Ceramics has featured within the Ault family’s history for far longer than the past 40 years. One of our ancestors William Ault is seen featured in Geoffrey Godden’s ‘British Pottery: An illustrated guide’ published in 1974.
William established his pottery at Swadlincote, near Burton-on-Trent, Staffordshire, in 1887 (130 years ago next year) when he left Bretby at the age of forty-six.
Ault Pottery was best known for his inventive use of coloured glazes and produced typical glaze-effect ‘Art Pottery’ of the period with Christopher Dresser designing for him in the 1890s, a few examples can be viewed at the V&A. These pre-1900 Ault-ware pieces are now quite scarce.
In 1923 the firm merged with the Ashby Potters’ Guild, and became known as Ault and Tuncliffe. The Ault and Tuncliffe mark was a fancy ‘ATLTD’ or the word ‘Aultcliff’.
The firm traded as Ault Potteries Ltd from 1937 until 1975.
William has clearly got the trademark Ault nose which can be seen on Alan Snr, Alan Jnr and even daughter Hannah.
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