Japanning in Wolverhampton
Wolverhampton was a well-established metal working town, but surprisingly, did not take up the japanning trade until the mid 1700s. The first japanner recorded in Wolverhampton was a Mr. Jones; a foreman from the Pontypool works. He entered into partnership with a Mr. Taylor and established the Old Hall Works, producing japanned tin wares and papier-mache goods. Little is known about their products and the works were taken over by Obadiah and William Ryton in 1783. In approximately 1800, there was an industrial dispute and many of the Old Hall workers and decorators were lost to other firms, some establishing their own. However, the firm survived this and became known for the employment of Edward Bird, who is thought to have been one of the first to decorate oval tin trays with burnished gilding.
In 1820, Benjamin Walton joined the firm and took over on William Ryton's retirement. He had a great deal of influence on its decorative style and he introduced church interiors, famous houses and castles, painted against gold or bronze backgrounds. Walton's style became known as the 'Wolverhampton style' and was copied almost immediately by rival firms. In the depression of the mid 1840s, the firm was declared bankrupt, but it was quickly revived by Walton's son Frederick, who built the firm back up, producing pieces which were highly praised at exhibitions in the 1850s. His influence became wide, and it seems that many Wolverhampton firms were founded by men who trained at the Old Hall. The works closed in 1882 and the building was demolished in 1883.