Ruskin Pottery was founded in 1898 by William Howson Taylor in Smethwick, England.
The pottery was named after the renowned art critic John Ruskin, known for his advocacy of the arts and crafts movement. Taylor was greatly influenced by Ruskin’s philosophy, which emphasized the importance of traditional craftsmanship, simple forms, and natural materials in creating beautiful and functional objects.
Ruskin Pottery quickly gained recognition for its distinctive artistic style, which was characterized by its unique glazes and colour palette.
Taylor experimented with different glazing techniques, such as flambé, lustre, and crystalline glazes, to create vibrant and iridescent surfaces on his pottery. The colours used in Ruskin Pottery were typically earthy tones, inspired by the natural landscapes of the English countryside.
The pottery’s artistic style was also influenced by the Arts and Crafts movement, which sought to bring back traditional craftsmanship and reject the industrialization of the decorative arts. Ruskin Pottery embodied these ideals through its handcrafted production methods, attention to detail, and emphasis on quality over quantity.
Over time, Ruskin Pottery evolved to incorporate more modern influences, such as Art Nouveau and Art Deco design elements.
The pottery also expanded its range of products to include vases, tiles, and decorative objects in addition to traditional tableware.
Ruskin Pottery had a significant impact on the art world during its heyday in the early 20th century. Its innovative glazing techniques and unique artistic style set it apart from other ceramic styles of the time. The pottery pieces were highly sought after by collectors and art enthusiasts, and many were displayed in prestigious exhibitions around the world.
Today, Ruskin Pottery is considered a highly collectable and valuable antique.
Pieces from the pottery’s early years, particularly those featuring rare or experimental glazes, can fetch high prices at auctions and antique markets. The pottery’s influence on the decorative arts continues to be felt, with contemporary artists and craftsmen drawing inspiration from its distinctive aesthetic.
In conclusion, Ruskin Pottery is a notable example of the arts and crafts movement’s influence on the decorative arts. Its unique glazes, colour palette, and artistic style set it apart from other ceramics of its time and continue to captivate collectors and art enthusiasts today. The pottery’s legacy as a champion of traditional craftsmanship and innovative design ensures its enduring significance in the art world.
The Ruskin Pottery Collecting Market:
45 Years of Evolution and Investment
The collecting of Ruskin pottery has experienced remarkable highs and relative lows over the past 45 years, evolving from a niche specialist interest in the 1980s to a mature market with strong fundamentals today, though without the speculative peaks of the 1990s and early 2000s.
The Foundation Years: 1980s-1990s
The 1980s marked the beginning of serious Ruskin pottery collecting as a distinct market segment. During this period, collectors could acquire pieces relatively affordably, with many examples found in charity shops and local auctions for modest sums. This was the era when discriminating collectors began building comprehensive collections, taking advantage of prices that seem remarkably low by today’s standards.
The period was characterised by growing appreciation for Arts and Crafts pottery generally, as collectors began to recognise the exceptional technical achievements of William Howson Taylor’s innovative glazes. The unique high-fired flambé and sang-de-boeuf glazes, which could never be replicated after Taylor destroyed his formulae in 1935, began to gain recognition as masterpieces of ceramic art.
The Peak Era: 1990s-Early 2000s
The 1990s represented the golden age of Ruskin pottery collecting, culminating in the spectacular Albert E. Wade Collection sale at Sotheby’s in 2001. This auction established many of the price records that stood for decades, with several large-scale pieces passing the £5,000 mark. The Wade collection, which included 211 lots of Ruskin pottery, demonstrated the heights that serious collecting could reach.
During this peak period, pieces that had sold for £100 in the 1950s were achieving £1,000 in the 1970s and reaching as much as £100,000 by the late 1990s, particularly for exceptional Coper pieces and rare Ruskin high-fired wares. The market was driven by both institutional collecting and wealthy private collectors who appreciated the rarity and technical excellence of the work.
The collecting boom reflected broader trends in the British art pottery market, where “the height of the collectors market was throughout the 1990s when stand-alone auctions generated astounding prices”. This period saw Ruskin pottery featured prominently in major exhibitions, including the influential Victoria and Albert Museum show in 1975 and the Birmingham Museum’s Taylor Made exhibition in 1976.
Market Maturation: 2000s-2010s
Following the peak years, the Ruskin pottery market experienced a period of consolidation and maturation. The 2008 financial crisis had a significant impact on decorative arts markets generally, with many collectors becoming more cautious. However, Ruskin pottery proved relatively resilient compared to more speculative contemporary art markets.
Throughout the 2000s and 2010s, while not achieving the headline-grabbing prices of the 1990s peak, Ruskin pottery maintained steady values with quality pieces continuing to appreciate. Recent auction results show high-fired vases selling for £3,100, exceptional pieces reaching £5,500, and factory collection items from the Ferneyhough estate achieving £1,500-1,800.
Contemporary Market: 2020s
Today’s Ruskin pottery market reflects a mature collecting field with several positive characteristics. Recent sales demonstrate continued strong demand, with pieces regularly selling for hundreds to thousands of pounds depending on quality, rarity, and provenance. A 2021 collection sale featuring 70 lots spanning the pottery’s entire production period attracted significant interest from both Ruskin scholars and ceramics collectors.
Current market indicators suggest healthy fundamentals:
Price Stability: While not experiencing the dramatic appreciation of the 1990s, values have remained stable with quality pieces holding their worth well. Recent auction results show lustleware vases selling for £150-800, depending on size and glaze quality.
Collector Base: The market maintains an active collector base, including both long-term specialists and newer enthusiasts drawn to the Arts and Crafts movement. Online platforms like eBay show consistent activity with dealers like Orico Antiques specialising in Ruskin pottery.
Institutional Recognition: Museums continue to acquire and display Ruskin pottery, with the V&A holding 28 works in its collection and Wednesbury Museum maintaining the most comprehensive public collection.
Research and Documentation: Active scholarly research continues through organisations like the dedicated Ruskin Pottery website, which maintains detailed records of marks, dating, and provenance.
Investment Perspective
From an investment standpoint, Ruskin pottery over the past 45 years has demonstrated several key characteristics:
Long-term Appreciation: Quality pieces have shown substantial long-term growth, though with periods of volatility. The market peaked in the late 1990s/early 2000s and has since stabilised at lower but sustainable levels.
Rarity Premium: The most sought-after pieces remain the high-fired wares with exceptional glazes, particularly sang-de-boeuf and flambé examples. The fact that Taylor’s glazes can never be replicated ensures permanent rarity.
Market Maturity: Unlike speculative markets, Ruskin pottery collecting is driven by genuine appreciation for craftsmanship and historical significance rather than pure investment motives. This provides more stable fundamentals.
Accessibility: While museum-quality pieces command high prices, the market offers entry points at various levels, from small lustleware items to significant vases, making it accessible to collectors with different budgets.
The Ruskin pottery market exemplifies how specialist collecting fields evolve over time – from initial discovery and rapid appreciation through peak speculation to mature, knowledge-based collecting. Today’s market, while lacking the excitement of the 1990s boom, offers solid fundamentals for collectors who appreciate this unique chapter in English ceramic history.
