"Bretby Art Pottery, more properly known as Tooth & Co. Ltd., was established in 1883 by William Ault and Henry Tooth, the former artistic manager at Linthorpe Pottery. Ault left after four years to set up his own pottery at Swadlincote. The Bretby company produced costly art pottery as well as production ware and stayed in the hands of the Tooth family until 1933. After the second World War the firm became known as Tooth and Company Limited Bretby Art Pottery."