Salopian Art Pottery
1880s – 1930s

James Arthur “Arty” Hartshorne (1873–1936)

Active at the Benthall Pottery Company: c.1890s–1925

Born at Broseley in 1873, James Arthur Hartshorne (known as “Arty” or “Artie”) was the second son of James Edward Hartshorne and Hannah Hartshorne. 

His father was a china painter at the nearby Coalport China Works. When “Arty” was about six years old, no doubt as a result of the Coalport China Works going into receivership, the family moved to 70 Byron Street, Derby, where his father had found work at the newly-opened Derby Crown Porcelain Works.

The Hartshornes returned to Broseley after 1883, and in the 1891 census three of the men were working as china painters, presumably at the Coalport China Works which had resumed production. They were, James Edward, father, and his sons Ernest Robert and James Arthur, who was then aged 18. The census describes the Hartshorne boys as “Artists on China”.

In the same year, 1891, “Arty” Hartshorne is recorded as working as a draughtsman at a tile works, and as a student at the Coalbrookdale School of Art.

The 1901 census records “Arty” as a “Draughtsman – Earthenware Pottery”, which is presumed to be the Benthall Pottery Company. Quite when he commenced working there is not known, but it is presumed to be some time in the 1890s. 

At the time of the 1901 census (taken 31 March), “Arty”, aged 28, was living at home with his parents at The Lea, 22 Benthall Lane, Benthall. Later that year he married Elizabeth Sarah Blackford (1873–1925), the
28-year-old daughter of a neighbour from 24 Benthall Lane. She was
the eldest daughter of William Blackford, a blacksmith at a tile works.

Known as “Arty” or “Artie” Hartshorne (no doubt a playful reference to his middle name “Arthur” and his talent for drawing), he was at various times artist, head of design, and manager at the Benthall Pottery Company. 

“Arty” was also a commercial traveller (salesman) for the company, as recorded in the 1911 census, at which time he and Elizabeth were living at 14 Benthall Lane, Benthall. 

Mrs Maud Whitmore (b.1904; employee of the Benthall Pottery Company c.1918–24), interviewed by Roger Edmundson in 1987, recalled that “Arty” Hartshorne was responsible for decorating Benthall Pottery's incised ware, though none is known to be signed. He did, however, sign a small number of idiosyncratic pieces (a modelled goblin, gorilla and a smoking man), each marked with his JAH initials. 

A signed watercolour illustration of chrysanthemums, dated 1900 (see image, right), enables an attribution of some painted vases to be made to “Arty” Hartshorne.

1925 was a tumultuous year for “Arty”. His wife died, and in July he left the Benthall Pottery Company to work at Craven Dunnill & Co., tile manufacturers, at Jackfield, where he became a departmental manager. 

He was succeeded at the Benthall Pottery Company by his younger brother, Percy Ewart Hartshorne.

In July 1926, “Arty” remarried, to Elizabeth “Beth” Jane Murray Sutherland (1905–1990). She was the second daughter of Scottish bacteriologist Dr Donald George Sutherland (1863–1946), Senior Bacteriologist with the Metropolitan Water Board, London. The couple were married at the Friends’ Meeting House, Hammersmith, London.

“Arty” Hartshorne was a Methodist preacher, and sometime organist and choirmaster at Broseley Methodist Church. His obituary in the Wellington Journal & Shrewsbury News, 13 June 1936, records that he was a keen cricketer who played for Willey Wanderers Cricket Club and was also instrumental in forming the Benthall Pottery Works Cricket Club.

James Arthur Hartshorne died on 10 June 1936, aged 63. 

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Selected sources

Obituary: Late Mr J.A.Hartshorne, Wellington Journal & Shrewsbury News, 13 June 1936