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John Randall was one of the best-known Coalport artists. He had an extraordinary life, being a celebrated china painter, geologist, borough councillor, author, sometime keeper of a nearby post office and centenarian. He was born in 1810 and was apprenticed to his uncle Thomas Martin Randall at Madeley, near Coalport, and painted at the Rockingham factory before joining the Coalport staff in 1835. Most of his designs feature panels of Sevres-type exotic birds in landscapes. However, in the 1860s he began to paint more naturalistic subjects, often birds of prey, in their natural surroundings. He was responsible for painting some of the finest Coalport vases and other ornamental pieces, and often painted on the same item as William Cook, who specialised in flower painting. In 1881 failing eyesight forced Randall to give up ceramic painting after a career of over 50 years. He subsequently wrote several books on the neighbourhood which provide valuable first-hand information. He died on 16 November 1910 retaining his sense of humour and acute mental faculties until the very end. A report of his funeral from the local newspaper of 26 November 1910 reads ‘…Artist, philosopher, scientist, editor, author. His life history has indeed been remarkable. A man of comprehensive mental attainments, gifted with rare powers of observation and endowed with an inordinate capacity for work, he played many parts, and thanks to a wonderful vitality, was enabled to continue his endeavours to within a short period of his death….Mr Randall was an extraordinary man’.

Category: People , Process , Product

Institute: Ironbridge Gorge Museum

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