Charles John Noke
Throughout Charles Vyse’s apprenticeship, Charles John Noke (1860-1941) was Art Director of Doulton & Co, Burslem. Born in Worcester, Noke was the son of a connoisseur, collector, and dealer in antiques. Through his father’s friends in the nearby Worcester factory, he became familiar with pottery making from direct experience. At the age of fifteen he convinced his father that his future lay as a modeller in the pottery industry. In 1875, he gained an apprenticeship at the Worcester factory, and it was at this time he became a student at the Worcester School of Art. In 1889, he left Worcester to join Doulton & Co. At the Burslem works he inaugurated a revolution in both design and production attitudes. When pottery business …show more content…
This is a possible reason that Noke chose to experiment with his new pottery techniques in his studio at his house. Secrecy concerning new shapes and patterns was essential to the commercial success of Doulton & Co. The firm demanded complete discretion from all artists and modellers, and new designs safeguarded until they came before the public. The prevailing atmosphere of secrecy at Doultons, as later demonstrated, had an adverse effect on the later artistic life of …show more content…
Previously, Vyse had modelled a figure of a night-gowned boy, titled Good Night (Figs. 15a & b), of which he marketed a number of editions commercially. He submitted this figure to Charles Noke for approval. Noke readily accepted the model for manufacture at Burslem, and re-named it, Bedtime. To facilitate the modelling process, Vyse adapted one of his existing models, a portrait study of Elizabeth Fry. Doulton issued two editions of the figure, HN2 Elizabeth Fry (Fig.9), decorated overall in pale-blue, and the rare variant HN2A, decorated pale-green overall. Noke also instigated a different numbering system, prefixed HN for this new venture. The initials HN are Harry Nixon’s, who was in charge of the group of artists concerned with the decoration of china figures. Charles However, due to other pressing commitments, Noke delayed the revival of his figure-making venture at the Burslem pottery until May of 1913. The launch would coincide with the visit of their Majesties King George V, and Queen Mary to Burslem, April 1913. Prior to the launch of his new figure venture, Noke discarded the name Bedtime, in favour of Darling. Although the figure Darling had not been designated the principal item of the new series, the resultant Royal connection ensured it the status of HN1 Darling (Fig. 16a). It has been Royal Doulton’s proud