Ruskin Pottery

Edward Richard Taylor RBSA (1838-1911), an English artist and educator, painted in both oils and watercolors, but is perhaps best remembered as the founder of the Ruskin Pottery. Taylor taught at the Lincoln School of Art and became influential in the English Arts and Crafts movement as the first headmaster at the Birmingham Municipal School of Arts and Crafts from 1877 to 1903. In 1898 Taylor began experimenting with the making of ceramics in a backyard kiln and in 1904 incorporated the Ruskin Pottery at Smethwick with his son, William Howson Taylor (q.v. below). The Ruskin Pottery was meant to honor John Ruskin [1], whose teachings and philosophy Taylor admired.

Ruskin Pottery was exhibited at home and at international fine art exhibitions. In 1904, the Pottery received the "grand prize" at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition in St Louis, which gave them the recognition they needed. Further awards were gained at other international exhibitions, including Milan 1906, Christchurch (New Zealand) 1907, London 1908, Brussels 1910, Turin 1911, and Ghent 1913.

Notes:

[1] John Ruskin (1819–1900) was an English art critic and social thinker, also remembered as a poet and artist. His essays on art and architecture were extremely influential in the Victorian and Edwardian eras.