Examples of Ricardia Ware
[ Index of Ware ]
Ricardia Ware produced by Richards Tiles
The glaze is, or is very like, one of the Richards Tiles' pre-war WM (wall mottle) glaze series. Those glazes contained oxides of lead which gave them certain flow and appearance characteristics. The use of lead oxides in glazes was banned after1947 because of their causation of lead poisoning of operatives. Lead bisilicate was substituted but it was not possible to get the same results.
It appears that Ricardia Ware was made in the Recesso department at the Pinnox factory of Richards Tiles. Lizzies, various shaped vases, memo-pads, paper weights, book-ends, etc were made regularly and given to agents customers and visitors.
[ Recesso was the trade name given to a wide range of soap holders, toothbrush holders, towel roll holders etc. which were made to be recessed into tiled walls. Average manufacturing rate was about 14,000 pieces per week. Additional to these standard catalogued items we also cast special architect specified pieces for swimming pools, hotel foyers and so on.]
From a copy sheet which shows "Ricardia Art Pottery" under 'Richards Products'.
It comes from
"Richards Tiles in the Making" which was published in 1933
shortly after a visit by Prince George.
questions/comments? email: steve birks
07 Jan 2003