Bearnes Hampton & Littlewood
Lot 542
*Biography. The Rheads were an old North Staffordshire family who had been connected with pottery production since the 18th century. Frederick Alfred Rhead [1856-1933] was to follow the family tradition of potting but combined it with that of artist and designer. At the age of thirteen he joined Mintons as an apprentice painter and a year later was assigned as an apprentice to Louis Solon, the leading exponent of the difficult and skillful technique of pate-sur-pate. Frederick worked for Solon until 1877 and the following year joined the Wedgwood factory. He also worked as a freelance for firms such as Pinder, Bourne and as art director for James Gildea, Brownfield`s and Wileman & Co. In 1912 he joined Wood & Sons and then in 1929 Cauldon Potteries which at that time was a conglomerate including Royal Crown Derby, Royal Worcester and Ridgways. Five of Frederick`s six children were involved in the pottery business, Frederick Hurten Rhead [1880-1942] and Charlotte [Lottie] Rhead [1885-1947] are probably the best known. Frederick Hurten worked for most of his life in the United States for firms including Tiltonville, Wheeling, The Weller Pottery, Roseville, his own firm Rhead Pottery and the Homer Laughlin China Company. Charlotte Rhead [1885-1947] started her career at Wardle & Co. in Hanley and it was here that she developed her skills as a tubeliner. She subsequently worked for Keeling & Co., T&R Boote and with her father at Wood and Sons. She is probably best known for her work at Burgess & Leigh [Burleigh Pottery] and A.G.Richardson [Crown Ducal]. PROVENANCE: The present collection is being sold on behalf of the Executors of the estate of the late Richard Harry Rhead Cronin. Frederick Alfred Rhead and his wife Adolphine had six children: Frederick, Henry, Marie, Charlotte, Catherine and Adolphine. Richard Harry Rhead Cronin was the son of Marie and therefore Charlotte Rhead`s nephew. A fine Frederick Alfred Rhead, probably for Minton, pate-sur-pate porcelain vase: of cylindrical form decorated with an angel holding aloft a large bowl with text below `And when the angel with his darker draught draws up to thee-take that and do not shrink` taken from verse 48 of The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam, signed F.A. Rhead, 30.5 cm. * Provenance: From the Estate of Richard Harry Rhead Cronin, son of Marie Elizabeth Adolphine Rhead (sister to Charlotte Rhead)
