19th Century Doulton Lambeth Matchstrike

The name Doulton Lambeth is widely known to collectors of British ceramics — it refers to the vases, mugs, bowls and jugs decorated by the likes of artisans such as George Tinworth, Eliza Simmance, Edith Lupton and others for Royal Doulton's pioneering art pottery studio, which was established in the Lambeth section of suburban London by 1871. 

Royal Doulton was founded in 1815 by John Doulton, Martha Jones and John Watts. It was initially established as Jones, Watts and Doulton and later traded under Doulton and Watts. The firm produced utilitarian stoneware, decorative objects, drain pipes and other goods and vessels. Amid the Victorian era’s rising concern for hygiene, food safety and sanitation, the company flourished. In 1854, it rebranded as Doulton and Co., colloquially referred to as Doulton Ware.

The firm took over a factory in Staffordshire, in northern England — the traditional home of British ceramics manufacturing — to produce tableware. Around the same time, Henry Doulton — John Doulton's son — opened an art pottery studio in Lambeth, where its Aesthetic Movement-era vases, urns and other forms were decorated with painted scenic images, flowers or historical motifs thanks to its collaborations with students at the nearby Lambeth School of Art. 

Taking a cue from the venerable Meissen porcelain workshops in Germany, Doulton artisans began crafting figurines modeled on characters from literature and theater. The firm also helped popularize Toby Jugs and other “character mugs” — handled cups shaped like the heads of figures from folklore and popular culture. 

In the late 1870s, Doulton bought the earthenware manufacturer Pinder, Bourne and Company and purchased a factory in Burslem in 1882. King Edward VII granted the factory his Royal Warrant in 1901.

Doulton was recognized with the Queen's Award for Technical Achievement in 1966, and the firm acquired Minton two years later. It eventually became a part of WWRD Holdings Limited (Waterford Crystal, Wedgwood and Royal Doulton), which is now owned by the Fiskars Corporation.

The Doulton Lambeth pottery for sale on 1stDibs includes serveware, decorative objects and more.