William Ault (1842 – 12 March 1929) was an English potter, involved with a number of companies in the Staffordshire potteries and South Derbyshire making art pottery and more utilitarian wares.
William Ault
In 1883 he established the Bretby Art Pottery (formally Henry Tooth & Co.) with Henry Tooth, who had left the Linthorpe Art Pottery, of which he was co-founder. This was initially based in Church Gresley in Derbyshire, but later moved to Woodville, Derbyshire, nearby. In 1887 Ault established the Ault Pottery, formally William Ault & Co, in Swadlincote, also in Derbyshire. Their art pottery was mostly branded as Ault Faience, regardless of the material.[1]
Ault Pottery vase painted by Clarissa Ault, c. 1890.[2]
Their most interesting and sought-after wares use designs by Christopher Dresser. These firstly resulted from the purchase of some of the Linthorpe Art Pottery's moulds for Dresser designs, after this went out of business in 1889–91.[3] Ault's company continued to use some Dresser moulds until the 1920s. Other moulds were bought by Tooth and the Torquay Terracotta Company. Dresser also worked directly for Ault as a freelance designer, from 1892 to at least 1896. Their other wares were often larger pieces such as jardinières.[4] William Ault's daughter Clarissa Ault, who initialed her pieces "CJA", was the leading painter; her sister Gertrude was also a decorator.[5]
Ault was born at Bagnall, near the centre of the English pottery industry at Stoke-on-Trent, and started his career as a "packing boy" in a pottery at Longton, where he was gradually promoted to management. He ran the Bretby Art Pottery 1883–1887, then William Ault & Co, selling goods as "Ault Pottery" and "Ault Faience". He was also a Methodistlay preacher.[6]
The firm merged with the Ashby Potters' Guild in Woodville in 1919, the formal name becoming at first "Ault and Tunnicliffe", Pascoe Tunnicliffe being the new Works Director. The wares were initially called "Aultcliff" and then from 1937 "Ault Potteries Ltd". William Ault had retired in 1922, when he was 80, and the business was wound up in the 1930s,[7] ending as part of Pearsons of Chesterfield.[8]
Dresser's contract with Ault, signed in May 1893, paid £400 over three years, and specified that a stamped signature ("Chr. Dresser") should be used as a mark on his designs.[10] It also specified he should travel to the factory twice a year, with first-class train expenses and a guinea a day for hotel costs (Dresser lived in Barnes, London, then in Surrey), for up to three days. On his visit he was to "inspect the production of objects", "instruct the workmen" and "criticise objects already made".[11] Dresser's designs were decorated in a variety of ways in the Ault factory, including some painted with plant or animal scenes and the like, which do not really match Dresser's elegant geometrical shapes.[12]
An Ault Pottery pattern book including over 900 drawn pottery designs by many different hands, and some cryptic notes apparently relating to payments to Dresser, was unveiled by the Dorman Museum in Linthorpe in 2015; they also have a collection of Dresser/Ault pieces. They had bought the book in 2013/14 from someone who had found it "saved from a skip in the 1960s" when working for Pearsons. Some 40–50 of the designs were thought to be by Dresser, including several well known ones, and it was hoped that study might be able to confirm that other designs were by him.[13]
Ault Pottery, Christopher Dresser shapes (earthenware unless stated)
^Bergesen, 245–246; Bergesen says Dresser worked with Ault until 1900, other sources say 1892–96
^Dresser/Clarissa Ault vases, auction lot at Tooveys Auctions; "Christopher Dresser's Pottery: Introduction", by Richard Dennis and John Jesse, victorianweb.org
^Derbyshire Advertiser and Journal, 21 June 1929, p. 7, via British Newspaper Archive
^Museum, Victoria and Albert. "Vase | Dresser, Christopher | V&A Explore The Collections". Victoria and Albert Museum: Explore the Collections. Retrieved 19 May 2021.
Fletcher, Richard, "The Art Potteries of South Derbyshire", 2001
"Grove": "Bretby Art Pottery" in The Grove Encyclopedia of Decorative Arts, p. 144, Volume 1 of two-volume set, ed. Gordon Campbell, p. 307, 2006, Oxford University Press, USA, ISBN0195189485, 9780195189483, google books
March 15, 2024
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For the United States Navy officer see William B Ault William Ault 1842 12 March 1929 was an English potter involved with a number of companies in the Staffordshire potteries and South Derbyshire making art pottery and more utilitarian wares William AultIn 1883 he established the Bretby Art Pottery formally Henry Tooth amp Co with Henry Tooth who had left the Linthorpe Art Pottery of which he was co founder This was initially based in Church Gresley in Derbyshire but later moved to Woodville Derbyshire nearby In 1887 Ault established the Ault Pottery formally William Ault amp Co in Swadlincote also in Derbyshire Their art pottery was mostly branded as Ault Faience regardless of the material 1 Ault Pottery vase painted by Clarissa Ault c 1890 2 Their most interesting and sought after wares use designs by Christopher Dresser These firstly resulted from the purchase of some of the Linthorpe Art Pottery s moulds for Dresser designs after this went out of business in 1889 91 3 Ault s company continued to use some Dresser moulds until the 1920s Other moulds were bought by Tooth and the Torquay Terracotta Company Dresser also worked directly for Ault as a freelance designer from 1892 to at least 1896 Their other wares were often larger pieces such as jardinieres 4 William Ault s daughter Clarissa Ault who initialed her pieces CJA was the leading painter her sister Gertrude was also a decorator 5 Contents 1 Career 2 Dresser period 3 Notes 4 ReferencesCareer editAult was born at Bagnall near the centre of the English pottery industry at Stoke on Trent and started his career as a packing boy in a pottery at Longton where he was gradually promoted to management He ran the Bretby Art Pottery 1883 1887 then William Ault amp Co selling goods as Ault Pottery and Ault Faience He was also a Methodist lay preacher 6 The firm merged with the Ashby Potters Guild in Woodville in 1919 the formal name becoming at first Ault and Tunnicliffe Pascoe Tunnicliffe being the new Works Director The wares were initially called Aultcliff and then from 1937 Ault Potteries Ltd William Ault had retired in 1922 when he was 80 and the business was wound up in the 1930s 7 ending as part of Pearsons of Chesterfield 8 Ault died at his home Brookland Ashby de la Zouch on 12 March 1929 9 Dresser period editDresser s contract with Ault signed in May 1893 paid 400 over three years and specified that a stamped signature Chr Dresser should be used as a mark on his designs 10 It also specified he should travel to the factory twice a year with first class train expenses and a guinea a day for hotel costs Dresser lived in Barnes London then in Surrey for up to three days On his visit he was to inspect the production of objects instruct the workmen and criticise objects already made 11 Dresser s designs were decorated in a variety of ways in the Ault factory including some painted with plant or animal scenes and the like which do not really match Dresser s elegant geometrical shapes 12 An Ault Pottery pattern book including over 900 drawn pottery designs by many different hands and some cryptic notes apparently relating to payments to Dresser was unveiled by the Dorman Museum in Linthorpe in 2015 they also have a collection of Dresser Ault pieces They had bought the book in 2013 14 from someone who had found it saved from a skip in the 1960s when working for Pearsons Some 40 50 of the designs were thought to be by Dresser including several well known ones and it was hoped that study might be able to confirm that other designs were by him 13 Ault Pottery Christopher Dresser shapes earthenware unless stated nbsp Christopher Dresser jug 1892 96 Ault Pottery using ex Linthorpe moulds 14 nbsp Vase 1892 94 at 50 cm tall one of Dresser s largest designs an original for Ault Pottery in other colours at V amp A nbsp Dresser spiral vase 1893 in other colours at V amp A nbsp Stoneware Dresser vase with goat masks 1904 one of his original designs for Ault in other colours at V amp A nbsp Stamped Chr Dresser signature mark from the spiral vase 1893Notes edit Grove Bergesen 245 Page at Metropolitan Museum of Art Grove Bergesen 245 246 Bergesen 245 246 Bergesen says Dresser worked with Ault until 1900 other sources say 1892 96 Dresser Clarissa Ault vases auction lot at Tooveys Auctions Christopher Dresser s Pottery Introduction by Richard Dennis and John Jesse victorianweb org Fletcher Grove Bergesen 245 Fletcher Arkell Derbyshire Advertiser and Journal 21 June 1929 p 7 via British Newspaper Archive Museum Victoria and Albert Vase Dresser Christopher V amp A Explore The Collections Victoria and Albert Museum Explore the Collections Retrieved 19 May 2021 Dresser Ault spiral vase V amp A Museum Dresser Ault vase V amp A Museum Dresser Clarissa Ault vases auction lot at Tooveys Auctions Arkell Met Museum pageReferences edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to William Ault potter Arkell Roland Saved from a skip Ault pattern book on display at DresserFest Antiques Trade Gazette 8 June 2015 Bergesen Victoria Bergesen s Price Guide British Ceramics 1992 Barrie amp Jenkins ISBN 0712653821 Fletcher Richard The Art Potteries of South Derbyshire 2001 Grove Bretby Art Pottery in The Grove Encyclopedia of Decorative Arts p 144 Volume 1 of two volume set ed Gordon Campbell p 307 2006 Oxford University Press USA ISBN 0195189485 9780195189483 google books Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title William Ault amp oldid 1144556557, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
