Chapter 21

Figs. 484 to 491.—Productions of the Cauldon Place Works.

Figs. 492 to 499—Philadelphia Exhibits of the Cauldon Place Works.

In 1825 Messrs. John and William Ridgway took out a patent for “an improved cock, tap, or valve, for draining off liquors:” in 1840, John Ridgway took out another for “certain improvements in the moulds used in the manufacture of earthenware, porcelain, and other similar substances, whereby such moulds are rendered more durable” by having a face of “pitcher;” in the same year, in conjunction with George Wall, for “certain improvements in the manufacture of china and earthenware, and in the apparatus or machinery applicable thereto;” in the same year again, the same two, for “certain improvements in the mode of preparing bats of earthenware and porcelain clay, and of forming or shaping them into articles of earthenware and porcelain, and in the machinery orapparatus applicable thereto;” in 1847, John Ridgway, for “certain improvements in the manufacture of paste boxes, and other similar articles in china or earthenware, or other plastic materials”; and in 1852 for “certain improvements in the method or process of ornamenting or decorating articles of glass, china, earthenware, and other ceramic manufactures.” These are, applying “the art of electrotype or electro-metallurgy” for the above purpose, applied as “described, or by any other suitable process; provided always that the surface of the non-conducting body is so prepared that the metal deposited thereon shall become alloyed or combined therewith.” The invention, however, is said to consist “in the application of certain novel and peculiar media,” “whereby such surface may be caused to combine with gold, silver, copper,” &c. Before coating with the metals, the vessels are covered thinly with some varnish, dried, and immersed, first in a solution “of phosphorus reduced by bisulphuret of carbon,” then in nitrate of silver, and set aside to dry. Instead of this, “phosphoric vapour” or “a solution of phosphorus in sulphuric ether” may be employed; but the method preferred is brushing them over with “an impalpable powder of carburet of iron and sulphate of copper” in certain proportions; afterwards the vessels are “corroded by means of the fumes of hydrofluoric acid.”

It may be added, that in the application of photography to the decoration of porcelain this firm has achieved a perfect success so far as the art is concerned, and has produced some splendid specimens, which show how completely and how thoroughly they are artists as well as manipulators. This feature, although not one, unfortunately, at present made to much extent commercially available, is one which cannot but attract attention, along with the sanitary and other classes of goods, to this establishment.

The marks used by the Cauldon Place Works, so far as I am aware, are the following:

Figs. 500 to 502.

A shield, quarterly, 1 and 4 gules, 2 or, 3 azure, over all on a bendargent B-W. M. & Co.; the shield surmounted by a crown, and surrounded by a garter with the name of the pattern.

Figs. 503 and 504.

Medals have been awarded at the Exhibitions of London, 1851, 1862, Paris 1855, Lyons 1872, and Vienna 1873; at the latter, two medals, one for excellence of earthenware and china and the other for sanitary goods, were awarded. The firm were large contributors to the Philadelphia Exhibition of 1876; some of their exhibits are shown in Figs.484 to 499.

Trent Pottery.—These works, in Joiner Square, were built by Messrs. Stanway, Horne, and Adams, the present proprietors, in 1859, and they have been carried on without change since that time. The works were established for the production of ornamental goods in parian, and useful goods of an improved design in stoneware and ordinary earthenware, and these have continued to extend themselves year by year. The great speciality is their cheap ornamental parian, in which jugs of various kinds, vases, figures, groups, busts, and a large number of other articles are made; of these they are large makers, not less than 460,000 pieces of these alone being made and disposed of during one year. Notably, among the designs for jugs and cream ewers, are the Indian corn, pine-apple, shell, and dolphin patterns; the first of these is of peculiar elegance. Vases and other chimney ornaments are produced of excellent design and of various sizes. Of late years, classical statuettes, groups, busts, &c., in Parian, have been made, and are a prominent feature of the works; they are well and cleverly modelled, and the quality of the body is remarkably good. A group of “Commerce,” seated, is one of the most effective. The great and laudable aim of the “Trent Works” has been the production of good average designs in Parian at acheap rate, so as to place them within the reach of all; in this they have eminently succeeded. Stone ware, lustre ware, and terra cotta, are also produced, and of late the manufacture of pearl china has been added. The markets supplied are the home, United States, the Continent, etc. No mark is used.

“The members of this firm, namely, Mr. John Stanway, Mrs. Thomas Horne (Mr. Stanway’s sister), and Mr. Thomas Adams,” writes my good friend Mr. Goss, “are all natives of Etruria, where their grandfathers were the valued servants of the great Josiah Wedgwood. Mr. Stanway’s father was the William Stanway mentioned by Mr. Jewitt in his ‘Life of Josiah Wedgwood,’ as one of the ‘Etruria Jubilee Group of Francis Wedgwood, Esq., and nine workmen, whose average term of servitude is fifty-four and a half years, November, 1859;’ and Mr. Jewitt further remarks: ‘It is interesting to note that in the person of one of these men, William Stanway, an absolute link with the great Josiah is kept up. This man began to work at Etruria the very year of Josiah Wedgwood’s death (1795), and has remained there ever since—a period of sixty-nine years.’ Two others of the nine workmen of the Jubilee Group—William Adams and John Adams—were uncles to Mr. Thomas Adams of the above firm. Mr. John Stanway has distinct recollections of his grandfather, John Stanway the elder, who for many years served the first Josiah, and died in the service of the second. His occupation at the works was that of “slipmaker” or claymaker, a position of great trust at that time, when not only the newly-invented proportions but the very materials used in the composition of the clays were important secrets. It is curious to reflect that the ingredients of all the famous jasper and other wares which the great Wedgwood produced, and which are now numbered among the treasures of kings and emperors, were blended and made into clay by this John Stanway the elder. Being proved a faithful servant, he was greatly valued and favoured by his employer, spending a portion of his time in personally waiting upon Wedgwood at Etruria Hall, whence he used to carry valuable parcels and letters to the Three Tuns Inn at Newcastle-under-Lyme, which was in those days the stage coach house. After the death of Wedgwood, John Stanway retained the same share of the confidence and favour of the second Josiah, both at the manufactory and at the Hall. At that time the country where Etruria now stands, and for miles around, was an uncultivated waste, and Mr.Stanway remembers to have accompanied his grandfather many times when he trudged along the road from Etruria Hall to Newcastle, with his parcels on his back, and his dog Driver and his cat Molley following him all the way, a distance of about two miles. In these journeys it appeared to be distinctly understood between the two animals that Driver was Molley’s protector, and the confidence of the latter was always justified in the moment of danger. In those days old Stoke Church (since removed) was the only church for miles around, and the Wedgwoods had their freehold pew there, which they regularly used until the second Josiah bought the Maer estate, near Whitmore, and removed to it from Etruria Hall. ‘Then,’ relates Mr. John Stanway the younger, ‘Mr. Wedgwood desired my grandfather—who was a good Christian and a regular attendant at church—to make use of that pew ever after. And the good old man never missed attendance there on the Sabbath while he had strength to walk. And because the distance was too great to allow him to go home to dinner and return in time for afternoon service, he used to take his dinner with him in the morning, and stay and eat it in the church or schoolroom, or, when the weather was fine enough, in the churchyard. And Mr. Wedgwood was not ashamed to be represented in that family pew by my grandfather, altho’ the old man used to sound his way up the aisle in wooden clogs, which it was the custom of all workpeople to wear in those days in those parts. But although Mr. Wedgwood was content to be represented by his faithful servant in wooden clogs, there was an old lady, who sat in the pew behind Wedgwood’s, who seems to have objected; and so one week she managed to have taken down the partition between her pew and Wedgwood’s, and made the whole into one square pew for herself. Then my grandfather meekly took his place on the free benches, until, some time after this, Mr. Wedgwood happened to say to him one day at the works, ‘Well, how come you on at church, Jack?’ And my grandfather replied, ‘Well mester, th’ owd lady i’ the pew behind has made it all into a square un’, an’ turned me out. But I’m right enow on the free bench.’ ‘Ha!’ said Mr. Wedgwood. ‘I’ll see to that, Jack.’ And he did see to it, and undid the old lady’s improvements, restoring his pew as before. Ever after that my grandfather enjoyed his sitting without further interference, and continued every Sunday to sound his wayup the aisle in his wooden clogs, with his dinner in his pocket, until at last, at a good age, he was taken ill. Mr. Wedgwood went to see him immediately, and sent his own physician to attend him; but after a few day’s illness he died.’”

Keeling.—James Keeling, in 1796, patented improvements in decorative and glazing processes, and, in conjunction with Valentine Close, some improvements in ovens, kilns, and processes of firing. His ware was of remarkably good quality, and some of the services were decorated with series of scenes and views.

Booth & Co.—These potters were makers of a red ware—a kind of terra cotta—in which they produced various articles more or less ornamented with medallions, wreaths, or other decorations, in relief; sometimes of the same colour as the body, and at others in black. The mark was the name, address, and date, within a border—

PUBLISHED BY GR. BOOTH & CO.,HANLEY, STAFFORDSHIRE,MAY 29, 1859.

An example occurs in the Liverpool Museum.

Stafford Street Works.—This manufactory was originally occupied by Messrs. Reuben Johnson & Co., who produced the ordinary classes of earthenware and stoneware. From them it passed to Messrs. Thomas Furnival, jun. & Co., and “Furnival & Clark,” by whom it was continued until 1851, when it was taken by the present firm, which at that time was Livesley, Powell, & Co. In 1865 Mr. Livesley went out of the concern, when the firm changed its name to “Powell & Bishop,” by which it continues to the present time. Messrs. Powell & Bishop own two other manufactories, the “Church Works” for white granite, and the “Waterloo Works” for china (both of which see), but the Stafford Street Works are their principal ones, or head-quarters. At these works earthenware alone is produced, but this is of the finest quality and in every style of decoration, both for the home, French, Australian (principally Adelaide and Sydney), and other markets. The body is extremely hard, compact, and durable, and whether in pure white or of a creamy tint is clear in colour, and the glaze of faultlessquality. The decoration of the dinner services, which is a speciality of these works, ranges from the plain white and printed goods up to the most elaborately and gorgeously enamelled, painted, gilt, and jewelled varieties, and in each of these stages the decorations, whether simple or complicated, are characterized by the purest taste and the most artistic feeling. Messrs. Powell & Bishop are the sole workers of, and possess the exclusive right to and in, a patented process of printing in gold and colours, originally purchased by their firm from some Austrians, by whom it was invented. This important process has been vastly improved by the present firm and brought to bear in a variety of ways upon their manufactures. By this invention a background of dead gold is produced of surpassing beauty and loveliness, and of such solidity and evenness as is perfectly impossible to be obtained by hand-gilding even by the most skilled artist. In this, Messrs. Powell & Bishop have produced services of a novel and faultlessly beautiful character, the designs of which are taken from, and are of equal gracefulness, richness, and beauty with, mediæval MS. illuminations. In toilet services a number of effective and well-conceived designs are produced in every style in transfer printing, lustred, enamelled, painted, and gilt varieties, and the shapes of the ewers are, in some instances, of unusually good designs. Jugs are another speciality of this firm, and they are produced in almost endless variety; many of the arabesque patterns are of great richness and beauty, and are characterized by graceful finish in the enamelling. The same remark will apply to the table flower-pots, which are all that can be desired in form, pattern, and arrangement of colours. Tea and dessert services in great variety are also made in the finest earthenware, and of considerable variety in design. A speciality in tea ware is a charming little teapot, modelled from the one used by the poet Addison. It is of the form at that time so fashionable, and made in so many styles by Lakin and Poole, Adams, and others of the famous old potters. The reproducing of this shape was a wise thought of Messrs. Powell & Bishop, and the way in which it is issued—excellently enamelled and richly gilt—is in every way satisfactory. Messrs. Powell & Bishop have recently reproduced in all its softness and delicacy of tint, and evenness of surface, the famous old ivory or cream-coloured ware of Josiah Wedgwood, and known as “Queen’s Ware.” In this, dinner, tea, dessert, and toilet services of thenewest shapes and designs are made, and are among the most marked successes of the time. In this ivory ware, ornamental goods—vases, beakers, &c.—of a more or less highly decorated character are also successfully produced. The firm received medals from the London International Exhibition in 1862; from the Amsterdam Exhibition of 1869; and from the Paris Maritime Exhibition of 1875; “le Diplôme d’excellence” and a certificate at the 1871 Exhibition. They were also large exhibitors at the Philadelphia Exhibition of 1876.

The marks used by the firm have been simply the wordsimpressed in the ware; and the initials P & B, in addition to the name of the pattern, printed on the surface. The trade mark lately adopted by the firm is the Caduceus, surmounted by the letters P. & B.; this is now impressed on the body or printed on the surface of all their best goods.

TheChurch Works, in High Street (for the history of which see page301, “Wilson”) are old established, and passed from Mr. Ridgway, to their present owners, Messrs. Powell & Bishop. The previous proprietors produced the usual classes of earthenware. The present firm confine their operations at these works to “white granite” ware for the United States and Canadian markets, which they produce of excellent quality and in every variety of style, both plain, embossed, and otherwise decorated. (See “Stafford Street.”)

Waterloo Works.—These works were recently erected close to their large mill on the canal side near Nelson Place for the manufacture of china, by Messrs. Powell & Bishop, in place of one formerly occupied by them but removed for town improvements. At this manufactory china of the finest quality is made in the white; the whole of the decoration being accomplished at their principal works in Stafford Street (which see). In china the firm produces all the usual services and miscellaneous articles, in every variety of decoration. In dessert services Messrs. Powell & Bishop rank deservedly high, not only for the faultless quality of the body and glaze and for the beauty of their designs, but for the perfect artistic feeling and the exquisite finish which characterize their best productions; in these, and in tea services—to which, the above remarkswith equal force apply—they have, in some instances, introduced with excellent effect a species of decoration which may be said to give the appearance to the various articles of being inlaid withormolu. The effect, in connection with admirable grounds and delicately beautiful paintings, is rich and pleasing. Messrs. Powell & Bishop also introduce with great success their patent process of printing in gold and colours (see page329) upon dessert and tea services; the effect upon the fine china body is very pleasing—the colours softened and subdued, and the gilding remarkable for its fulness, brilliance, and precision. In tea and breakfast and déjeuner services they have introduced many of the most chaste and elegant patterns produced by any house, and they take rank among the very highest and best in quality, and exhibit the highest phases of manipulative and artistic skill. The same remarks will apply to the table jugs—some of which have for a ground the rich deep Derby or Sèvres blue—the candlesticks, and the rest of the articles produced by this celebrated firm.

Kensington Works, established by Messrs. Wilkinson & Rickuss, who were succeeded by Wilkinson and Sons, and next by Messrs. Bailey & Bevington. Mr. Bailey having retired, the works are now carried on by Mr. John Bevington, who produces ordinary earthenware, ornamental china, Parian, and stone ware; the great speciality being imitation Dresden, for home, United States, and Australian markets. A monster vase, the work of Rickuss & Wilkinson, exhibited 1862, is preserved in the Museum of Practical Geology.

Burton Place Works.—Formerly carried on by Mr. S. Bevington; this manufactory is now continued by his sons, Messrs. James & Thomas Bevington, who have held them since 1862. The operations are entirely confined to china, in which all the usual useful and ornamental classes of goods are made for the home markets. Formerly, Parian statuettes and majolica goods were made, but these are discontinued.

Clarence Street Works.—Mr. Ambrose Bevington produces china and earthenware.

Nelson Place, commenced in 1850 by its present proprietor, Mr. John Bamford. These works produce ordinary stone ware and Parian.

Phœnix and Bell Works, Broad Street.—These manufactories are both worked by Messrs. Clementson Brothers, who make largely the white granite and common painted ware for America and Canada. For the latter market they also produce some good decorated ware. The back part of the Phœnix Works was originally part of John and Edward Baddeley’s, Broad Street Works (now Ashworth Brothers), which it adjoins. In 1832 the present business was started by Reed & Clementson, but Joseph Clementson shortly after became sole proprietor, and in 1845 enlarged the works to their present proportions, with the exception of a large mill adjoining, which his sons, the present proprietors, have completed. In 1856 Mr. Joseph Clementson purchased the Bell Works on the other side of the road, opposite the Phœnix, formerly William Ridgway’s. In 1867 he retired from business, leaving it to his four sons, the present members of the firm. He died in 1871.

Bedford Works, Bedford Road.—These extensive works were built by Edward John Ridgway, son of William Ridgway, in November, 1866, and to them he removed from the Church Works, High Street, where he had, until then, carried on business in partnership with Mr. Abington. In 1870, Mr. E. J. Ridgway took his sons into partnership, and the concern was carried on as E. J. Ridgway & Son. In 1872, Mr. E. J. Ridgway retired from the business, leaving it to his two sons, Messrs. John, and Edward Ackroyd Ridgway, who were joined in partnership by Mr. Joseph Sparks, and continue the business under the title of Ridgway, Sparks, & Ridgway. Their productions include all classes of fine useful earthenware, jet, stone, terra cotta, and jasper, of very superior bodies and decoration, for the home, American, and Continental markets. One of the great specialities of the firm is their jet ware, highly decorated in raised enamel “after the Limoges ware.” In these a remarkable richness, beauty, and delicacy are obtained, and the designs, as well as the treatment of the foliage and figures, are artistic and well considered for effect. The jet ware thus decorated and highly gilt is of the very finest quality and of the highest degree of excellence in design and manipulative treatment; in this the Bedford Works are pre-eminent. Another speciality is relief decoration on various stoneware bodies, and these are faultless in their taste and excellent in their workmanship. The jasper (in which both tone of colour of the body and the beauty of detail in the groups and foliage andborders of the relief decoration in white, remind one forcibly of the later productions of the Wedgwood’s) tea-pots and other articles are produced and rank high as achievements of Ceramic Art. Mosaic or inlaid decoration is also successfully carried out by the firm, and their ordinary stoneware jugs and other articles are remarkable for purity of design, the high relief of their ornament, the hardness and compactness of their body, and the beauty of their workmanship. The mark used by the firm on their white goods is the Staffordshire knot, enclosing the lettersR. S. R.

SR R

Mayer Street Works.—Mr. Samuel Lear has erected a small china works on part of the site of the old manufactory, which includes as warerooms and offices the residence of the Mayers. Mr. Lear produces common domestic china, and, in addition, decorates in the ordinary way all kinds of earthenware made by other manufacturers; a speciality being spirit-kegs.

Mayer Street.—Mrs. Massey carries on a small earthenware works on part of the site of the same old works just mentioned, including the stables and coach and cart-houses of the Mayers. Her productions are of the commoner classes.

Cannon Street.—These works, dating back to the beginning of the present century, were for many years carried on by Mr. Thos. Ford, who here commenced business. Mr. Ford has since built a larger manufactory in the same street. The manufactory is now carried on by Mr. Edward Steele, who produces earthenware of the more ordinary qualities, stoneware of good useful character, majolica, and Parian. In stoneware all the usual useful classes of goods are made, and many of the designs and workmanship are of good character. In majolica both useful and ornamental goods are made, and consist of jugs, tea-pots, brackets, flower vases, dessert services with figure centre-pieces, comports, etc.; the designs in many instances are artistic, and the quality, both of the body and colouring, of more than average excellence. Parian statuary is one of the specialities of the firm and is very extensively made; some hundreds of different single figures, groups, busts, and animals, besides numbers of ornamental articles, being issued. The quality is superior to many for the American markets, and the modelling of the figures is artistic and clear. Many of them are of large size, and are produced with remarkable skill. Mr. Steele uses no mark.

Brewery Street.—Robert Cook makes ordinary Parian goods in large quantities, principally for shipment to America.

Percy Street.—William Machin makes ordinary earthenware and common coloured figures.

Taylor, Tunnicliffe & Co., who used to manufacture in Broad Street very excellent door furniture and other fittings for Birmingham houses, have recently built more commodious works at Eastwood Vale.

Biller & Co.make good door furniture and other fittings for metal workers at Eastwood Vale.

Albion Works, Stafford Street.—John Dimmock & Co. are very large producers of earthenware of superior quality and finish. The firm is very old established. The firm of Thomas Dimmock & Co., at the time when Ward’s History was published, held three manufactories, viz., one “in Hanley, adjoining the New Market house, formerly James Whitehead’s, afterwards J. & W. Handley’s; another on the upper end of Shelton, formerly of Edmund John Birch, afterwards of Christopher Whitehead; and an enamelling and gilding establishment adjoining the King’s Head at Shelton.”

Eastwood Vale.—W. H. Goss (see “London Road, Stoke-upon-Trent”).

Eastwood Works.--Formerly carried on by Mr. Thomas Twyford, and afterwards by E. Hampton & Son, these works passed, in 1864, into the hands of the present proprietor, Mr. George Howson. The productions are entirely confined to sanitary ware, made of the ordinary Staffordshire fire-clay, washed inside with a white slip; sometimes blue printed.

Dental Manufacturing Company, Limited, Broad Street.—This manufactory was established by Mr. J. S. Crapper, in 1856, and by him carried on and gradually developed until June, 1873, when it was purchased from him by this Company, Mr. Crapper remaining the managing director. The Company have other manufactories and depôts at 25, Broad Street, Golden Square, London, and in Grosvenor Street, Oxford Road, Manchester. It is one of the largest porcelain tooth producing manufactories yet established.

The dento-ceramic art is, naturally, of recent origin, but it has already almost reached perfection; the artificial teeth so closely resembling the natural, that the false are undistinguishable from the real. In durability nature is by this manufacture excelled; since the porcelain tooth lasts much longer than bone or ivory. Surprising, however, as we find the exact imitation of nature, it is, perhaps, still more surprising to learn that it is only obtained by a variety of at least 100 different shades and tints of colour, and of about 1,000 different shapes and sizes of teeth. Being a new branch of Ceramic Art I have no hesitation in giving fuller details than usual. They are furnished by my friend Mr. Goss.

“The material of which the teeth are composed, although differing in the proportions of its ceramic ingredients from any other porcelain body, is yet strictly porcelain. It is a vitreous, translucent body, consisting of silica, alumina, and potass, with the alumina in smaller and the potass in larger proportions than in any other porcelain body. Feldspar is the chief constituent, to which some silica, in the form of quartz, is added, and, in some instances, a small proportion of china clay. The colouring materials are the oxides of titanium, uranium, cobalt, manganese, platinum, and gold. From these bases the company obtains, as before said, about one hundred tints and shades, ranging from the delicate blue-white—the poetic “pearl”—to the dark tobacco stain. We have seen an American account of the matter, however, in which a palette of thirty-nine times 64,000 varieties or gradations of colour is claimed from the same bases for dental selection, and the different shapes and sizes of teeth are estimated at 10,000 instead of the 1,000 which the Company claims in its modesty.“The materials being finely ground together, the teeth are either cast or pressed in metal moulds, the inner surface of the moulds being oiled, as is usual when metal moulds are used in potting, to prevent the adhesion of the clay or slip. It will surprise most potters to learn of ceramic articles being made, or cast, from ‘slip’ in metal moulds; but this is successfully done at the company’s works, the moulds being warmed to facilitate evaporation and the ‘setting’ of the material, which is sooner effected in this body than in any other porcelain, on account of the small proportion of alumina in its composition. In those teeth which are furnished with platinum pins the latter are fitted into small holes in the mould before the casting, and the end of the pin, which is inserted into the tooth, being headed, the firing secures it inextractably in its place. The machine which cuts up and ‘heads’ the platinum wire is a marvellous little creature. A correspondent of an American paper writing of it says, ‘Here is a spitefully busy little machine, too busy with one particular process to tell us what it is doing, and yet we discover that it is eating platinum wire and spitting out tiny pins at the rate ofsix hundred a minute. Each comes out with a solid head like that of a brass pin, with rough indentations in the other end, so as to be firmly held in the plastic body of the tooth until fierce heat makes the union indissoluble. The strength, infusibility, and incorruptibility of platinum make it the close companion of mechanical dentistry.’ The teeth being removed from the moulds and sufficiently dried, are seamed and otherwise finished off by young ladies with very delicate handling. They are then placed on fire-clay trays and baked in a furnace until they are properly vitrified and have attained the necessary polish from surfacial fusion.“The White House, where the Company’s manufacturing operations are carried on, and on which stands the residence of the managing director, has some old potting associations and history. It was many years ago the residence of Mr. Richard Hicks, of the firm of Hicks, Meigh, and Johnson, from whose executor (Mr. Charles Meigh) Mr. Crapper purchased the property, and still retains it, letting to the Company the Porcelain Tooth Works. Hanging on the wall of the Company’s office is a printed quotation from Josiah Wedgwood:—‘All works of taste must bear a price in proportion to the skill, taste, time, expense, and risk attending their invention and manufacture. Those things called dear are, when justly estimated,the cheapest; they are attended with much less profit to the artist than those which everybody calls cheap. Beautiful forms and compositions are not made by chance, nor can they ever, in any material, be made at small expense. A competition for cheapness, and not for excellence of workmanship, is the most frequent and certain cause of the rapid decay and entire destruction of arts and manufactures.’ This quotation, beautifully and ornamentally lithographed, has emanated from Philadelphia, and nearly every dentist in the United States has a copy of it displayed in his operating room. Not only do our American cousins generally highly appreciate the productions and the career of the great Josiah, but the dental community especially, although they do not claim to be potters, proudly claim to be his followers in ceramic art and science.”

“The materials being finely ground together, the teeth are either cast or pressed in metal moulds, the inner surface of the moulds being oiled, as is usual when metal moulds are used in potting, to prevent the adhesion of the clay or slip. It will surprise most potters to learn of ceramic articles being made, or cast, from ‘slip’ in metal moulds; but this is successfully done at the company’s works, the moulds being warmed to facilitate evaporation and the ‘setting’ of the material, which is sooner effected in this body than in any other porcelain, on account of the small proportion of alumina in its composition. In those teeth which are furnished with platinum pins the latter are fitted into small holes in the mould before the casting, and the end of the pin, which is inserted into the tooth, being headed, the firing secures it inextractably in its place. The machine which cuts up and ‘heads’ the platinum wire is a marvellous little creature. A correspondent of an American paper writing of it says, ‘Here is a spitefully busy little machine, too busy with one particular process to tell us what it is doing, and yet we discover that it is eating platinum wire and spitting out tiny pins at the rate ofsix hundred a minute. Each comes out with a solid head like that of a brass pin, with rough indentations in the other end, so as to be firmly held in the plastic body of the tooth until fierce heat makes the union indissoluble. The strength, infusibility, and incorruptibility of platinum make it the close companion of mechanical dentistry.’ The teeth being removed from the moulds and sufficiently dried, are seamed and otherwise finished off by young ladies with very delicate handling. They are then placed on fire-clay trays and baked in a furnace until they are properly vitrified and have attained the necessary polish from surfacial fusion.

“The White House, where the Company’s manufacturing operations are carried on, and on which stands the residence of the managing director, has some old potting associations and history. It was many years ago the residence of Mr. Richard Hicks, of the firm of Hicks, Meigh, and Johnson, from whose executor (Mr. Charles Meigh) Mr. Crapper purchased the property, and still retains it, letting to the Company the Porcelain Tooth Works. Hanging on the wall of the Company’s office is a printed quotation from Josiah Wedgwood:—‘All works of taste must bear a price in proportion to the skill, taste, time, expense, and risk attending their invention and manufacture. Those things called dear are, when justly estimated,the cheapest; they are attended with much less profit to the artist than those which everybody calls cheap. Beautiful forms and compositions are not made by chance, nor can they ever, in any material, be made at small expense. A competition for cheapness, and not for excellence of workmanship, is the most frequent and certain cause of the rapid decay and entire destruction of arts and manufactures.’ This quotation, beautifully and ornamentally lithographed, has emanated from Philadelphia, and nearly every dentist in the United States has a copy of it displayed in his operating room. Not only do our American cousins generally highly appreciate the productions and the career of the great Josiah, but the dental community especially, although they do not claim to be potters, proudly claim to be his followers in ceramic art and science.”

Trent Pottery, Eastwood.—This manufactory, situated by the side of the North Staffordshire Canal, at Eastwood, was established in 1867 by Messrs. Livesley & Davis, and on the retirement of Mr. Livesley the style was changed to J. H. & J. Davis (brothers). In 1875 Mr. J. Davis retired, and since then the concern has been carried on by its present proprietor, Mr. J. H. Davis, alone. Until latterly the productions were confined to white granite ware for the United States, but Mr. Davis now manufactures to a large extent dinner, toilet, and tea services, and other articles, both for the home and foreign markets. He is also an extensive maker of sanitary wares, lavatories, plug-basins, hoppers, etc.

James Dudson, Hope Street Works, established in 1800. In 1835 Mr. James Dudson entered upon the works, and they are still carried on by him. At one time he manufactured ornamental china figures, vases, and services. His finest productions are white and coloured (drab, blue, sage, &c.) stoneware jugs, tea and coffee pots, sugar-boxes, &c.; metal-mounted goods; flower-pots, candlesticks, &c. Among the registered designs for jugs, which have been modelled by the best artists, are the “Fern,” “Argyle,” “Barley,” “Vine-border,” “Pine-apple,” and “Wheatsheaf” patterns, which are produced in a variety of colours. In tea-pots the “Damascus,” “Fern,” and “Argyle” patterns are among the most popular. In mosaic ware Mr. Dudson makes a variety of articles in white, drab, blue, and other bodies inlaid with a variety of colours. In these are tea and coffee pots, sugar bowls, jugs, &c., of different shapes, the “Tanhart” and “Cambridge” being among the most successful. These goods are produced in large quantities. Mr. Dudson, who received “honourable mention” in the Exhibitions of 1851 and 1862, supplies both home and foreign markets.

505 to 508.

Victoria Works, St. James Street.—The productions of Messrs. Adams & Bromley, until 1873 carried on as John Adams & Co., aremajolica and jasper wares of high class, both in quality and in design, and have given them an honourable name among the manufacturers of the district. Parian portrait busts (among which were those of the Poet Laureate, Lord Derby, and Mr. Gladstone) were formerly produced, and are remarkable for their truthfulness and artistic treatment. In jasper, besides vases and candlesticks, teaand other services, tea and coffee-pots, table-kettles, fruit bowls, jugs, and a variety of other decorative and useful articles, cameos and medallions, after Wedgwood, for inlaying and other ornamental purposes, are made to a large extent and of satisfactory quality. The jasper is in quality and in general character of ornamentation, as well as in colour, a very close imitation of the more modern Wedgwood ware, and the shapes of many of the articles evince good taste in design. In majolica, bread-trays, cheese-trays, candlesticks, flower-pots, vases, garden-seats, jardinières, figures, and a very large variety of useful and ornamental goods are produced. The quality of the majolica is far above the average, and many of the designs are artistic; the workmanship in all cases is skilful and good. Some of these productions, exhibited in 1871, are shown on Figs. 513 to 516. Since that period Messrs. Adams & Bromley have made rapid strides in the art, and have introduced many good patterns. Notably among these are a large flower-vase, some four feet in height, with a well-modelled Cupid supporting the bowl; a masterly flower-vase on mask feet, and surrounded by a wreath of oak-leaves; another large vase in which the handles are formed of Cupids; water-lily, and other well-conceived dessert pieces, &c. Green glazed dessert ware is also extensively made. The mark is the names ADAMS &Co., or ADAMS & BROMLEY, or A. & B.

STONE CHINA.J. W. PANKHURST & Co.Fig. 509.

STONE CHINA.J. W. PANKHURST & Co.

Fig. 509.

Charles Street Works.—This manufactory, now carried on by Messrs. J. W. Pankhurst & Co., is one of the oldest in Hanley. About a hundred years ago it was owned and worked by William Mellor, to whose family the property still belongs. Mr. Mellor made the Egyptian black ware for the Dutch markets, as did his successors Messrs. Toft & Keeling, who also produced other varieties of earthenware. It was next carried on by Messrs. Toft & May, and then by Robert May alone, for the manufacture of the same goods for the Dutch markets. Mr. May was succeeded by Mr. William Ridgway, who changed the manufacture to that of goods for the American markets. Upon his failure the works weretaken by the present firm of J. W. Pankhurst & Co. The goods produced by this firm are confined to white granite for the American markets. In this material, dinner, tea, and toilet services, and all the usual useful articles are largely produced, and are of high quality both in body and glaze. The mark used by the firm is the royal arms and name, printed in black, on the ware.

High Street.—The works carried on by Messrs. Gelson Brothers until a dissolution of partnership in 1876, and now continued by Messrs. Thomas Gelson & Co., form a part of those founded in the latter part of last century by Elijah Mayer, who about 1820 took his son into partnership under the style of “Elijah Mayer & Son.” It was afterwards “Joseph Mayer” and “Joseph Mayer & Co.” In 1867, the premises were purchased by Messrs. Gelson Brothers. Elijah Mayer was a potter of considerable eminence, and produced an extensive variety of goods. His Egyptian black, or basalt, ware, was, in quality of body, nearly equal to that of Wedgwood, and the ornamentation sharp and well defined; in this he produced tea-pots, cream ewers, bowls, and other articles. In cream-coloured ware, services and all the usual useful articles were made, and were of unusually good style and quality; for these and his “brown-line” patterns he was noted. His cane-coloured, or drab, unglazed goods were another of his famous productions; specimens of these are not often obtainable. In the Museum of Practical Geology is a vase of this description, with festoons of raised flowers. Elijah Mayer produced a service commemorative of Nelson’s Trafalgar and Nile victories, which became very popular. His mark was “E. Mayer” impressed in the ware, and afterwards “E. Mayer & Son.” Of the later firm some examples with the nameare preserved in the Liverpool Museum. The following note upon these works has been supplied to me by Mr. Goss:—

“A walled lane ran through the premises owing to a right of way across the property which had been acquired, to the annoyance of the Mayers, by a Mr. Smith, whose property lay beyond the manufactory, going from High Street. The division to the right hand included the residence of the Mayers, warehouses, offices, and stabling, &c. About 1833 Mr. Joseph Mayer suddenly ceased potting, filled his warehouses, offices, stabling, and part of his house with his most valuable stock, and locked it up until his death. He let the other part of his works, that now Messrs. Gelson’s, to his cousin, William Ridgway, as beforesaid. After Mr. Joseph Mayer’s death in 1860 the residence was converted into a works for mounting jugs and tea-pots, carried on by Thomas Booth. It is now part of the china manufactory, of Mr.Samuel Lear. Besides Mr. Lear’s china works there is a small earthenware works on the old site carried on by Mrs. Massey; this includes the Mayers’ stabling and coach-houses. There are also numerous cottage residences erected in the other spaces.”

Messrs. Gelson & Co. formerly produced the usual white granite ware for the American market. This has been now abandoned, and they confine themselves to the production of the highest classes of useful goods for the home trade. In this they make dinner, tea, breakfast, toilet, and other services in every variety of printed, enamelled, and gilt patterns. One of their specialities is the successful imitation of the old Dresden style, which is produced with marked success in a dinner service. This has all the character, in general appearance, of the antique, and is a very satisfactory reproduction of a good old pattern. Another happy decorative idea is the introduction of Anglo-Saxon and early Irish interlaced ornaments in bands encircling mouth ewers and other articles.

Eagle Works.—This business, commenced at Longton in 1845, was removed to Hanley in 1848 by Mr. James Meakin. In 1852 he retired, and was succeeded by two of his sons, James and George Meakin. In 1859, the business having considerably increased, the Eagle Works were erected, and in 1868 were very considerably enlarged. Messrs. J. & G. Meakin have also branch works at Cobridge and Burslem, and are large producers of ordinary earthenware. All the usual classes of useful, plain, and embossed white earthenware are produced and shipped to the United States and most foreign ports; the speciality of the works being white granite ware of ordinary quality, in imitation of French china. The mark is J. & G. MEAKIN, stamped in the ware, and printed in black.

IRONSTONE CHINA.J. & G. MEAKIN.Fig. 510.

IRONSTONE CHINA.J. & G. MEAKIN.

Fig. 510.

Brook Street Works.—These works were established by Ralph Salt, and he and his survivors, Richard Booth and Messrs. Williams & Willet, manufactured painted china toys. In 1860 the works passed into the hands of Mr. William Taylor, who commenced making white granite and common coloured and painted ware. These latter have been discontinued, and the productions are now confined exclusively to white granite ware for the United States and Canadian markets, of both qualities—the bluish tinted for the provinces, and the purer white for the city trade.

Cannon Street.—Charles Ford (formerly Thomas and Charles Ford) manufactures the better class of china in tea, breakfast, dessert, and table services for the home markets.

William Stubbs, Eastwood Pottery, manufactures china and earthenware services of the commoner kinds, lustres, stone ware jugs, black tea-pots, &c., and the smaller and commoner classes of china toys and ornaments.

Norfolk Street Works, Cauldon Place.—These works were established by their present proprietors, Messrs. R. G. Scrivener and Thomas Bourne (trading under the style of “R. G. Scrivener & Co.”), in 1870, and are situate about midway between Stoke and Hanley. Their productions are china tea, breakfast, dessert services, and fancy articles, and earthenware toilet and other services of a more than average degree of artistic decoration. They export considerably to the colonies and also supply the home markets.

The mark is simply the initialsimpressed, but even this is only used on some classes of goods; the registered designs have a printed mark, with the name of the pattern and initials of the firm.

Broad Street.—The small works occupied by Mr. Ash, as a Parian and majolica manufactory, are of old establishment.

Albert Works, Victoria Place.—These works were erected in 1875 by Mr. J. Buckley, who in December of that year removed to them from the Vine Street Works, which he had occupied from 1861. Mr. Buckley commenced business in Hanley as a sanitary ware potter in 1836. His productions are all the usual varieties of sanitary goods (pans, traps, tables, &c.), ship and other fittings, toilet ware, handles for various purposes, plumbers’ fittings, spirit casks, &c.

Ranelagh Works.—Established in 1846 by Mr. Stephenson, these works were next occupied by Mr. James Oldham, next by Oldham & Co., then by Mr. T. R. Hinde, and next Hollinshed & Staner. The productions are the commoner classes of earthenware and stoneware, in which all the usual services and general articles are made. No mark is used.

Swan Works, Elm Street, established in 1835 by Samuel Bevington as Parian works, and afterwards carried on by his son, John Bevington, passed in 1866 into the hands of Messrs. W. L. Evans & Co., and in 1871 to Neale, Harrison & Co., who gave up the manufacturing and confined themselves to decoration only; they were succeeded by Mr. T. R. Simpson.

Mayer Street Works, established in 1864, by Mr. E. Hodgkinson, for the manufacture of mosaic stone ware, Parian, and pearl-white granite wares. In 1871 Mr. Hodgkinson was succeeded by Mr. W. E. Cartledge.

Brook Street Works.—Messrs. Worthington & Son produce earthenware and stoneware, both for home and foreign markets.

Dresden Works, Tinkersclough.—In 1843 Edward Raby produced at these works china ornaments with raised or “Dresden” flowers, hence the name. From 1852 until 1864 they were carried on by Messrs. John Worthington and William Harrop; from that time till 1873, by Thomas Worthington and William Harrop; and from that time to the present by William Harrop alone. The productions are the cheaper classes of Parian goods, and fancy jugs in stone ware and ordinary earthenware, of good middle-class quality, all of which are supplied both to the home and American markets. No mark is used.

The works are situated at what is called “Tinkersclough,”—a place whose name is said to be “derived from the fact of its being frequented in the olden times as a place of rendezvous by Gipsies and travelling tinkers.”

Bath Street Works.—These works were established in 1849 by the late Mr. Thomas Twyford (father of the present proprietor), who was a lineal descendant of the famous old seventeenth century potter, Twyford, who with Astbury wormed out the secret of the Elers, as detailed in vol. i. page 101. The operations of the firm are confined to sanitary and plumbers’ ware, and wine and spirit show barrels. In the former of these departments, Messrs. Twyford, as well as being among the oldest, are the largest producers in thelocality, and their wares rank high for form, workmanship, and quality. The principal goods produced are plug-basins, drinking-fountains of excellent design, closet and bath fittings, cabinet stands, &c. These are made in every variety of shape, and of the most approved construction. The barrels, as usual, are more or less painted and gilt. The mark of the firm is the Staffordshire knot enclosing the letters T T (Thomas Twyford), with H (Hanley) beneath. Besides the home trade, Messrs. Twyford export very largely to America, Australia, Russia, France, Germany, Spain, and other countries. The same firm has a manufactory at Buckland for the manufacture of cane and white sanitary ware.

Waterloo Works, Nelson Place.—These are old-established works, and have, with others, been occupied by Mr. W. Stubbs, Thomas Booth and Son, Holmes and Plant, and their present proprietors, Messrs. Pugh and Glover. The ordinary classes of earthenware in toilet and other services, painted, enamelled, and grounded; stoneware jugs, tea-pots, &c.; and other wares, are largely made, and of all the usual classes of decoration, both for home and foreign markets.

New Street Pottery.—These works were established in 1873 by the present proprietors, Messrs. Edward Banks and Thomas Thorley. Their productions are majolica, terra cotta, jet, and stone wares, and these they produce for both home and foreign markets. In terra cotta, water-bottles of porous body, unglazed, of elegant forms and of a more or less highly decorated character, with stoppers and stands; alcorazzas; water goblets; Malaga jars; tobacco jars, &c, are made in great variety. These porous goods are of three distinct kinds, a clear full red, a buff, and a purplish white. They are printed, painted, enamelled, and gilt in encircling borders, wreaths, &c.; in groups of flowers and ferns; or in Japanese figure subjects, and are of excellent shape and workmanship.

In majolica, cheese stands, bread trays, dessert services, jugs, egg-holders, jardinières, flower-pots, tea-pots, ladies’ work-baskets, water-bottles, and an infinite variety of ornamental articles are made. Many of these are of a high degree of merit in design, and their production is faultlessly good. Notably among the dessert services in majolica is one with a rich chocolate-coloured ground, which throws out, with a strikingly beautiful and rich effect, anaturally arranged group of ivy, ferns, and anemones, which are slightly embossed, and are coloured true to nature; this is surrounded by an embossed “key” border and white enamel edge, and the handles are in keeping with the ornamentation. Another striking design in majolica is a jug. The ground of this is chocolate, and upon it are panels of rope in buff, enclosing thistle-leaves in green. The whole design, including the twisted rope handle, is novel and pleasing. Besides these, green glaze dessert services, and a large variety of other articles, both useful and ornamental, are made. The firm use no mark.

Castle Field Pottery.—These works were formerly carried on by Mr. Ball for the manufacture of ornamental bricks. Mr. Ball “distinguished himself as the first to bring out hollow and glazed bricks, and these he made for Prince Albert’s Model Cottages. They were from his works at Poole, in Dorsetshire, and matured here at Etruria.” In 1860 Messrs. Davenport & Banks established themselves at these works, and commenced the manufacture of fancy goods of various kinds, which they successfully carried on until 1873, when Mr. Banks retired, and was succeeded by Mr. Beck,—the firm now being “Davenport, Beck & Co.” The principal productions of the Castle Field Works are fancy antique goods, in which numberless articles are made; majolica in all its varieties; porous goods; terra-cotta water-bottles, &c.; jet ware; and the ordinary classes in which dinner, tea, dessert, toilet, trinket, and other services are made, both for home and foreign markets. The mark used is a castle, and the letters “D. B. & CO. ETRURIA” within an oval garter, bearing the wordsTRADE MARK.

Henry Venables, Etruria Road, established 1860, manufactured Etruscan-red porous goods, black basalt ware, jet glazed ware, and blue and other coloured jaspers. In these he produced a large variety of vases, as well as other ornamental and useful goods.

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