An Ault Pottery Aesthetic Period ewer designed by Christopher Dresser c1895. Shouldered oviform body with extended, elliptical vertical neck and loop handle. Pale yellow ground with painted and impressed design. Geometric bands to collar and lower body. Raised urn Ault Pottery mark and impressed number 176. The ewer is 23.5 cm in height and 12 cm maximum diameter.
 
William Ault (born 1842) started work at Henry Wileman's pottery in Longton as a packing boy but worked his way up to warehouse manager and then manager of their factory at Church Gresley. It was here that he met Henry Tooth and, when Tooth left the Linthorpe Pottery, they went into partnership – setting up the Bretby Pottery at Woodville. Ault left the partnership in 1887 to set up his own company at Swadlincote – trading as Ault Pottery and using the “AULT” mark. In 1890 the pottery bought many of the moulds from the closure of the Linthorpe pottery, which included many Dresser designs. Dresser himself designed for Ault between 1892 and 1900, although the pottery continued production of his designs after the contract ended. Ault also developed his own style of ornamental pottery with much of the artwork completed by his daughters (Clarissa and Gertrude) often based on Linthorpe designs. Like Tooth, he opened showrooms in London and exhibited at the international trade shows, winning many prizes for quality and originality. In 1922 when Ault retired, the company merged with the Ashby Potters' Guild becoming Ault and Tuncliffe. The mark was changed to "Aultcliff" from 1923 – however, the company ran into financial difficulties during the depression of the 1920s/30s and ceased production in 1937. The site continued trading as Ault Pottery Ltd under various ownerships until its final closure in 1975 – whilst returning the “AULT” mark into use, pieces produced during this time would also be marked “Made in England”.