Tube-lining is an intricate decorating technique, whereby liquid clay is piped from a rubber bag via a glass nozzle on to the pottery piece. Later this method of design became one of Charlotte’s trademarks. Charlotte then joined the newly established family business along with her sister.
Charlotte Rhead
Synonymous with Clarice Cliff and Susie Cooper, Charlotte Rhead is one of the three great lady Art Deco designers of our time. Home taught artistically, Charlotte went on to study at the Fenton Art School, Stoke-on-Trent, England, followed by a number of positions held within various factories as a tube-liner and enameller.
Things at the family business didn’t work out and in 1913 Charlotte and her father, Frederick Rhead (in the capacity of Art Director) moved to Wood & Sons. Burgess & Leigh was the next step, and this is where Charlotte’s tube-lining skills came in to play until 1931 when the firm of A.G. Richardson became her next employer. A return to Woods in 1942 saw copious new designs up until Charlotte’s untimely death in 1947.
The designs of Charlotte Rhead were produced right through to 1960 and her work is highly collectable today. Some of her designs include Sylvan and Florentine for Burgess & Leigh, and Byzantine and Persian Rose for A.G. Richardson.
Help us with content
We are eager to improve and add to the Charlotte Rhead content on this website. If you would like to contribute then please email details to us. If you have any Charlotte Rhead pottery items you'd like displayed on the website then please email details - we'll then reply so you can send in photos. Thank you.
