Faience

Doulton Faience—colorful and vibrant in its decorative effect—was mistakenly one of the most underrated products of the highly successful Lambeth Studio.  Different in technique and appearance to Doulton’s earlier decorated stoneware, Lambeth Faience is today regarded as superior to many of the late Victorian art ceramics.

The technique of painting and decorating this new medium proved demanding for the studio's expanding group of art students. New colors, derived mainly from metallic oxides, were painted directly onto the porous, unglazed earthenware body. Any mistake could be easily detected because of the rapid manner in which the color soaked into the clay. Faience pieces appeared in variety of designs, subject matter and colors as well as a diverse array of shapes and sizes. In 1910 the production of Faience started to dwindle. The last recorded wares are dated 1914. Made for a relatively short period, Faience pieces in good condition prove difficult to find and provide an exciting challenge for the collector.