John Yates

Location and period of operation:

 Earthenware and later China manufacturer at Shelton, Stoke-on-Trent

• There was an auction of his potworks on 30 November 1804.

• John Yates china works were found on fire in September 1806 - he was not insured.

• He was declared bankrupt in January 1807 (probably as a result of the fire) - but he managed to continue in business.

• John was in partnership with his brother William as John and William Yates (earthenware manufacturers) - this partnership was dissolved on the 25 March 1808.

• William Yates died in 28 August 1825, having retired some years earier. John Yates died 21 June 1828.

• The business was continued by members of the Yates family until c.1835 

Yates, John and his sucessors, Hanley The elder John Yates is recorded as an earthenware manufacturer in Hanley from 1770 until 1796. His sons, William (died 1825 aged 58) and John (died 1828 aged 68) had a factory in Shelton which was operated by members of the Yates family until 1834 or later, and which in 1843 was trading as Yates and May. Mankowitz & Haggar "The Concise Encyclopedia of English Pottery and Porcelain" Early underglaze transfer printing The elder John Yates was involved in early work with underglaze printing as recorded in Simeon Shaw's account... 'About 1783, James Richards, John Ainsworth, and Thos. Lucas, an engraver, left the service of Mr Turner, at Caughley, and engaged with the Staffordshire Manufacturers; Richards and Lucas with the first Mr Spode and Ainsworth with the first Mr Yates, of Shelton. These two printers first introduced the composition called Oils'

Concurrently: John & William Yates

Subsequently: Yates & May

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London Gazette
27 December 1806 

notice of bankruptcy of John Yates of Shelton,
Manufacture of China-Ware, Dealer and Chapman 

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London Gazette
26 March 1808 

notice of the dissolution of the partnership between
John and William Yates on March 25 1808

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Covered sugar bowl (sucrier) was made by John Yates, Shelton, Staffordshire, about 1825 It is about 6" high. The Yates pattern number, 1391, is handpainted in red on the base. The collar of the sucrier is molded in the distinctively Yates oak and mistletoe motif. Examples of this form can be found in the Yates chapter of "Staffordshire Porcelains", edited by Geoffrey Godden.

Black basalt creamer attributed to John Yates, Shelton

It is unmarked but there is a teapot with the same molded pattern 
on page 231 of Anthology of British Teapots, by Miller/Berthoud.

 

Questions, comments, contributions? email: Steve Birks