Pottery in England in the eighteenth century--Delft ware--Posset
pots--Billin’s patent--Redrich and Jones’s patent--Benson’s
patents--Ralph Shawe’s patents--Trial of right--The Bow
works--Heylyn and Frye’s patents--The Fulham works--White’s
patent--The Count de Lauraguais’ patent--Staffordshire
wares--The Plymouth works--William Cookworthy’s patent--Josiah
Wedgwood--Crease’s, and other patents--Ralph Wedgwood’s
patents--Progress of the art during the century.
[Illustration: Fig. 336.--Posset Pot.]
[Illustration: Fig. 337.]
At the commencement of the eighteenth century, the ceramic art in
this country was beginning to expand in a remarkable degree, and many
important strides for its improvement were taken. The brown-ware
dishes, tygs, and other vessels for domestic use, were still made as
before, and stoneware bottles, ale pots, and other articles continued
to be produced; but, beyond these, some much finer kinds of earthenware
were introduced, which gradually took their place. Among these were
Delft ware and Crouch ware, to which I have referred, and the white
ware, which has frequently, but erroneously, been called “Elizabethan
ware,” which was probably introduced about this time. A good specimen
of the brown ware of this period, which will be seen to be identical in
character with the dishes and tygs and cradle before spoken of, is the
posset pot shown on Fig. 336. It bears the loyal motto, “GOD : SAVE:
THE : QVEEN : 1711,” and is ornamented in the usual way with slip. It is
of much the same character as a wassail or gossips’ bowl, bearing the
name “RICHARD MEIR,” in the Liverpool Museum. It is shown on Fig. 337.
The form of Fig. 336 is somewhat different from the usual later shape
of posset pots, as will be shown on engravings which will follow. As
posset and posset pots are local matters, a few words concerning them
will here be interesting. Posset pots have been made and regularly used
in Derbyshire and the neighbouring counties from an early period until
the present time. “Posset” is an excellent mixture of hot ale, milk,
sugar, spices, and sippets, or, perhaps, more correctly speaking, dice,
of bread or oat-cake. In these counties this beverage was formerly
almost, if not quite, universal for supper on Christmas-eve; and
the “posset pot” was thus used but once a year, and often became an
heirloom in the family. A small silver coin and the wedding-ring of the
mistress of the family were generally dropped into the posset when the
guests were assembled, and those who partook of it took each a spoonful
in turn as the “pot” was handed round. Whichever of the party fished
up the coin was considered certain of good luck in the coming year,
while an early and happy marriage was believed to be the enviable fate
of the lucky individual who fished up the ring. Other posset pots will
be found engraved in other parts of this volume, under the heads of
Nottingham and Brampton.
It is clear that about this time the art of pot-making began to make
rapid strides; for in the space of twenty-seven years--from 1722
to 1749--no less than nine separate patents were taken out, and
were followed in rapid succession by others. In 1722, Richard Holt
and Samuel London, gentlemen, took out a patent for “a certain new
composicon or mixture (without any sort of clay) for making of white
ware, which is formed and moulded in a method hitherto not known or
practised, and far surpasses the finest of delf ware, or any other sort
made in any part of Europe, and also by their new method of impression
make the fabrick of earthenware of a more exquisite shape than the
present method of turning could ever perform or arrive to, by which
meanes our subjects will be able to excell all Europe, and not only
employ a great many of our own poor, to the great benefit of trade
and the manufactures of our kingdom, but also prevent the clandestine
running of delf ware, &c., from foreign parts into Great Brittain;”
granted “for the term of fourteen years.” It does not say of what
materials the composition is made, except that it is without any sort
of clay, nor does it describe any method of impression.
In the same year, Thomas Billin, having “by many long, laborious, and
chargeable experiments found out and invented a method for making the
most refined earthenware, with help of clay and other materials found
within this kingdom, which ever yet appeared in this part of Europe, of
a nature and composicon, not only transparent, but so perfect in its
kind, and of principles so firmly vnited, as (contrary to the nature of
all other earthenwares) to resist almost any degree of heat, by which
qualities it is more valuable, and of greater vse and ornament than all
other kinds ever yet invented or practised in this kingdom, and capable
of being wrought into vessels and ornaments for any vse; and for the
working of the same invention he hath invented particular and proper
engines and tools.” No description is given of the mode of manufacture,
or of the engines or tools mentioned in the title of the invention.
In 1724 Robert Redrich and Thomas Jones had a patent granted them
for “a new art or method, as well for staining, veining, spotting,
clouding, damasking, or otherwise imitating the various kinds of
marble, porphyry, and other rich stones, and tortoiseshell, on wood,
stone, and earthenware, and all and every such goods, wares, utensils,
and things as are made, cut, or fashioned thereout, as for the making,
marbling, veining, spotting, staining, clouding, and damasking any
linen, silks, canvas, paper, and leather.”
In 1726, and again in 1732, patents were taken out for methods of
grinding flints, &c., which were of much importance. The first of
these, by Thomas Benson, is described as “an engine or new method for
the more expeditious working the said flint stone, whereby all the
said hazards and inconveniences attending the same will effectually
be prevented.” It is stated that in the making of “white pots,”
flint stone is “the chief ingredient,” and that the method hitherto
used in preparing it “has been by pounding or breaking it dry, and
afterwards sifting it through fine lawns, which has proved very
destructive to mankind;” and this invention is to obviate it, and is as
follows:--The flint stones are first wetted, then crushed as fine as
sand by two large wheels, of the bigness and shape of mill-stones, of
iron, and made to turn upon the edges by the power of a water-wheel.
This material is afterwards conveyed into large circular iron pans,
“in which there are large iron balls, which, by the power of the
water-wheel above named, are swiftly driven round: in a short time
the operation is concluded, and by turning a tap the material empties
itself into casks.”
The next one, by the same Thomas Benson, taken out in 1732, was
described as--
“A new engine, or method for grinding of flint stones, being the
chief ingredient used in making of white wares, such as pots
and other vessels, a manufacture carried on in our county of
Stafford, and in some other parts of this our kingdom; that the
common method hitherto used in preparing the same hath been by
breaking and pounding the stones dry, and afterwards sifting the
powder through fine lawns, which hath proved very destructive to
mankind, occasioned by the dust suckled into the body, which,
being of a ponderous nature, fixes so closely upon the lungs
that nothing can remove it, insomuch that it is very difficult
to find persons to engage in the said manufacture, to the
great detriment and decay of that branch of trade, which would
otherwise, from the usefulness thereof, be of great benefit and
advantage to our kingdom; that by the petitioner’s invention
the flint stones are sprinkled with water, so that no dust can
arise, then ground as fine as sand, with two large stones made
to turn upon the edges by the power of a wheel, worked either by
wind, water, or horses, which is afterwards conveyed into large
stone pans, made circular, wherein are placed large stone balls,
which, by the power of such wheels are driven round with great
velocity; that, in a short time, the flint stones so broken
are reduced to an oily substance, which, by turning on a cock,
empties itself into casks provided for that purpose; that by
this invention all hazards and inconveniences in making the said
manufacture in the common way will be effectually prevented,
and in every particular tend to the manifest improvement and
advantage thereof, and preserving the lives of our subjects
imployed therein.”
In 1729 Samuel Bell took out a patent for fourteen years “for a new
method not hitherto practiced within Great Brittain for making of a red
marble stone ware with minerall earth, found within this kingdom, which
being firmly vnited by fire will make it capable of receiving a gloss
so beautiful as to imitate, if not to compare with rubie; that the
stone ware may be formed into vessells for any necessary vse, or into
ornaments for houses or gardens, such as jarrs, flower potts, &c., it
being the most perfect of its kind, both in colour, nature, and form,
that hath ever appeared in this part of Europe;” but no specification,
to show what the mineral earth was, is given.
In 1733 (April 24th) Ralph Shawe, potter, of Burslem, who, like many
other potters of the district, had long adopted the improvements of Mr.
Astbury and others, took out a patent for employing “various sorts of
mineral, earth, clay, and other earthy substances, which, being mixt
and incorporated together, make up a fine body, of which a curious ware
may be made, whose outside will be of a true chocolate colour, striped
with white, and the inside white, much resembling the brown China ware,
and glazed with salt.” The _secret_ was merely _washing_ the
inside, and forming broad lines on the outside of the articles with
a very thick slip of flint and pipeclay. “To keep his process more
secluded and secret, he was accustomed to evaporate his mixed clays on
a long trough, in a place locked up under cover, beneath which were
flues, for the heat from fire applied on the outside. This also kept
the clay free from any kind of dirt; and the idea is supposed to have
been gained from the tile-makers’ method of drying their tiles in
stoves. A pair of flower-pots, excellent specimens of this person’s
manufacture, which had been received as a present from the maker by
his wife’s grandfather, were in the author’s possession till very
recently. Mr. Shawe became so litigious and overbearing, that many of
the manufacturers were extremely uncomfortable, and prevented improving
their productions. Not content with the success he experienced, and
the prospect of speedily acquiring affluence, his excessive vanity
and insatiable avarice incited to proceedings that terminated in his
ruin. Unwilling to admit the customary practices of the business, and
to brook any appearance of competition, he was constantly objecting
to every trifling improvement as an infringement of his patent,
and threatening his neighbours with suits in equity to protect his
_sole_ rights; till at length self-defence urged them to bear the
expenses of a suit he had commenced against J. Mitchell, to try the
validity of the patent, at Stafford, in 1736; and very aged persons,
whose parents were present, give the general facts of the trial:--All
the manufacturers being interested in the decision, those most
respectable were in the court. Witnesses proved Astbury’s invention and
prior usage of the practice, and a special jury of great intelligence
and wealth gave a verdict against Mr. Shawe. The learned judge, after
nullifying the patent, thus addressed the audience--“Go home, potters,
and make whatever kinds of pots you please.” The hall re-echoed with
acclamations, and the strongest ebullitions of satisfaction from the
potters, to the indescribable mortification of Mr. Shawe and his
family, who afterwards went to France, where he carried forward his
manufactory, whence some of his family returned to Burslem about 1750.”
This event is thus characteristically spoken of in native tongue, in
the “Burslem Dialogue,” by Mr. Ward:--
“_Terrick._ Dust moind, Rafe, owt o’ th’ treyal at Staffurt o’
Johnny Mutchil for makkin Rafy Shay’s patten ware?
“_Leigh._ Oi just remember, bu oi wur ony a big lad at th’
teyme. It had bin mitch tawkt abaht, and when, it wur oer,
they aw toud’n wat th’ judge sed to th’ mesters--‘Gooa whomm,
potters, an mak wot soourts o’ pots yoa loiken.’ An when they
coomn to Boslem, aw th’ bells i’ Hoositon, an Stooke, an th’
tahn, wurn ringin loike hey-go-mad, aw th’ dey.”
The kind of ware just described was sometimes known as “bitstone
ware,” from “bits” of stone being used to separate the pieces in the
oven. This was, of course, prior to the use of “stilts,” “triangles,”
or “cockspurs.”
In 1744, Edward Heylyn, in the parish of Bow, in the county of
Middlesex, merchant, and Thomas Frye, of the parish of West Ham, in
the county of Essex, painter, took out a patent, and early in the
following year enrolled their specification, for the making of china
and porcelain ware. This specification, which is deeply interesting, is
as follows:--
“Whereas His most Excellent Majesty King George the Second, by
His Royal Letters Patent, under the Great Seal of Great Britain,
bearing date at Westminster, the Sixth day of December, in
the eighteenth year of His reign, reciting that whereas we,
the said Edward Heylyn and Thomas Frye, had, by our Petition,
humbly represented unto His said Majesty that we had, at a
considerable expence of time and money in trying experiments,
applyed ourselves to find out a method for the improvement of
the English earthenware, and had at last invented and brought to
perfection “A NEW METHOD OF MANUFACTURING A CERTAIN MATERIAL,
WHEREBY A WARE MIGHT BE MADE OF THE SAME NATURE OR KIND, AND
EQUAL TO, IF NOT EXCEEDING IN GOODNESS AND BEAUTY, CHINA OR
PORCELAIN WARE IMPORTED FROM ABROAD;” which Invention we, the
Petitioners, apprehended would be of vast advantage to the
kingdom, as it would not only save large sums of money that
were yearly paid to the Chinese and Saxons, but also imploy
large numbers of men, women, and children; and that as many
and as great benefits would arise therefrom to this nation, as
from the woolen or iron manufactories, in proportion to the
numbers of people that would be employed therein, His Majesty
did therefore, of His especial grace, certain knowledge, and
meer motion, give and grant unto us, the said Edward Heylyn
and Thomas Frye, our extors, admors, & assigns, His especial
licence, full power, sole priviledge & authority, to make,
use, exercise, and vend our said Invention in that part of
Great Britain called England, Dominion of Wales, and Town of
Berwick-upon-Tweed, to hold to us, the said Edward Heylyn and
Thomas Frye, our extors, admors, and assigns, for the term of
fourteen years from the date of the said recited Letters Patent.
In which said Letters Patent there is contained a provisoe,
that if we, the said Edward Heylyn and Thomas Frye, should not
particularly describe and ascertain the nature of our said
Invention, and in what manner and of what materials the same was
to be performed, by an instrument in writing, under our hands
and seals, or the hand and seal of one of us, and cause the same
to be inrolled in His Majesty’s High Court of Chancery, within
four calendar months after the date of the said recited Letters
Patent; that then the said Letters Patent, and the libertys and
advantages thereby granted, should cease and be void, as in and
by the same Letters Patent (relation being thereunto had) may
more at large appear.
“NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said Edward Heylyn and Thomas Frye,
in pursuance of the said provisoe, contained in the said recited
Letters Patent, do hereby describe and ascertain the nature of
our said Invention, and the manner and of what material the same
is to be performed, as hereinafter is mentioned (that is to
say):--
“The material is an earth, the produce of the Chirokee nation in
America, called by the natives unaker, the propertys of which
are as follows, videlicet, to be very fixed, strongly resisting
fire and menstrua, is extreamly white, tenacious, and glittering
with mica. The manner of manufacturing the said material is as
follows:--Take unaker, and by washing seperate the sand and mica
from it, which is of no use; take pott ash, fern ash, pearl
ash, kelp, or any other vegetable lixiviall salt, one part of
sands, flints, pebbles, or any other stones of the vitryfying
kind; one other part of these two principles form a glass in
the usual manner of making glass, which when formed reduce to
an impalpable powder. Then mix to one part of this powder two
parts of the washed unaker, let them be well worked together
until intimately mixed for one sort of ware; but you may vary
the proportions of the unaker and the glass; videlicet, for some
parts of porcelain you may use one half unaker and the other
half glass, and so in different proportions, till you come to
four unaker and one glass; after which knead it well together,
and throw it on the wheel, cast it into moulds, or imprint it
into utensils, ornaments, &c.; those vessells, ornaments, &c.,
that are thrown, should be afterwards turned on a lathe and
burnished, it will then be in a situation to be put into the
kiln and burned with wood, care being taken not to discolour
the ware, otherwise the process will be much hurt. This first
burning is called biscuiting, which, if it comes out very white,
is ready to be painted blue, with lapis lazuli, lapis armenis,
or zapher, which must be highly calcined and ground very fine.
It is then to be dipt into the following glaze:--Take unaker
forty pounds, of the above glass ten pounds, mix and calcine
them in a reverberatory; then reduce, and to each pound when
reduced add two pounds of the above glass, which must be ground
fine in water, and left of a proper thickness for the ware to
take up a sufficient quantity. When the vessells, ornaments,
&c., are dry, put them into the kiln in cases, burn them with a
clean wood fire, and when the glaze runs true lett out the fire,
and it is done, but must not be taken out of the kiln till it is
thorough cold.”
In 1748 Thomas Frye took out another patent, the specification for
which, enrolled March 17, 1749, is as follows:--
“WHEREAS His most Excellent Majesty King George the Second,
by His Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain,
bearing date the Seventeenth day of November, in the
twenty-third year of His reign, did give and grant unto me, the
said Thomas Frye, His especial licence that I, the said Thomas
Frye, during the term of years therein expressed, should and
lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend my “NEW METHOD
OF MAKING A CERTAIN WARE, WHICH IS NOT INFERIOR IN BEAUTY
AND FINENESS, AND IS RATHER SUPERIOR IN STRENGTH, THAN THE
EARTHENWARE THAT IS BROUGHT FROM THE EAST INDIES, AND IS COMONLY
KNOWN BY THE NAME OF CHINA, JAPAN, OR PORCELAIN WARE;” in which
said Letters Patent there is contained a proviso obliging me,
the said Thomas Frye, by a writing under my hand and seal,
to cause a particular description of the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to
be inrolled in His Majesty’s High Court of Chancery within four
kalendar months after the date of the said recited Letters
Patent, as in and by the same (relation being thereunto had) may
more at large appear.
“NOW KNOW YE, that in complyance with the said provisoe, I, the
said Thomas Frye, do hereby declare that the said Invention is
to be performed in the manner following (that is to say):--
“As there is nothing in nature but by calcination, grinding, and
washing will produce a fixed indissoluble matter, distinguished
by the name of virgin earth, the properties of which is strictly
the same whether produced from animals, vegetables, or fossills,
no other difference arising from the process but that some bodys
produce it in greater quantities than others, as all animal
substances, all fossils of the calcarious kind, such as chalk,
limestone, &c.; take therefore any of these classes, calcine
it till it smokes no more, which is an indication that all the
volatile sulpherous parts are dissipated, and that the saline
are sett loose; then grind and wash in many waters to discharge
the salts and filth, reiterate the process twice more, when the
ashes or virgin earth will be fit for use; then take of these
ashes two parts, one part of flint, or white peble, or clear
sand, either producing the same effect, which mix together with
water and make into balls or bricks, and burn them in a feirce
fire, then grind it fine, and it is ready to be mixed with
one third part of its weight of pipeclay, and temper it well,
when it is fit to be thrown on the wheel, which, when finished
and dry, is to be burned as all other pottery ware till it
is transparent and of a fine colour, then to be painted with
smalt or zaffer, as it is required to be deeper or paler, and
it is ready to be glazed with the following preparation:--Take
saltpetre one part, red lead two parts, sand, flint, or other
white stones, three parts. To make a glass, melt it well and
grind it, to every twenty pounds of which add six pounds of
white lead, adding a small portion of smalt to clean the colour;
mix it well and glaze the ware, which is done by dipping in the
vessell and setting it on to dry, when it must be put in cases
and burned as above with wood, till the surface of the ware is
clear and shining, and it is finished.”
In these specifications we have important materials touching the Bow
china works, under which head they will again be referred to. About
this time, the Chelsea, Worcester, and Derby, and, a little later, the
Plymouth, porcelain works were established. The year in which this
specification was enrolled, 1749, is memorable as the year when Josiah
Wedgwood completed his term of apprenticeship, and when, consequently,
he entered upon that course of work and life which have ever since had
so brilliant and so marked an effect upon the potter’s art in this
country. At this time, too, there were in Staffordshire a number of
very skilful potters, who were, even before Wedgwood’s time, making
rapid strides in the art. To some of these I shall refer later on in
this work.
The next patent taken out was in 1762, by “William White, of Fulham,
in the county of Middlesex, potter,” for making white crucibles or
melting-pots of Stourbridge clay and Dorsetshire clay, calcined, mixed
with Woolwich sand, and water, and trodden together, and burned.
Two years later, James Williamson and Joseph Spackman patented “a
new method of turning ovals in pewter, English china, and all other
earthenwares,” on a lathe with movable chucks and sliding ring, of
their inventing. In 1766, “the Count de Lauraguais, of London,” having,
“by his petition, humbly represented unto us, that by labour, study,
travelling, and expence in trying experiments, he hath found out and
invented ‘a new method of making porcelain ware in all its different
branches, viz.--to make the coarser species of china, the more
beautiful of the Indies, and the finest of Japan, in a manner different
from any that is made in our dominions, and he, having the materials
tryed in Great Britain, has brought the same to so great perfection
that the porcelain made therewith after his new method far excells
any that has hitherto been made in Great Britain, the same not being
fusible by fire, as all other china made there is,’” took out a patent
for fourteen years, but no specification seems to have been enrolled.
During all this time the pottery district of Staffordshire was rapidly
increasing, and important strides were being made by its manufacturers
in the improvement of their art. In various parts of the country, too,
old pot works continued their business in an improved state, and new
ones sprang up in every direction. The history of the art, therefore,
becomes that of the various works which I shall have to pass under
review. The patents taken out from this period to the close of the
century are some guide to this state of progress, but not much; for it
is an undoubted fact, that many of the most important improvements and
most reliable inventions were never patented at all, while others,
which were the gradual result of daily practice, were not sufficiently
“inventions” to entitle them to patent right.
In 1768 William Cookworthy, of Plymouth, took out a patent for his
newly invented porcelain, which was renewed in 1775 to Richard
Champion; to these reference will be made under the heads of “Plymouth”
and “Bristol.”
In 1769 Josiah Wedgwood took out his only patent; it was for
decorative, not manufacturing, processes, and will be spoken of more
fully in the notice of Etruria.
In 1782 James Crease patented some inventions in the making of sanitary
vessels; and in the two following years “Joseph Cartledge, of Blackley,
in the county of York, Doctor of Physic,” enrolled his specification
for “a method of glazing earthenware.” This interesting document is as
follows:--
“Whereas His present most Excellent Majesty King George the
Third, by His Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great
Britain, bearing date at Westminster, the Fifth day of February,
in the twenty-fourth year of His reign, reciting that I, the
said Joseph Cartledge, had, by my Petition, humbly represented
unto His said Majesty, that I had, by great study, invented “A
NEW METHOD OF GLAZING EARTHENWARE,” which would be of public
utility and advantage, and praying His said Majesty to grant
unto me, my e[~x]ors, adm̃ors], and assigns, His said Majesty’s
Letters Patent for the sole exercise of my said Invention,
within England and Wales, and the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed,
for the term of fourteen years from the date of the said Letters
Patent, was graciously pleased to condescend to my request; in
which said Letters Patent is contained a proviso that if I,
the said Joseph Cartledge, should not particularly describe
and ascertain the nature of my said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, by an instrument in writing
under my hand and seal, and cause the same to be inrolled in
his said Majesty’s High Court of Chancery within four calendar
months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent, that then the said Letters Patent, and all liberties and
advantages whatsoever thereby granted, should utterly cease,
determine, and become void, as in and by the said Letters
Patent, relation being thereunto had, may and will more fully
appear.
“NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Joseph Cartledge, in compliance
with the said proviso, do hereby describe and ascertain the
nature of my said Invention and in what manner the same is to be
performed, as follows, viz.:--
“First, as to the nature of the Invention, it is well known to
the manufacturers of earthenware, that all the sorts of common
ware now in use are now, and have been heretofore at all times,
both in this and all other countries I know, glazed either by
sea salt, or by lead ore, or by some preparation of lead, or
of lead and tin united to ground flints or clay, or both. Now
the nature of the discovery which I have made consists in this,
that instead of the use of sea salt, or metallic substances, the
earthenware is glazed with various kinds of earths and stones,
by which there will be a great saving of expence in the glazing
of the said ware, and the glaze itself, it is apprehended, will
be more perfect than that which is made with salt, and more
wholesome than that into which either lead, or lead and tin,
enter as constituent parts.
“Secondly, with respect to the manner of applying the earth and
stones:--They are to be ground into powder, and laid on the ware
as potters use their own composition. With respect to the sorts
of earths and stones which are adapted to the purposes they are
various. The toad-stone of Derbyshire, and other places, the
Scotch and Guernsey pebbles, the basaltes, and other productions
generally esteemed volcanic, rag stone, slate, shale, granite,
gypsum, fluor spar, mare stone, and many other kinds of earths
and stones which I know not how to denominate, will all,
either severally or when mixed in different proportions with
each other, or with siliceous or argillaceous, micaceous, or
calcareous earths or stones, or with all of them, answer the
purpose. I would have it also understood, that portions of
the metallic substances now used for the purpose of glazing
earthenware or saline bodies (tho’ not necessary for producing
the effect) may be used in conjunction with the earths and
stones here mentioned. I would further remark, that the slags
of furnaces, the slags of pit-coal, and the crust which forms
on the bottom slip-kilns, by themselves, or in conjunction with
the substances before mentioned, will glaze earthenware. But
as the same effect may be produced by a great many different
sorts of earths and stones, when used either separately or when
combined in very different proportions, all of which it is
impossible to enumerate or ascertain, I think it fit to mention
the three following, which have succeeded well with me. Take
of Derbyshire toad-stone five parts by weight, fluor spar one
part, take thirty-three parts of clay, nineteen parts of flint,
thirty-eight parts of striated gypsum, take fluor spar one, two,
three or four parts, porcelain clay two parts, siliceous earth
one fourth of a part, of calcareous earth one sixth of a part.”
The next patent, in 1785, was by Thomas De-la-Mayne, for “making
buttons of burnt earth or porcelain;” and the next, in 1786, by John
Skidmore, for ornamenting various articles and “all sorts of china and
earthenware with foil stones, Bristol stones, paste, and all sorts
of pinched glass, lapped glass, and every other stone, glass, and
composition used in or applicable to the jewellery trade,” in ways
therein described. In 1789 an improvement in the form and construction
of “soup ladles, tureens, gravy spoons, ladles, and skimmers,” was
patented by John Baynes; and in 1790, Johanna Hempel patented newly
invented filters. In 1796, James Keeling patented improvements in
decorative and glazing processes; and in the same year, in conjunction
with Valentine Close, an improved mode of constructing “ovens, kilns,
and firing-places, so as to make and cause a very great saving of coals
and fuel in and about the firing, hardening, and baking all manner of
porcelain, china ware, and all manner of earthenwares, in every state
wherein firing is needful and necessary.”
In the same year, 1796, Ralph Wedgwood took out three separate patents.
The first of these was for a “new discovered and invented method of
making earthenware, whereby the article of earthenware may be made at
a less cost than hitherto, to the great advantage of the manufacturers
thereof, and of the public.” This consists “in casing over inferior
compositions with compositions commonly used for making cream-coloured
ware, white ware, or china.” “Thick bats or laminæ” of the inferior
are covered on each side with thin bats of the superior clay, and if
the edges of the ware are required to be cased, they are surrounded
“with a square piece commonly called a wad.” Afterwards the “bats”
are beat, pressed, or rolled out to the required dimensions, “as are
proper for the wares to be made from the same.” For moulding the wares
single moulds may be used, but double are preferred, of wood, or “wood
cased with plaster, of metal,” or any material capable of standing
much pressure. The press is such as is used for stamping buttons. The
glazing is applied dry to the bats; if the edges of the ware, after
moulding, are not properly covered with dry glaze, supply these parts
“with wet glaze, by means of a pencil;” afterwards stove and burn the
ware. The others were respectively for a new method of making glass
from old earthenware, china, &c.; and for “a new-invented stove,”
“calculated principally for the use of manufacturers of earthenware and
china.” On the same day on which this patent was dated, one was also
granted to John Pepper, for a new construction of kilns or ovens for
the same purpose. In 1799 Messrs. William and John Turner patented “a
new method or methods of manufacturing porcelain or earthenware, by the
introduction of a material not heretofore used in the manufacturing of
those articles;” the material being “Tabberner’s Mine rock,” “Little
Mine rock,” and “New rock,” mixed with the growan, or Cornish stone,
and flint.
This is the last patent connected with ceramics before the year 1800,
and therefore brings us down to the commencement of the present
century. From 1800 to 1861 no less than three hundred and twenty-two
patents were taken out for improvements in the potter’s art or in
matters connected with that art. These will be briefly enumerated at
the close of this work, and of many of them notices will be found
incorporated in its body.
In the early part of this century, with the exception of the
productions of a few houses, the state of the art was still at a low
ebb; and, although improvements were constantly being made, when the
great world-struggle took place in 1851, we, as a nation, were found
to be lamentably behind some other countries, not only in the beauty
of form and decoration of our ceramic productions, but even in quality
of body and glaze. Between the Exhibitions of 1851 and 1862 a marked
improvement was effected, and this has gone on steadily extending
itself, until now Great Britain, without exception, stands foremost of
all the nations of earth in this art.
I now proceed, in succeeding chapters, to speak of the various
earthenware and porcelain works and seats of pottery manufacture, of
the kingdom.