History Salt glaze pottery

salt glaze jug 19th century

the earliest known production of salt glazed stoneware in rhineland of germany around 1400. initially, process used on earthenware. 15th century, small pottery towns of westerwald, including höhr-grenzhausen, siegberg, köln, , raeren in flanders, producing salt-glazed stoneware. in 17th century, salt glaze gained popularity in england in colonial america. westerwald pottery characterized stamped medallions , use of cobalt oxide based colorant decoration. production of salt glaze pottery in westerwald ceased because of environmental considerations in 1983.

in uk during 17th century , 18th century high quality salt-glazed stoneware produced in derbyshire, nottinghamshire, london , staffordshire. salt glazed pottery popular in north america 17th century until 19th century, indeed dominant domestic pottery there during 19th century. whilst manufacturer in america increased earliest dated production, 1720s in yorktown, significant amounts imported britain.

the earliest known production of salt glaze pottery in australia has been dated 1850-1883.

during 20th century technique promoted studio pottery use bernard leach. in 1950s introduced japanese craft pottery through leach s association shōji hamada. don reitz introduced salt glazing curriculum @ alfred university, new york in 1959, , subsequently spread other american universities ceramic art programs.

due concerns of significant amount of air pollution resulting process environmental clean air restrictions led demise of widespread use of salt glazing. last used on large scale production of salt-glazed sewer-pipes, , other limited use studio potters process obsolete, although there reports of still being used sewer-pipes in india.

english salt glaze stoneware

experiments in stoneware production began in england during second part of 17th century. earliest evidence has been dated 1650–1700 @ site of kiln @ woolwich ferry, london. similarity of ware german products of similar era has led attributed immigrant potters.

a significant english manufacturer of salt glaze pottery john dwight @ fulham pottery, founded in 1672. in related patent application, granted in 1671, claimed have discovered mystery of transparent earthenware commonly knowne name of porcelaine or china , persian ware ...

by 1800s lambeth in london has become centre production of salt glaze stoneware, , after establishment of doulton , watts pottery, later became royal doulton. company founded in 1815 when john doulton formed partnership owner, martha jones , foreman, john watts, of existing pottery in lambeth. factory specialised in utilitarian salt glazed stoneware, similar produced fulham factories. during 1830s , 1840s considerable amounts of salt-glazed sewer-pipes produced doultons following sir edwin chadwick s advocacy of improved sanitary conditions. doultons 1 of earliest manufacturers of electrical insulators, using salt glaze stoneware , electrical telegraph systems. also, 1830 started production of salt glaze stoneware vessels, valued acid resistance, emerging chemical industries. 1850s doulton & co. s decorative stoneware, produced in association nearby lambeth school of art, enjoyed significant success @ various international exhibitions, including @ great exhibition in 1851, philadelphia exhibition in 1876, , @ chicago in 1893. salt glaze decorative products became known doulton ware . 1890 decorative stoneware successful 350 designers , artists employed @ lambeth factory, including famous george tinworth. doulton’s lambeth factory closed in 1956, due largely new clean air regulations prohibited production of salt glaze in urban environment. production, not of salt glazing, transferred factory in burslem had been established in 1877.

several other stoneware potteries operated in lambeth between mid-18th & 19th centuries, including james stiff , sons , stephen green s imperial pottery. former having started pottery career @ doulton in 1830, before opening own factory in 1843.

except use few studio potters, process obsolete. before demise, in face of environmental clean air restrictions, last used in production of salt-glazed sewer-pipes. commercial pottery in uk licensed produce salt glaze pottery errington reay @ bardon mill in northumberland founded in 1878.