Trentham Pottery Owners and Designers

Eric Slater

bullet Eric's father, Walter Slater (1868-1938) was a pottery designer as was his father, Albert (1846-1914) before him.

bullet Eric was born in 1902 and, at the age of 17, he joined Shelley Pottery to work alongside his father, the art director.

bullet Eric trained at three local art schools, Stoke for modelling and design, Burslem for design and Hanley for life classes and design. In 1923 he won the award for 'Best Student of the Year'. At the time Gordon Forsyth had recently been appointed Superintendent of Art Instruction for these schools and worked hard to improve the level of design in the pottery industry.

Vase designed by Walter Slater around 1908

Vase designed by Walter Slater around 1908

WalterSlater

Walter Slater

WalterSlater

Eric Slater

Queen Anne Archway of Roses 1926

Queen Anne Archway of Roses 1926

bullet During the 1920s Eric worked alongside his father and his younger brother Kenneth whose wife Clara Knight was also a designer. The new "Queen Anne" shape was thought to be a family collaboration. Kenneth and Clara later emigrated to Canada.

bullet The "Queen Anne" shape was introduced in August 1926, the design shown is 'Archway of Roses'. On a visit to London Eric had seen a photograph in a large department store window showing a photograph of a Buckingham Palace Garden Party. The photograph so inspired him that he went straight back to his hotel and created the above design in watercolours. A series called "Garden Scenes" soon followed.

bullet In the 1930s Eric introduced new shapes named "Vogue" and "Mode" which were very different from anything seen before. The Pottery Gazette wrote:- "…they will cause people to stop and think….a more adventurous spirit in the manufacturing circles of the pottery trade. Well, here it is!"

The Mode shape is on the right and the Vogue shape is on the left

The Mode shape is on the right and the Vogue shape is on the left

Advertisement for Shelley's Vogue design

Advertisement for Shelley's Vogue design


Harmony Dripware Harmony Dripware

Harmony Dripware

bullet In 1932, Eric was experimenting with different colour combinations for the graduated banded ware which had been named Harmony Artware. He was applying the bands of different colours, but on this occasion, he stopped the wheel before the paint had dried and the colours ran into each other. He liked the effect that the paint runs had made, so he produced more. He then invited Percy Shelley to view the pieces and he was impressed with them. The factory then started to produce the dripware on a varied selection of ware including vases, bowls, lamps and later on tea and coffee ware.

bullet The technique used to produce the decoration was discovered accidentally and became known as "Harmony Dripware".

bullet In 1933, Eric was elected on to the committee of the North Staffs branch of The Society of Industrial Artists alongside Susie Cooper and Reg Haggar.

bullet In 1935 Eric went on to win first prize for a modern styling of dinner ware with his "Eve" and "Regent" shapes.

Shelley

Shelley "Regent" shape Yellow Phlox design tea set

Shelley

Shelley "Regent" shape Syringa design


bullet In 1937 Eric succeeded his father as Art Director and on the 1939 register he is living with his widowed mother Jennie on Weston Rd in Meir.

bullet Not long after, in 1940, Eric married widow (Edith) Mary Hayward née Irving, gained a stepson John and the family later moved to live on Albert Rd in Trentham.

Albert Road in the early 20th century

Albert Road in the early 20th century

Eric (left) with his brother in law Guy Irving at Guy's wedding

Eric (left) with his brother in law Guy Irving at Guy's wedding

bullet In January 1946 Eric Slater was elected along with Ralph Tatton on to the Board of Directors to serve alongside Percy Norman Shelley the Managing Director.

Eric in the Shelley showroom with the Sales Director Ralph Tatton in the late 1940s

Eric in the Shelley showroom with the Sales Director Ralph Tatton in the late 1940s

bullet Later in 1946 an exhibition was held to promote products of British Industry and, in the pottery sector, of the seven Shelley designs, six were by Eric.

bullet Following this, at the 1951 Festival of Britain examples of Shelley China were shown in four pavilions.

bullet 1953 saw the centenary of the Burslem School of Art being celebrated by an exhibition of pottery by former students and teachers, past and present. Amongst the 184 pieces of pottery exhibited, ten were designed by Eric, demonstrating how highly regarded he had become within the industry.

Eric and Mary Slater on the right at a dinner in 1955

Eric and Mary Slater on the right at a dinner in 1955

Eric Slater Tankards

Eric Slater Tankards 1951

Hand painted vase by Eric, exhibited at the Centenary of the Burslem School of Art in 1953

Hand painted vase by Eric, exhibited at the Centenary of the Burslem School of Art in 1953

bullet In 1966 - Shelley China was taken over by Allied English Potteries and production changed to "Royal Albert" ware.

bullet Eric spent the next six years working at the renamed Factory "Montrose Works" until his retirement in 1972.

bullet Eric and Mary had two daughters Theresa (Terry) and Louise.

bullet Mary died in 1962 and Eric died in 1984.

Terry Slater's wedding to Andrew Corn in 1964. Her sister Louise is far right,
	   Eric is between his two daughters and on the left are Margaret and Geoff Corn.

Terry Slater's wedding to Andrew Corn in 1964. Her sister Louise is far right, Eric is between his two daughters and on the left are Margaret and Geoff Corn.

We are grateful to members of the Slater family and Chris Davenport for information and photos.

There is more about Walter and Eric Slater at www.shelley.co.uk