Ruskin Pottery: English Art Pottery from West Smethwick
Ruskin Pottery was an English art pottery established in 1898 by Edward Richard Taylor and operated by his son William Howson Taylor in West Smethwick, near Birmingham. Named after the art critic John Ruskin, the pottery became renowned for its extraordinary high-fired glazes, particularly the sought-after souffle and flambe effects. When Howson Taylor died in 1935, he deliberately destroyed his glaze recipes, ensuring they could never be replicated — making authentic Ruskin pieces permanently finite.
History and Production
- 1898: Founded as Birmingham Tile & Pottery Works by Edward Richard Taylor
- 1898-1935: William Howson Taylor developed and refined the pottery's distinctive glazes
- Early period (1898-1910): Souffle glazes in mottled blues, greens, purples, and grays
- High-fired period (1910-1935): Flambe, sang de boeuf, and experimental high-fired glazes
- 1935: Howson Taylor died; he had previously smashed thousands of pieces and destroyed all glaze formulas
- Post-1935: No further production; all existing pieces are from the original 37-year production span
Identification and Marks
- Impressed mark: "RUSKIN" or "RUSKIN POTTERY" impressed into the base
- Scissors mark: An impressed scissors symbol appears on some pieces
- Date marks: Year of production often impressed (e.g., "1910", "1926")
- Painted marks: "W. Howson Taylor" signature occasionally found on important pieces
- Shape numbers: Incised numbers correspond to documented forms
Types and Glazes
| Glaze Type | Description | Typical Price Range |
|---|---|---|
| Souffle glaze | Mottled, matte surface in blue, green, purple | $100 - $500 |
| Lustre glaze | Iridescent surface, kingfisher blue or orange | $200 - $800 |
| High-fired flambe | Deep reds, purples, blacks with dramatic effects | $500 - $5,000+ |
| Sang de boeuf | Ox-blood red high-fired glaze | $800 - $4,000 |
| Experimental glazes | Multi-layered, unique color combinations | $1,000 - $10,000+ |
| Eggshell glaze | Thin, delicate pieces with subtle coloring | $150 - $600 |
| Crystalline | Crystal formations within the glaze surface | $300 - $1,500 |
Condition Factors
- Glaze integrity: The glazes themselves are the primary value — any damage to the glaze surface is critical
- Firing cracks: Some high-fired pieces have kiln cracks that occurred during production; these are considered inherent and less damaging to value
- Size: Large high-fired vases (12+ inches) are rare and command significant premiums
- Date: High-fired pieces from the 1920s-1930s are generally the most valuable
- Color: Sang de boeuf and pieces with dramatic color transitions bring the highest prices
Collecting Tips
- The high-fired flambe and sang de boeuf glazes represent the pinnacle of Ruskin production and command the strongest auction results
- Souffle-glazed pieces offer an affordable entry point and are attractive in their own right
- Because Howson Taylor destroyed his recipes and much of his stock, surviving pieces are genuinely limited
- Major collections are held by the Wednesbury Museum and Art Gallery and the Victoria & Albert Museum
- Fakes are relatively uncommon due to the impossibility of replicating the glazes, but be alert for pieces with added or enhanced marks
- Pairs of vases or candlesticks are rare and bring disproportionately high prices
- Provenance from known Ruskin collections adds significant value at auction