SIX RUSKIN SOUFFLÉ GLAZED 'ENAMELS'

The Ruskin Pottery was not a huge concern It was in effect a family business. According to Paul Atterbury and John Henson in their book on the pottery only 25 people ever worked for the firm and the maximum number was 16 working there in the early 1920’s.

The cabochons were made from pressed powdered clay called ‘tocky’ in the local Birmingham dialect. They were created in presses that made a conventional size and thickness. The cabochons were also known as ‘enamels’ and they became a significant part of the factor’s production. The leadless glazes that were used on the shapes became little experimental pieces.

It is thought that The Taylor’s visited the Paris exhibition in 1900 and were influenced by the French artist potters of the time especially Dalpayrat.

They began exhibiting their wares in 1901. They went international in August of 1904 when they took their wares to the United States for the Louisiana Purchase International Exposition in St Louis. They received acclaim and the 1st Grand Prix Award.

These cabochons have the standard impressed mark that was used after 1908.