SAMPSON HANCOCK & SONS

English Ceramics
Period c1857-1937

The company was founded by Sampson Hancock, a prominent Wesleyan, in 1857 and was renamed S. Hancock & Sons (Potters) Ltd. in 1935. It closed in 1937, having been put into receivership on 23rd March. It was a relatively small enterprise, employing around 150 people. Sampson Hancock died on 9th May 1900 and was succeeded in the business by his sons, Jabez, Harry and Arthur.

The company produced tablewares and fancies for the popular market - its main income being from semi-porcelain and earthenware tablewares, toilet wares, vases and vitreous hotel wares. Many of the products, including ironstone china, were for export markets. Before WW1 they were represented in London by M.V.V. Adams and had showrooms at 9 Charterhouse Street, Holborn Circus.

After WW1 the company increased its production of ornamental and decorative wares. These included children's wares and doll's heads. Boxed teasets for children were being produced by 1917 featuring popular nursery rhymes and pictures of children. Two designers of this type of ware were Molly Hancock and Edith Gater (see Designers below).

The company also produced a range of crested wares, these being marked with the trade name The 'Duchess' China or The 'Corona' China and Grosvenor Ware. These may have been produced in quantity to see the company through the war years when skilled labour was unavailable. Pieces included animals, small decorative dishes and Great War commemoratives, or had English or Welsh crests. Crested ware appears to have been made until the 1920s.

Morris Ware range first introduced at British Industries Fair in 1918.

It was one of the main decorative ranges produced by the company was Morris Ware. This included many tube-lined patterns which resembled the Moorcroft productions and may have been intended to compete with that company. George Cartlidge was the first designer of this type of ware but the range continued with other designers (see below). Morris ware was much praised in the trade press of the time which noted that foreign buyers at the British Industries Fair had shown interest in the range and it is now actively collected.

The company employed many different designers who each produced new ranges of wares and frequently signed their wares.

DESIGNERS AND ARTISTS

F.X. Abraham - Art Director in the 1920s. Responsible for the introduction of Rubens Ware and Titian Ware, and later designs of the Morris Ware range. Previously Art Director of W.T. Copeland & Sons late Spode.

George Cartlidge - Trained at Hanley School of Art (1878) and taught art before working for Sherwin & Cotton (1882-1900) and then setting up his own company Adams & Cartlidge (Ltd.). Both these companies specialised in the production of tiles. He worked for Hancock's c. 1918-1926 designing Morris Ware. He later worked on his own from a studio at his home in Rudyard and in America.

Edith Gater (nee Smith) - 1930s. produced tube-lined wares. Other patterns include Springtime. Also contributed designs to the Morris Ware range. Later worked for Cauldon Potteries [Hanley, Staffordshire] designing tube-lined wares. During the war left pottery to do war work and afterwards went to work at Thomas Cone [Longton, Staffordshire].

Molly Hancock - youngest daughter of Jabez Hancock. Designed children's ware, including Elf and Bunnies and Little Bo Peep. Patterns included Cherry Ripe and Cremorne. Molly Hancock produced her first pattern in 1926.

Reference: With thanks to The Potteries & Art Gallery Museum, Stoke-on-Trent, England