As we all know, John Walton, who was active from around 1808 until about the mid-1830s was the most prolific of figure makers. He made more MARKED figure models than did any other potter of his time. I have recorded 83 forms. All are earthenware, enamel-painted. You can see many beneath the Makers tab on this site. For more up-to-date info, see my article in the American Ceramics Circle Journal of two years ago.
| The WALTON mark most commonly is impressed on a ribbon, as on the left. Less commonly, it is in an arc, as on the right, with the letters raised rather than impressed. |  |
So now that I have firmly equated Walton with figures that ONLY are made of earthenware and are ALWAYS decorated with enamel paints, it is time to debunk the myth.
First,the earthenware part. Among the Walton figures, is this model of a lady reading. It occurs with either a bocage or spill holder, as you see below.
First,the earthenware part. Among the Walton figures, is this model of a lady reading. It occurs with either a bocage or spill holder, as you see below.
Imagine my surprise when I found the same figure in porcelain in the reserve collection of the Potteries Museum a few months ago!
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This figure, like its earthenware counterparts, is marked with the arc-shaped mark with raised letters. To all appearances, it is Staffordshire porcelain, circa 1835. Now it is just possible that some other potter bought the Walton molds after Walton ceased potting....but it is even more possible that Walton experimented with other clays and had a go at making porcelain. We do know from trade directories that Walton made black basalt wares, but none with his name has been recorded...yet!
Now let's move on to dismiss the belief that Walton only made enamel-painted figures. Look at this little lion. It is marked WALTON in impressed letters on a ribbon. Quite obviously, it is decorated with enamel colors.
Now let's move on to dismiss the belief that Walton only made enamel-painted figures. Look at this little lion. It is marked WALTON in impressed letters on a ribbon. Quite obviously, it is decorated with enamel colors.
Here we have the same lion again, but this time he is decorated in underglaze
colors. I was THRILLED to discover him last week when I was working with a
private collection. The bocage is lost--I believe in manufacture. This lone
survivor attests to Walton's use of more than one decorative coloring technique.
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So just when I thought I knew it all about Walton, I fall to my knees in humility. I realize how much I don't know....probably can never know....but I keep trying. If you have anything in your collection that you think is unusual, please share.
