Edward Richard Taylor
Born 14 June 1838
Died 14 January 1912
Active: 1878 - 1911
Country of birth and death: England
Potter, painter, headmaster, president of art society
Born in Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent. After training at Burslem School of Art, Taylor studied on the National Training Course for Art Masters at South Kensington. He went on to become headmaster of Birmingham School of Art. Edward founded the Ruskin Pottery at Smethwick, Birmingham in 1898 and after his death the firm was taken over by his son William Howson Taylor.
The Ruskin Pottery was primarily known for its innovative and experimental use of glazes. The recipes were kept secret so when William died in 1935 they were lost. In the early 1900s, the firm began making small round cabochons, which were called 'enamels' or 'plaques'. These were intended to be inserted into wood, or mounted on metal or jewellery.
An article entitled 'Death of Mr. E. R. Taylor' (no source given), 20 January, 1912, is included in 'Birmingham Biography', vol. 8, pp. 34-35. The most significant collections of works by Edward Richard and William Howson Taylor and the Ruskin Pottery are at the Wednesbury Museum and Art Gallery (Wednesbury, Sandwell, West Midlands) and the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery. There are also some examples of their wares in the Victoria and Albert Museum.
This record includes information submitted by Martyn Park.
Wealth at death: £13,544 19s. 10d.
Probate date: 15 April 1912
Works
Dates are usually the year a work was exhibited so may differ from date of production.
New entries have been made each time a work was exhibited. Click here for more information.
Scent Bottle
1902 (Presumed)
Vase
1902 (Presumed)
Bowl
1902 (Presumed)
Salt
1902 (Presumed)
Vase
1902 (Presumed)
Vase
1902 (Presumed)
Puff Box
1902 (Presumed)
Vase
1902 (Presumed)
Vase
1902 (Presumed)
Bowl
1902 (Presumed)
Ink
1902 (Presumed)
Pottery
1903 (Presumed)
Ruskin Pottery
1904 (Presumed)
Locations
Address 26 Highfield Road Edgbaston Birmingham | View on map
2 January 1884 - 1912 (Presumed)
Exhibitions, Meetings, Awards and other Events
Exhibited at The Seventy-Sixth Autumn Exhibition at the Rooms of the Society, New Street (Royal Birmingham Society of Artists), 1902
Multiple works
Exhibited at The Seventy-Eighth Autumn Exhibition at the Rooms of the Society, New Street (Royal Birmingham Society of Artists), 1904
'Ruskin Pottery '
Exhibited at The Seventy-Seventh Autumn Exhibition at the Rooms of the Society, New Street (Royal Birmingham Society of Artists), 1903
'Pottery'
Institutional and Business Connections
Elected professional member of Royal Birmingham Society of Artists
1879 - 1911
First listed in the Society's exhibition catalogues as a Member in Spring 1879. Last listed in Autumn 1911.
Headmaster of Birmingham Society of Arts and School of Design
1878 - 1885
Headmaster of Birmingham Municipal School of Art, Central School
1885 - 30 June 1903
Described as Head Master of Central and Branch Schools from 1885-1892. From 1892 described as Headmaster of the Central School.
Member of Midland Arts Club
January 1889 (Presumed) - December 1910
Officer of Midland Arts Club
1895 - 1898
Committee member.
President of Midland Arts Club
January 1889 - January 1890
Student at Burslem School of Design
1853 (Circa)
See Haggar (1953), p. 50. See also an article entitled 'Death of Mr. E. R. Taylor' (no source given), 20 January, 1912, in 'Birmingham Biography', vol. 8, pp. 34-35, which notes that Taylor was a student of the school and was also 'engaged at Hanley on the decorative side of the earthenware industry'.
Personal and Professional Connections
Mother/father/parent of William Howson Taylor
See 'Death of Mr. E. R. Taylor', Birmingham Despatch, 16 January, 1912, in 'Birmingham Biography, vol. 8, p. 34.
Taught Sidney Harold Meteyard
Studied under Taylor at the Birmingham Central School of Art. No dates are given. See 'Obituary', Birmingham Post', 7 April, 1947, in 'Birmingham Biography', vol. 39, (August 1946-December 1947), pp. 139-140.
Descriptions of Practice
Occupation given in Census Returns of England and Wales, 1891
'Head Master School of Art' worker
Occupation given in Census Returns of England and Wales, 1901
'Headmaster (School of Art)' and his son William Howson Taylor 'Earthenware Manufacturer' employer
Occupation given in Census Returns of England and Wales, 1911
Both father and son 'Manufacturer of Earthenware' employer (Edward Richard Taylor also entered as 'Artist (painter)' but this has been crossed out).
Sources
A Century of Art Education in the Potteries. With notes on the Artists, 1953 Local Studies
1953 (Circa)
p. 50.
Birmingham Biography, Newspaper Cuttings, 1872-1966 Birmingham Biography
See 'Birmingham Biography', vol. 4, (1902-1903), p. 41 A-B and p. 58A, and vol. 8, (1911-1913), p. 31 and pp. 34-35.
Census Returns of England and Wales, 1891
2004
Class: RG12; Piece: 2359; Folio: 50; Page: 25; GSU roll: 6097469
Census Returns of England and Wales, 1901
2005
RG13 piece 2815 folio 166 page 36
Census Returns of England and Wales, 1911
2011
RG14PN17926 RG78PN1093 RD383 SD3 ED16 SN77
England & Wales, FreeBMD Birth Index, 1837-1915
2006
Name: Edward Richard Taylor
Date of Registration: Apr-May-Jun 1838
Registration district: Stoke upon Trent
Inferred County: Staffordshire
Volume: 17
Page: 181
England & Wales, FreeBMD Death Index, 1837-1915
2006
Name: Edward R Taylor
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1839
Date of Registration: Jan-Feb-Mar 1912
Age at Death: 73
Registration district: King's Norton
Inferred County: Worcestershire
Volume: 6c
Page: 589
England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1966
2010
Name: Edward Richard Taylor
Probate Date: 15 Apr 1912
Death Date: 14 Jan 1912
Death Place: Birmingham, West Midlands, England
Registry: Birmingham, England
Midland Arts Club. 1898 Midland Arts Club. Reports and Treasurer's Statements
1898
p. 3.
The Midland Arts Club, Annual Report 1910 Midland Arts Club Reports
1910
p. 14.
Citing this record
'Edward Richard Taylor', Mapping the Practice and Profession of Sculpture in Britain and Ireland 1851-1951, University of Glasgow History of Art and HATII, online database 2011 [http://sculpture.gla.ac.uk/view/person.php?id=msib4_1203081671, accessed 10 Jun 2023]
