William Ellis Tucker

William Ellis Tucker (died 1832) was 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, but Tucker established the first hard paste porcelain factory in the United States in the City of Philadelphia in 1826. Before Tucker developed his methods, all porcelain products sold or used in the young country were imported from Europe. Tucker formed a partnership with potter Thomas Hulme in 1828 that allowed him to greatly expand production. Even though they worked together for less than one year, there are some pieces surviving bearing the mark of Tucker and Hulme. In 1831, Tucker formed a second partnership with Alexander Hemphill. After Tucker's death in 1832, the firm was joined by Hemphill's father (Judge Joseph Hemphill) and brother (Thomas Hemphill) and the factory continued production under the Hemphill name until it closed in 1838. The products made and sold by Tucker 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.