John Slater (1844-1914) was the Art Director at Doulton & Co Burslem from 1887 until his death in 1914. He studied at the Stoke-on-Trent School of Design and worked at Minton and then Pinder, Bourne & Co, before moving to Doulton & Co when Pinder, Bourne & Co was acquired by that company. As well as being a painter who signed his works, he was involved in the development of many of the special glazes used by Doulton, including rouge flambe, and for a number of patents relating to transfer printing from photographic plates onto ceramics. Some works are marked "Doulton & Slaters Patent", a process which involves the use of lace fabrics impressed into the surface of clay as a decorative technique.