The Ruskin Pottery studio was founded in 1898 by Edward Richard Taylor, the Principal of Birmingham School of Art, to be run by his son, William Howson Taylor, formerly a student there.
It was named for the artist John Ruskin, and was situated at Smethwick, near Birmingham.
The pottery produced by father and son was notable for the innovative glazes used.
When the studio closed in 1935, on William's death, the unique formulae for the glazes were deliberately destroyed, so that they would never be reproduced. This is supposedly why their products are so valuable today.
