There were two great Doulton art factories in the early twentieth century, with others both in the UK and in Europe too where more utilitarian goods such as Doulton drainpipes and sanitary ware were produced.

In Burslem, where figure production had been revived, Charles Noke, art director, was simultaneously keen to establish and indeed re-discover many of the ancient Chinese transmutation glazes of yesteryear.

With great input from the legendary studio potter Bernard Moore, he had already re-discovered, introduced to the public in 1904 at the St. Louis Ehibition and by the 1920’s firmly established the world famous Doulton Flambé glaze.

Noke together with his team of assistants continued experimenting with glazes into the 1920s and beyond and so that today we have a myriad of glaze wares to collect and enjoy!

Even in the relatively recent past (well the late 1990s) Doultons continued to explore glaze wares and looked to earlier styles for inspiration. Thus a new series of Jade ware was trialled on the suggestion of Michael Doulton who saw its potential in Asia in particular. Sadly, the series never moved beyond the prototype stage but here are two examples from a select range that was trialled but never produced.