Charlotte Rhead

Charlotte Rhead was a pivotal figure in early 20th-century British ceramics, whose bold, beautiful designs continue to captivate collectors today. Born into a gifted family in Burslem, Staffordshire, the heart of the English “Potteries”, Rhead grew up surrounded by creative talent and traditional craftsmanship. Her father, Frederick Alfred Rhead, a renowned ceramics designer, and her mother, Adolphine, provided a rich artistic environment, while her brother Frederick Hurten Rhead made a name for himself in the United States. Charlotte’s formal art training began at the Fenton School of Art, setting the foundation for her lifelong passion for pottery and design, particularly the specialized tubelining technique she would later master.

Pioneering a Distinctive Style in Ceramic Design

Launching her career in the studios of Hanley and working in various Staffordshire pottery firms, Rhead rapidly established herself as a designer with a unique vision. Her time at Wood and Sons, alongside her father, refined her expertise in tubelining, a technique that gives ceramics raised, detailed lines. Rhead’s most iconic works emerged during her tenure at Burgess & Leigh (Burleigh Pottery) from 1926 to 1931 and later at AG Richardson & Co. (Crown Ducal). She developed vibrant, eye-catching patterns, such as Wisteria, Byzantine, and Foxglove, distinguished by bright Art Deco colours and tactile surfaces.

Lasting Legacy and Enduring Collectibility

Charlotte Rhead’s artistry lives on through her lively, colourful ceramics that remain highly collectible. Her use of tubelining and innovative patterns set her apart from contemporaries like Clarice Cliff and Susie Cooper. Pieces from her Burgess & Leigh era, especially, are prized in private and museum collections, with some rare examples reaching thousands at auction. As the only female member of her family to forge an enduring legacy in ceramics, Rhead is celebrated as a trailblazer in British decorative arts, inspiring admiration across generations.