Grays Art Deco Pottery

Early History and Founding

The business was established in 1907 in Manchester, England, by Edward Gray, a seasoned pottery salesman. Gray recognized the commercial potential of modernizing ceramic designs to appeal to a changing market. In 1912, he relocated the operation to Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, the heart of the English ceramics industry, allowing the firm access to skilled labor and established infrastructure. Gray's initially operated as a decorating firm, buying "blanks" (undecorated earthenware) from other manufacturers and applying their own designs, glazes, and luster finishes.

The Art Deco Apex: The Susie Cooper Era (1922-1929)

Gray's most celebrated period and its most significant Art Deco output came during the tenure of Susie Cooper (1902–1995). Hired in 1922 as a design assistant, Cooper quickly rose through the ranks, eventually becoming Art Director. Her period at Gray's was crucial in shaping the company's distinct, modern aesthetic, which perfectly aligned with the burgeoning Art Deco style.

Key Art Deco Contributions by Susie Cooper:

• Geometric and Abstract Patterns: Cooper was instrumental in moving Gray's away from traditional, sentimental patterns. She introduced strong geometric patterns, including circles, triangles, zigzags, and checkerboards, which were often implemented through bold banding and simplified repeat motifs. These designs, applied to clean, modern shapes, epitomized the machine-age elegance of Art Deco.

• Stylized Floral Motifs: While she used floral designs, they were highly stylized and abstracted, often reduced to simple, repeating forms rather than realistic representations, fitting the Art Deco preference for sleek lines and simplification.

• Lustre Ware: Cooper experimented extensively with luster glazes, particularly on vases and decorative pieces. These iridescent, metallic finishes added the touch of luxury and exoticism often associated with high-end Art Deco ceramics.

• Elegance and Simplicity: Her overall approach emphasized simplicity of form combined with sophisticated, commercial decoration. This aesthetic made Gray's Pottery popular in department stores and accessible to a broader middle-class market seeking modern home furnishings.

Susie Cooper left in 1929 to found her own, highly successful company, becoming one of the most prominent names in 20th-century British ceramics.

Expansion and Later Designs

Following Cooper's departure, Gray's maintained its reputation for modern wares. In 1933, as production and demand increased, the company moved to larger premises (The Furlong Mill). Their product ranges expanded to include:

• Wall Pockets: Decorative containers designed to be hung on walls.

• Face Masks: Highly stylized ceramic masks, a fashionable item in the 1930s Art Deco and Art Moderne home.

• Animal Fancies: Figurines and decorative animal forms.

Many of the later designs were created by Nancy Cato, who continued the firm's progressive design legacy into the late 1930s.

Acquisition and Legacy

The Gray's Pottery story concluded in 1959 upon the death of the founder, Edward Gray. The company was subsequently acquired by Portmeirion Potteries, co-founded by Susan Williams-Ellis. Today, Gray's Pottery, especially the pieces designed by Susie Cooper and the bold geometric patterns from the 1920s and 1930s, are highly prized by collectors of British Art Deco ceramics.