Sir Henry Doulton (1820-1897) , Burslem

Sir Henry Doulton (1820-1897)
at Burslem

Location: Market Place, Burslem
Date of design: 1986
Installed: 11 June 1991
Commissioned by: Burslem Urban District Council
Sculpture: Colin Melbourne

photo: January 2006

Inscription: (On front of pedestal, inscribed):

Sir Henry Doulton
1820-1897

(On rear of pedestal, on plaque):

This statue was unveiled
by Mr. Stuart Lyon
Chairman, Royal Doulton Limited
11th June 1991
Sir Henry Doulton was the first potter to receive the
Albert Medal and to be knighted for his services
to the ceramic industry. The great potter of his age, he
acquired the Nile Street factory in Burslem in 1877 and
gave the company that bears his name the foundations
of international success.

Description:
The statue depicts Sir Henry Doulton wearing formal Victorian dress; his left hand holds his top hat, his right hand his umbrella, and he wears a flower in his button hole. The pedestal with its chamfered stones is quite unusual.
The inclusion of his top hat and umbrella are related to different episodes in Henry Doulton's life.
When he first made his appearance in Staffordshire, he was considered to be 'a bit of a fop' by his fellow potters because of his unexpected custom of doffing his hat in the presence of his female employees.
In contrast, the impetuous side of his nature is symbolised by the umbrella, which he once used in 1883 to smash imported china that carried the Doulton backstamp. As the Burslem pottery then only produced earthenware, an order from the USA for China created problems. The managers decided to import some French porcelain to paint as samples, but by mischance the Doulton backstamp was printed on the ware. When he saw this, Sir Henry was furious and used his umbrella to destroy it all.
The rose in Henry Doulton's button hole is a reproduction of 'Festival Fanfare', the rose chosen as the symbol of the 1986 Garden Festival by the Rose Growers Association. This flower bloomed around Sir Henry's feet in the statue's temporary location within the Festival Gardens at Etruria between May and October 1986.

Background:
The sculpture was originally commissioned by Royal Doulton for the 1986 Stoke on Trent National Garden Festival in Etruria. It was re-installed in its current location in June 1991.
Sir Henry Doulton (1820-1897) was born in London. He entered his father's pottery business and in 1848, he opened his first manufactory in Stourbridge. The Nile Street factory he acquired in Burslem is now a visitor centre. Royal Doulton still have five factories in the Stoke-on-Trent areas.

Materials:

Part of work	Material	Dimensions
Statue	Bronze	180cm high approx
Pedestal	Sandstone, chamfered blocks	210cm high x 102cm wide x 102cm deep

The statue depicts Sir Henry Doulton wearing formal Victorian dress;
his left hand holds his top hat, his right hand his umbrella,
and he wears a flower in his button hole.