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William James Neatby (24 May 1860 – 20 April 1910) was an English architect, designer and artist. He is best know for his designs of architectural ceramics and was Doulton and Co.'s chief ceramic designer. His stand our works include the Meat Hall in Harrods (London), and Everard's Printing Works (Bristol). The Modern Style of the Everards Printing Works facade is the largest decorative Doulton Carrara ware tile facade of its kind in Britain (so named from its resemblance to Carrara marble). Neatby was among leading British artists during the late 19th and early 20th century. Enrst Runtz said of him: "He was a true artist, and a man of fine character, and he pursued his art with a direct and single purpose."

Personal Life

William James Neatby was born on the 24th of March 1860 at Barnsley, Yorkshire. He was the eldest son of of Samuel Mossforth Neatby (1837–1910) and Mary Jackson Neatby (1839–1911). W.J.Neatby's grandfather was also named William, and he was the owner of the timber yard in which his father, Samuel, was employed. The family enjoyed relative prosperity and were involved in non-conformist religious life of the town. Not much is known about Neatby's childhood years. He married on 28th May 1881 to Emily Arnold. Neatby's wife Emily, died on August 1885. He married again in October 1887 to Jane Isabella Dempster. Neatby died on 20th April 1910 aged 49.

Career

Burmantofts Potteries

In 1903 The Studio (magazine) writes: "No sooner had he left school than Mr Neatby, at that time only a boy of 15 years, was articled to an architect in a northern provincial town. There he remained, as pupil and afterwards as clerk of the works, altogether six years." Aged 21 and newly married Neatby decided to change his career's direction. He was employed by Burmantofts Potteries at Leeds as a designer. It appears he started working at Burmantofts around spring 1884 and his initials "W.J.N" appear on illustration titled "A few Pilaster Panels in Burmantofts Faience by Wilcock and Co. Burmantofs". While working for Burmantofs, he was the companies leading artist in catalogue design for the company, in the period from 1884 to 1890.

Neatby's years at Burmantofts Potteries were very productive and he gained a lot of experience, particulaly when it comes to architectural ceramics, field in which he will excel at. Architect Ernest Runtz praised him: "As an architect one had only to indicate the general idea of a decorative feature, whether in modelling or in mural decorative work, and Neatby caught the spirit of the undertaking..."

Royal Doulton

Astronomia sculpture with zodiac signs by Neatby -Royal Observatory, Greenwich.

With a lot of experience behind him Neatby was on the move. In 1890 he went to London to work for Royal Doulton, and he was in charge of Doulton’s architectural department for the design and production of mural ceramics. In the 11 years Neatby has spent at Doulton's he worked at significant number of major architectural projects. Neatby designed several ornamental architectural details for locally famous building at Cornhill 54-55. He also worked on Board School building (now Salford Education Offices) in Chapel Street, Salford, but probably his most prestigious project is when as the principal sculptor involved, he created terracotta sculpted bas relief panels for the New Physical Observatory at the Royal Observatory, Greenwich. His previous experience as tile designer was essential for his work at Winter Gardens, Blackpool where he designed decoration for the entrance corridor and main ballroom. He experimented with new ceramic materials and developted Doulton's Carrara ware and Parian ware. Carrara ware is name so from ts resemblance to Carrara marble, and Everard's Printing Works facade by Neatby is the largest decorative Doulton Carrara ware tile facade of its kind in Britain. Neatby preferred to use Carrara ware tiles for exterior, but notable exeption where he used it in interior, to great effect, is Meat Hall at Harrods in London.

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  Former Board School
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  City Arcade, Birmingham
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  The Royal Arcade, Norwich
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  The Royal Arcade, interior
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  Harrods

Independent artist

Fox and Anchor 1898 architectural ceramics Palace Theatre, Plymouth 1898 architectural ceramics

reference In 1899 Neatby became member of the Society of Designers. Numerous members ran independent design practices which may have inspired Neatby to set up his own. While Society of Designers and freedom that independent designers had have certainly contributed to Neatby taking the same path, that freedom was not the sole driving force behind Neatby's decision. He had wide range of interersts that he wanted to pursue, with painting being the main art form.