William Ellis Tucker
Illustration — Tucker porcelain pitcher William Ellis Tucker (1800–1832) was an American craftsman who became the first person to successfully produce hard paste porcelain for the home market made entirely in the United States of purely domestic materials. There had been several previous attempts at the craft by progressive American potters prior to 1825, some of which had been partially successful. However, all porcelain products sold or used in the young country were imported from Europe.
William Ellis Tucker
Tucker China Factory · This file was donated to Wikimedia Commons as part of a project by the Metropolitan Museum of Art. See the Image and Data Resources Open Access Policy · CC0
- Born
- 1800
- Died
- 1832
- Nationality
- United States
- Occupation
- artist · ceramicist · porcelain maker
VALÉORINE Encyclopedia
VALÉORINE documentary reading
Documentary summary
Illustration — Tucker porcelain pitcher William Ellis Tucker (1800–1832) was an American craftsman who became the first person to successfully produce hard paste porcelain for the home market made entirely in the United States of purely domestic materials. There had been several previous attempts at the craft by progressive American potters prior to 1825, some of which had been partially successful. However, all porcelain products sold or used in the young country were imported from Europe.
Admitted source layer · organised and presented by VALÉORINE
Reference Check
Propose documentary evidence for William Ellis Tucker. A contribution is never written directly as fact: identity, source, rights and evidence gates still decide.
Sign in to contribute
World of VALÉORINE
Documentary connections
Only confirmed graph relationships appear here. Images are shown only when their identity and reuse rights both pass the documentary gate.
Documentary evidence
Documentary basis
Authority files
wikidata · Q8008569 · wikipedia · William Ellis Tucker
In this article
Biography
Biography
In 1826, Tucker established the first hard paste porcelain factory in the United States in Philadelphia. Tucker formed a partnership with potter Thomas Hulme in 1828 that allowed him to greatly expand production. Even though Tucker and Hulme worked together for less than one year, there are some pieces surviving bearing their mark. In 1831, Tucker formed a second partnership with Alexander Hemphill. After Tucker's death, the firm was joined by Hemphill's father (Judge Joseph Hemphill) and brother (Thomas Hemphill). The factory continued production under the Hemphill name until it closed in 1838. The Tucker porcelains included dinner services, coffee and tea services and pitchers as well as ornamental wear such as urns and baskets. Some items were pure white and gilt, but most were hand painted and decorated with gold leaf. Surviving examples of Tucker porcelain are extremely rare and very valuable today.
American; Coffeepot; Ceramics
Tucker China Factory · This file was donated to Wikimedia Commons as part of a project by the Metropolitan Museum of Art. See the Image and Data Resources Open Access Policy
American; Coffeepot; Ceramics
Tucker China Factory · This file was donated to Wikimedia Commons as part of a project by the Metropolitan Museum of Art. See the Image and Data Resources Open Access Policy
Life and career
Dated record
Life and career
The full dated record · 2 entries
1800
William Ellis Tucker born.
1832
William Ellis Tucker died.
References
Citations
References
Each reference names the institution holding it, so a reader may go to the document itself.
reference work
Secondary witnessreference work
Secondary witness
Further particulars
Held on the record
Further particulars
Open the remaining particulars
William Ellis Tucker is recorded as artist, ceramicist and porcelain maker.
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 16 August 2026.
Elsewhere in Ceramics
1,104 published records in this field, each with its sources named.
- Willem LenssinckArtist
- Willem VerstraetenArtist
- William BillingsleyArtist
- William De MorganArtist
- William KnutzenArtist
- William MarshallArtist
- William R. NewlandArtist
- Willy ØrskovArtist
Best supported in this field
For owners
Own a work by William Ellis Tucker?
A specialist will read what you send and tell you what the house can establish, what it cannot, and whether the object is suited to sale. There is no charge and no obligation. The object stays with you throughout; nothing is shipped to us unless it is arranged in writing beforehand.