You could be forgiven for thinking these striking Doulton vases were designed today thanks to their modern swathes of colour. How wrong you would be.
They’re the work of Charles John Noke, a man born in Worcester 166 years ago in 1858. Noke joined Royal Worcester as an apprentice modeller in 1873, aged 16. His work caught the eye of Doulton’s art director John Slater, who Noke later succeeded. After 16 years at Royal Worcester Noke joined Royal Doulton in 1889 as chief designer based in Burslem, Stoke.
He instigated a revolution in design and production, turning Doulton into the leading art manufacturer of the age. His greatest achievement was the creation of experimental transmutation glazed wares as good as anything produced at Sèvres, Copenhagen, Dresden or even in the Far East. These ranges, the Flambes, Titanian, Sung, Chinese Jade, Chang and Crystalline, emerged as the greatest contributions to studio pottery by a major British manufacturer in the 20th century.
Noke was art director at Doulton from 1914 until he retired in 1936, aged 78. However, age never wearied him. He continued at Doulton until 1941 when a creative genius born in Victorian England left the world aged 83. However the beauty born in his imagination lives forever.
The vases, estimate £600-£800, are in Hansons’ November 22 ceramics sale, part of the November 21-26 Derbyshire Antiques and Collectors Auction. Catalogue due live November 15.
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Ceramics invited for auction
Entries are invited for monthly ceramics sales at Hansons. For advice and valuations, email [email protected] or call 01283 733988.
