain and
earthenware, introduced as well later that year decorated
porcelain. At the original Lambeth location in the late 19th
century, fine art wares were decorated by artists including Hannah
Barlow, Arthur Barlow, George Tinsworth, and J. McLennan. The
Doulton figurines were produced at the Burslem plants from 1890 to
1978. Earthenware was produced at the Lambeth factory, operating
untill 1956 when it was closed down.
The whole company
Today the whole company employs more than 6000 people worldwide.
Industrially the Royal Doulton factories are among the world's most
modern and efficient. Having bought up most of the rivals,
industrially as well as in decorative wares, the company that Sir
Henry Doulton founded through his visionary and entrepreneurial
genius, most say to have kept up the inheritance. His company is
today a huge, modern, thriving international enterprise with sale
and distribution in more that 80 countries. The company today
admired world-widely, within the industry, for its leadership and
achievements, being in the top concerning innovative technology and
encouraging individual artistry.