Potters Paintress

Today I am looking at the job of Potters Painter, a job done only from my side of the family and solely by women. The age in brackets is that given on the census in which they first gave their occupation as paintress.

Louisa Alcock (1866-) 3rd great aunt (age 15)
Elizabeth Baddaley (1845-1914) 2nd great grandmother (age 16)
Mary Baddaley (1857-) 3rd great aunt (age 34)
Maria Hassall (1849-1924) 3rd great aunt (age 12)
Sara Ann Hassall (1868-1951) 2nd great aunt (age 13)
Drucilla Hudson (1877-1936) great grandmother (age 14)
Elizabeth Hudson (1843-) 3rd great aunt (age 18)
Elizabeth Hudson (1868-1928) 2nd great aunt (age 23)

I could not find much of an explanation of the work or the conditions, but it seems to cover a large range of skills. At the bottom end, the painter simply put areas of colour wash onto a monochrome plate. The more skilful work involved hand painting the ware, but copying the given designs. At the highest level, the painter is an artist who could hand paint a scene onto the ware.

Information and picture found from website Pottery Industry Jobs