Bretby

Bretby Art Pottery had its era of fame between 1883 and 1918, producing some of the 19th century’s most exotic and vibrant ceramics. It all began when Henry Tooth became manager of the Linthorpe Pottery in Middlesbrough, North Yorkshire, in 1879. The idea of Bretby Art Pottery came into being when Linthorpe estate’s owner decided to provide employment to locals. Tooth began incorporating innovative glazes by combining different metal oxides in two or more slips, lending his products interesting swirled and dripped effects. Tooth launched Bretby Art Pottery, in partnership with William Ault, when he left Linthorpe.

In the beginning, Bretby Art Pottery turned out wares almost identical to those from Linthorpe. It featured rich monochrome glazes in green, amber and sang-de-boeuf. Soon, the Bretby Art Pottery range began including novelty items of modelled animals, the shapes of nuts or biscuits on a plate etc. Bretby Art Pottery began to give greater emphasis on modelling towards the turn of the century. It also cunningly reproduced the appearance of materials other than ceramic, such as bronze, copper and steel. It also simulated wood, while other lines reproduced bamboo and ivory.

Bretby Art Pottery showed definite oriental and Art Nouveau influences in subject matter and styling between the late 19th and early 20th century. Some Bretby Art Pottery pieces called Jewel Ware featured small, brilliantly-coloured ceramic plaques on the body of the finished piece. This distinctive art pottery ceased after 1920, closing down after several break-ins and a fire in the museum.