Genealogy Chat

Hi,
Does anyone know how to find info on the artists from the Stoke on Trent potteries. One of my rellies was supposedly a painter with the potteries either in the late 1800's or maybe early 1900's but I'd like to be able to get official confirmation.
Any suggestions?
Thanks so much
Kind Regards
Shirley :o)

have you tried googling?

yes, but I'm having trouble finding any info

did you try googling the artists name?

or what about stoke potteries history, maybe something will come up there.

Another alternative is contacting Stoke on Trent Archives, maybe they will have something.

Good Luck!

Try googling Stoke Potteries Biographies and see if the name comes up

Thanks...I will go and try all of your suggestions...fingers crossed tightly
Shirl :o)

I've had a quick look but without your ancestors name, I can't find anything for you. Soing a search on Stoke Pottery History brought up some good choices for artists 1800's

I'm sorry but 90% of the population of Stoke in the 1800/1900's worked in the pottery industry, a heck of a lot of them as painters / paintresses.

Unless they were very very well known - think Clarice Cliff or Susie Cooper - then they are likely to be just general workers in a Pot Bank (Pottery Factory).

Sam x

My rellies name is Angela Holmes.
I found the Stoke on Trent Pottery history site but couldn't find the info I'm after....unless of course I've looked in the wrong sections. :OP Still looking though
Thanks for all of your help ((((((hug))))))

Hi Sam, so is there no way of checking if she actually worked there and when?

No worries, it seriously is like looking for a needle in a haystack though, unless your relly is related to Josiah Wedgwood or something!!

Like I say, unfortunately most people in the area worked in the pottery industry and very few were worthy of a mention in any record books.

All of my mum's side of the family back to mid 1700's were potters of one description or another (painters / placers / saggar makers / dish makers / designers / firemen) and I've not come across one who was worthy of a mention in any book. Unfortunately a Painter/Paintress was just another job on a factory and unless you were exceptionally good at it, you got no recognition.

I have one called Henry Lewis Mountford who apparently was a well known designer for Wedgwoods, but even their archive dept can find no record of him.

Sam x

Oh how sad....you'd think a designer would have at least rated a mention!
Well at least it saves me spending long hours at the computer trying to find something that is impossible to find.
Thanks for your help Sam ((((((hug))))))
I'm guessing you're not in the UK just like me (even though your id name is Sam from Stoke)...either that or you're pulling an all-nighter! lol
Shirl :o) ...in Australia

Hi

I've done quite a bit of digging around into pottery history in such places as Liverpool and Glasgow and, as Sam suggests, there were many, many unrecorded painters, some no more than children. However, if you have names and approximate dates then you might consider searching on a census for confirmation of their employment?

Hi Shirley

No - I'm still in Stoke! Couldn't sleep last night :-)

Sam x

I had similar trouble trying to find a relative who was a footballer that came from the area, well also it didn't help that I didn't know where to look lol.