CHAPTER III.

Derby--Cock-pit Hill--Mayer--Heath--Derby China--Andrew

Planché--Duesbury and Heath--William Duesbury--Purchase of the

Chelsea Works--Weekly Bills--Show Rooms in London--Sales by

Candle--Changes in Proprietorship--Bloor--Locker--Stevenson

& Co.--Hancock--Painters and Modellers--Spengler--Coffee--Askew

--Billingsley--Pinxton--Nantgarw --Swansea--Other Artists

employed at Derby--Cocker and Whitaker’s China Works, &c., &c.

DERBY.

_Cock-pit Hill._--There is nothing yet known as to the time when these

works were first established. It is certain that at a tolerably early

period coarse brown ware was made here, of much the same general

character as that made at Tickenhall and by the Tofts, but researches

have as yet failed to bring to light any particulars regarding them.

There is a positive certainty that the Mayer or Mier family were

potters in Derby for more than one generation. A John Mier--an ancestor

probably of the Mayers or Meers, of Staffordshire--was a pot-maker

in 1721. Some vessels bearing his name are extant. One of these, a

posset-pot, bears the words IOHN MIER MADE THIS CUP 1721. Another has

been described as “a three-handled pot that holds about two gallons,

which is said to have been made at these pot works.” It is of coarse

brown ware, glazed, and bears the words:--

“Drink be merry and mary

God Bles creae George & Queen ann

John Mier made this cup 1708.”

Another, a large pitcher in my own possession, traditionally said to

have been made in Derby, bears the initials I S between the date 1720

(Fig. 42), and below the I S the letters D F, about which it is perhaps

scarcely worth hazarding a conjecture. It is 16½ inches in height,

and is of dark brown glazed ware. The name best known in connection

with these works is that of Heath, and they were carried on by this

family for a considerable number of years. How, or when, the works

came into the hands of the Heaths, remains to be discovered. In 1772,

in some very curious and unique MS. “Lists of Gent., &c., in Derby,

1772,” in my own possession, occurs in one, under “Cock-pitt Hill,”

“Mayer Mr...... pott merchant,” and in another, “Cock-pitt Hill,” “Mr.

Mayer...... pott merchant.” In the same list, dealers are put down as

keeping a “pott shop,” while Mayer is returned as a “pott merchant.”

In this same list “John Heath” is entered as an “Alderman;” and “Mr.

Chris. Heath” as a “Comon Council Man.”

[Illustration:

I S 2

DF

Fig. 42.]

On the 1st of January, 1756, a draft of an agreement was drawn up

“between John Heath, of Derby, in the County of Derby, gentleman;

Andrew Planche, of ye same place, china maker; and Wm. Duesberry, of

Longton, in ye County of Stafford, enameller,” by which they became

“co-partners together as well in ye art of making English china as

also in buying and selling of all sorts of wares belonging to ye art

of making china” for ten years, with power on Heath’s part to extend

for another ten years. In this agreement, the original MS. of which

is in my own possession, Heath (who, it will be seen, is described as

a “gentleman,” while the others are respectively described by their

trades of “china maker” and “enameller”) agrees to pay in £1,000 to the

concern, as his share “as stock,” “to be used and employ’d in common

between them for ye carrying on ye said art of making china wares,”[7]

for which he was to receive one-third of the profits till the principal

sum of £1,000 be paid back.

One of the clauses in this agreement is as follows:--“Also it is agreed

between ye sd parties to these Presents that ye sd Copartners _shall

not at any time hereafter use or follow ye Trade aforesaid or any

other Trade whatsoever_ during ye sd Term to their private Benefit

and advantage.” From this it would seem that John Heath could not at

that time be carrying on the Cock-pit Hill Works. There is nothing to

show that this deed was ever legally executed, and two years later--in

1758--I find him named as one of the proprietors of the Cock-pit Hill

Works, along with two partners, “William Butts, gentleman,” and “Thomas

Rivett, Esquire”--Butts, I presume, being the practical man of the

concern. The document in which this appears is in my own possession,

and is a commitment of a man named John Lovegrove, one of the workmen

“at their pottery in the said Borough of Derby,” for running away from

his said service. The commitment is as follows:--

“BOROUGH OF DERBY.

“To the constables of the said borough of Derby and to each and

every of them and also to the Keeper of the House of Correction

for the said borough.

“WHEREAS Information and complaint hath been made before me Samuel

Crompton Esquire Mayor and one of his Majesties Justices of the peace

for the said Borough by William Butts of the said Borough Gent upon his

oath that John Lovegrove was on the Thirteenth day of January last duly

hired as a Labourer and Servant to the said William Butts and to Thomas

Rivett Esquire and John Heath Gent for one year then next ensuing to

work at their Pottery in the said Borough of Derby and that the said

John Lovegrove hath departed and run away from his said service, his

said year not being expired, And Whereas in pursuance of the Statute in

that case made and provided, I have had the said William Butts and John

Lovegrove before me and have duly examined the Proofs and allegations

of both the said parties touching the matter of the said Complaint and

upon due consideration had thereof have adjudged and determined and

do hereby adjudge and determine the said Complaint to be true. These

are therefore to Command you the said constables and each and every

of you forthwith to convey the said John Lovegrove to the said House

of Correction for the said Borough of Derby and to Deliver him to the

Keeper thereof together with this warrant. And I do hereby Command you

the said Keeper to receive the said John Lovegrove into your Custody in

the said House of Correction there to remain and be corrected and held

to hard Labour for the space of [ ] from the Date hereof and for

your so doing this shall be your sufficient Warrent Given under my Hand

and seal the[ ].”

It will be seen that this commitment is not dated, but I am enabled

to fix it with certainty to 1758. Samuel Crompton was Mayor of Derby

in 1758, 1767, 1777 (to complete the year of office of Robert Hope,

deceased), 1782, and 1788, and High Sheriff of the County in 1768,

while holding office as Mayor. There is nothing in the commitment

to show to which of these years of Crompton’s Mayoralty it can be

assigned, but as Thomas Rivett, one of the partners named in it,

died in 1763, it leaves no doubt that 1758 is the correct date. This

Thomas Rivett, one of the partners, was Mayor of Derby in 1715 and

1761, and High Sheriff of the County in 1757. In 1747 he was elected

Member of Parliament for the Borough of Derby in room of John Stanhope,

deceased, and served till 1754. He died in 1763, and was buried in All

Saints’ Church. John Heath was Mayor in 1763 and 1772, and his son,

Christopher Heath, was Mayor in 1774.

The works were situated on Cock-pit Hill, at the commencement of

Siddal’s Lane. The site is still known as the “Pot Yard.” It is

distinctly marked on some of the old maps of Derby, and appears to

have stood immediately opposite the “Cock-pit” itself--an octagonal

building, with a spire-roof terminated with a vane. Buildings existed

on this spot as early as 1610, and at that time probably were employed

for the making of the rough ware of the period. In the last century

they seem to have formed three sides of a quadrangle, and to have been

of considerable extent. In 1772 it is thus spoken of in “A Short Tour

in the Midland Counties;” after speaking of the china works, the writer

says:--“Here is also a pottery, and I was showed an imitation of the

Queen’s ware, but it does not come up to the original, the produce of

Staffordshire.”

In 1780, in consequence of the failure of the Heaths (who were bankers

and men of property, besides one of them being at one time the partner

of Duesbury, and, later, the owners of these pot works), the Cock-pit

Hill Pottery sold off its stock of goods. The following is one of the

announcements of this sale.--

“TO THE MERCHANTS, TRADERS, AND DEALERS IN EARTHENWARE.

“To be Sold without Reserve (and considerably under the usual

wholesale prices) at the Derby Pot Manufactory a large quantity

of Earthenware, being the whole stock in trade of that great and

extensive Factory commonly known by the name of the Derby Pot

Works, consisting of an assortment of Enamelled, and Blue and

White useful China, a large quantity of Enamelled Creamware and

plain Cream Tea-table-ware, a great quantity of White Stone and

Brown ware.

“N.B.--The aforesaid Earthenware, &c., will be opened for sale

on the 4th and 6th of April and continued every Tuesday and

Thursday until the whole is disposed of; on which days (but no

other in the week) a proper person will attend the sale. The

Earthenware will be sold in different lots, and is well worth

the notice of Pot Carriers in and about the neighbourhood of

Coleorton Moor. No less a quantity than two horse loads will be

sold to any one person.”

In the same year, 1780, a sale of “a large quantity of earthern and

china ware from the Pot Works on Cock-pit Hill, in Derby, being the

stock-in-trade of Messrs. John and Christopher Heath, of Derby,

bankrupts,” was advertised to take place by auction at the King’s

Head Inn, Derby. The works were carried on for a year or two by the

assignees of Messrs. Heath, but in 1782 “a lease of the Pot Works

situate on Cock-pit Hill, in Derby, twelve years after which have yet

to come, and unexpired, at Lady Day next, at the yearly rent of £6, and

the lessee has a right by the lease to take away the buildings (except

only leaving a fence-wall), and except a barn that was built on the

premises before the lease was granted,” was advertised for sale by

auction, along with other property, by the Heaths, “at the house of Mr.

George Wallis (being the New Inn, in Derby), on Tuesday, 12th March.”

The lease, however, does not seem to have found a purchaser, for in

the _Derby Mercury_ of March, 1785, another sale is announced

“in Messrs. Heath’s bankruptcy,” in lots, of “the materials of some

buildings at the late Pot Works on Cock-pit Hill, in Derby, consisting

of brick, tile, and timber; also some old iron, old lead, Hopton stone,

a quantity of deal boards, and some lumber.”

Although these works were very extensive, and produced a large

quantity of goods of various kinds during the Heaths’ time, but few

specimens can, unfortunately, be correctly appropriated. This, of

course, is owing to the fact that no mark was used by the owners of

the works, and therefore, doubtless, scores of examples pass as “early

Staffordshire,” and as the productions of other places. Three or four

well-authenticated pieces, however, may be named. The first is a jug

in my own possession. It is of the “imitation of the Queen’s ware,”

alluded to in a previous page, and bears on one side, within a border

of foliage, the quaint and characteristic drinking inscription, “One

Pot more and then, why what then, why another Pot.” On the other side

and front, within one continuous border, is a blacksmith busy at his

forge, working the immense bellows with his left hand, and holding the

iron in the fire with his right; while in front is a youth standing by

the anvil waiting, as a “striker”; tools and other things lying about;

and the inscription, “Thos. Burton, Winster, 1778.” This jug was made

at the Cock-pit Hill Works, for Mr. Thomas Burton, a blacksmith, of

Winster, whose name it bears, and who is represented at his forge, and

from his family passed into my own hands. It is engraved, Fig. 43.

[Illustration: Fig. 43.]

Another excellent example belonged to my friend, the late Mr. Lucas.

It is a teapot, of the same kind of ware, and bears on one side the

words, “Harper for ever fow play and now fair dealing”--probably in

commemoration of the contested election of 1768, when Sir Henry Harpur

was defeated by Godfrey Clarke, Esq.

DERBY CHINA.

It is no little thing to say of Derby that the town in which the

silk manufacture of England first took its rise--for here the first

silk-mill ever built in this kingdom was erected by John Lombe; in

which the cotton trade made its first gigantic stride--for here

Arkwright and Strutt completed their invention for spinning, and

within a few miles erected the first cotton-mill in England; in which

the hosiery trade was first brought to perfection--for here Strutt

invented his famed “Derby Ribbed Stocking Machine,” and carried on his

manufacture of those articles; and in which many other branches of

manufacture have also had their rise--should likewise have been one of

the few places, and one of the _first_, in which the manufacture of

porcelain was matured, and in which the biscuit was first invented.

But so it is, and it is no little for Derby to be proud of, that

these branches of industry, which are among the most important in

the kingdom, should have had their birth, and in their infancy been

carefully nurtured, within its boundaries. The stories of Lombe and his

silk, Arkwright and Strutt and their cotton, and Jedediah Strutt and

his stockings, have been often told, and will bear telling again and

again; but that of Duesbury and his china has never been fully told,

and it was only by the most laborious research that I was enabled,

in 1862, to tell it, and to show to what an extent the manufacture,

under the care of three generations of one family, was carried. That

information I now, after many years of patient research, considerably

amplify. Alas! that so important, so beautiful a branch of Art should

ever have been allowed to decay in the town by which it has so long

been fostered.

One of the earliest printed notices of the Derby China Works occurs in

a scarce old book, “A Short Tour in the Midland Counties of England

performed in the summer of 1772, together with an account of a similar

excursion undertaken September, 1774.” It is as follows:--

“The manufacture of porcelain employs, in all, near a hundred

men and boys; several of the painters earn a guinea and a half

per week. Mr. Duesbury (who has also bought the manufactory at

Chelsea) is every day bringing the art nearer to that perfection

at which it has arrived in other countries. Derby porcelain is

at present by no means contemptible: figures and other ornaments

are among their most capital articles. Here is also a pottery,

and I was showed an imitation of the Queen’s ware, but it does

not come up to the original, the produce of Staffordshire.”

In the “Poll Book” of 1775, when Christopher Heath was Mayor of Derby,

the following names occur:--

Bakewell, Thomas, Derby, Pot-man.

Dewsberry, William, Derby, China-man.

Hill, Joseph, Derby, China-man.

Needham, Henry, Derby, Pipe-maker.

Simpson, Moses, Derby, Potter.

Strong, Benjamin, Derby, Pipe-maker.

Wood, William, London, China-man.

Withers, Robert, Rotherham, Potter.

Mosley, Thomas, Derby, Potter.

Bray, who wrote his “Tour” in the year 1777, says, speaking of Derby:--

“The china manufactory is not less worthy of notice. Under

the care of Mr. Duesberry it does honour to this country.

Indefatigable in his attention, he has brought the gold and blue

to a degree of beauty never before obtained in England, and the

drawing and coloring of the flowers are truly elegant. About

one hundred [this number is in his second edition corrected to

seventy] hands are employed in it, and happily many, very young,

are enabled to earn a livelihood in the business.”

Dr. Johnson visited the Derby China Works in 1777, and the following is

Boswell’s note on the visit:--

“When we arrived at Derby Dr. Butter accompanied us to see the

manufactory of China there. I admired the ingenuity and delicate

art with which a man fashioned clay into a cup, a saucer, or

a teapot, while a boy turned round a wheel to give the mass

rotundity. I thought this as excellent in its species of power

as making good verses in its species. Yet I had no respect

for this potter. Neither, indeed, has a man of any extent of

thinking for a mere verse-maker, in whose numbers, however

perfect, there is no poetry, no mind. The china was beautiful;

but Dr. Johnson justly observed it was too dear; for that he

could have vessels of silver of the same size, as cheap as what

were here made of porcelain.”

Pilkington, in his “View of the Present State of Derbyshire,” published

in 1789, says:--

“About forty years ago the manufacture of porcelain was begun

by the late Mr. Duesbury. This ingenious artist brought it

to such perfection as, in some respects, to equal the best

foreign china. The ornamental part of the business was at first

almost solely attended to. But the foreign demand being much

interrupted by the last war, the proprietor turned his thoughts

to the manufacture of useful porcelain. At this work a very

rich and elegant dessert service, consisting of one hundred

and twenty pieces, was lately made for His Royal Highness the

Prince of Wales. The number of hands at present employed by Mr.

Duesbury is seventy-two, and the manufacture is in a flourishing

state.”

William Hutton, the historian of his native town and of Birmingham, who

wrote his “History of Derby” in 1791, says:--

“Porcelain began about the year 1750. There is only one

manufactory, which employs about seventy people. The clay is not

of equal fineness with the foreign, but the workmanship exceeds

it. The arts of drawing and engraving have much improved within

these last thirty years. The improvements of the porcelain have

kept pace with these. They adhere to nature in their designs,

to which the Chinese have not attained. A dessert service of

one hundred and twenty pieces was recently fabricated here for

the Prince of Wales. The spot upon which this elegant building

stands, which is internally replete with taste and utility, was

once the freehold of my family. It cost £35, but the purchaser,

my grandfather’s brother, being unable to raise more than £28,

mortgaged it for £7. Infirmity, age, and poverty, obliged him

to neglect the interest, when, in 1743, it fell into the hands

of my father as heir-at-law, who, being neither able nor anxious

to redeem it, conveyed away his right to the mortgagee for a

guinea.”

And again, in his MS. “History of the Hutton Family,” 1799,[8] he says,

speaking of John Hutton:--

“He was the man who purchased the house east of St. Mary’s

Bridge, now the China Works, for £35, but being master of only

£28, mortgaged the premises to Mr. Crompton, a banker, for

the other seven. He becoming old and poor, and inheriting the

supineness of the Hutton family, suffered the trifling interest

to remain unpaid till the mortgagee seized the premises.

The freehold in 1743 fell into the hands of my father, as

heir-at-law, who assigned over his interest to Mr. Crompton for

a guinea.”

The manufactory was situated on the Nottingham Road, near St. Mary’s

Bridge, in a locality then named Suthrick, or Southwark. On its site,

in 1845–6, the Roman Catholic nunnery of St. Marie, designed by Pugin,

was erected, but this has now, like the China Works, become “a thing

of the past”--the nunnery having been purchased by the Midland Railway

Company, and taken down in 1863. Hutton’s remark as to this site being

his patrimony, is very curious, and adds an increased interest to the

locality. The very premises he speaks of were those first occupied for

the making of porcelain, and, curiously enough, they were opposite to

Lombe’s silk-mill, from which they were divided by the road and the

broad expanse of water of the River Derwent.

It is generally believed that in 1750, perhaps a little earlier, the

manufacture of china first sprang into existence in Derby--about a year

or so before the works at Worcester were established; and there is a

tradition that the first maker was a Frenchman, who lived in a small

house in Lodge Lane, and who modelled and made small articles in china,

principally animals--cats, dogs, lambs, sheep, &c.--which he fired in

a pipe-maker’s oven in the neighbourhood, belonging to a man named

Woodward. There were, at this time, as I have shown, some pot works on

Cock-pit Hill, which afterwards belonged to Alderman Heath, a banker;

and the productions of this French refugee, or rather son of a French

refugee, having attracted notice, an arrangement was made between him

and Heath and Duesbury, by which the manufacture of porcelain was to

be carried on jointly. This man’s name, to whom I take it belongs

the absolute honour of commencing the Derby China Works, was Andrew

Planché; and I am enabled to arrive at this conclusion by means of a

draft of a deed now in my possession, by which a partnership for ten

years was entered into by the three already named. In this arrangement

I apprehend Planché found the knowledge of mixing bodies and glazes,

Heath the money (£1,000), and Duesbury the will, ability, and skill to

carry out the scheme. These articles of agreement are as follows:--

“ARTICLES OF AGREEMENT between John Heath of Derby in the County

of Derby Gentleman, Andrew Planche of y^e same Place China Maker

& W^m Duesberry of Longton in y^e County of Stafford Enamellor.

Made and enter’d into the 1_{st} of Jan_{y} 1756.

“FIRST IT IS AGREED by y^e said John Heath Andrew Planche &

W^m Duesberry to be Copartners together as well in y^e Art

of making English China as also in buying and selling of all

sorts of Wares belonging to y^e Art of making China w^{ch} said

Copartnership is to continue between them from the Date of these

Presents for & during y^e Term of Ten years from thence & then

fully to be compleated & ended And to that end He y^e said John

Heath hath y^e day of y^e date of these Presents deliver’d in

as a Stock y^e sum of One Thousand Pounds to be used & employ’d

in Common between them for y^e carrying on y^e s^d Art of

making China Wares And that one third share of Profits arising

therefrom It is mutually agreed between all y^e s^d parties

shall be receiv’d by & paid to y^e said John Heath till y^e

said Prin^l Sum of £1000 be paid in ALSO it is agreed between

y^e s^d parties to these Presents that y^e s^d Copartners shall

not at any time hereafter use or follow y^e Trade aforesaid

or any other Trade whatsoever during y^e s^d Term to their

private Benefit and advantage. And also that y^e s^d Copartners

shall during y^e said Term pay and discharge equally and

proportionably between them all expenses they shall be at in

managing y^e Art and Trade aforesaid[F1: period?] And also

that all Gain or Profit that shall arise from y^e Art & Trade

aforesaid during y^e said Term shall be divided between them y^e

s^d Copartners Share and Share alike And likewise that all such

Losses as shall happen by bad Debts Ill Commodities or otherwise

shall be borne equally between them AND it is further agreed by

y^e s^d Parties that there shall be kept during y^e s^d Term

Just & True Books of Accounts to w^{ch} s^d Books any of y^e s^d

Copartners shall have free access without Interruption of y^e

other AND it is further agreed that at any time hereafter at y^e

request of y^e said John Heath New Articles shall be made & an

additional Term of years not less than Ten shall be added with

such alterations and additions as may be found necessary AND

that y^e said Copartners shall from time to time communicate to

each other every Secret of y^e said Art AND that y^e said John

Heath shall have it in his power to appoint any other Person to

Act for him if he should chuse so to do w^{ch} Person shall be

as fully impowered to Act with regard to all Covenants herein

contained as y^e s^d John Heath himself. WITNESS OUR HANDS the

Day & Year above written.”

These articles are not signed, and as in no instance which has come

under my notice the name of Planché again appears--and as I can only

trace the firm as that of “Duesbury and Heath”--I fear one is driven to

the inference that the usual fate of clever men awaited Andrew Planché,

and that when his knowledge was fully imparted, he was, from some

cause or other, discarded by those who had taken him in hand. At all

events, this is the only instance in which his name appears in any of

the papers connected with the works which I have examined. Of Planché,

however, whom I was the first to discover and note in 1862, but who,

despite all I had written, was spoken of by Mr. A. Wallis, eight years

later, as “an apocryphal French refugee,”[9] I am enabled to give some

additional particulars.

Andrew Planché was one of the five sons of Paul Planché, a French

refugee, by his first wife, Marie Anne Fournier, also a refugee, whom

he married in 1723. Andrew was born on the 14th, and baptized on the

24th, of March, 1727–8, and his youngest brother was Jacques Planché

(born in 1734), who married his cousin (the only daughter of Antoine

Planché by his wife Mary, daughter of Herr Abraham Thomas and his wife

Catherine), and was father of my old and valued friend, J. R. Planché,

F.S.A., the well-known dramatist and antiquary. This fact I brought to

his knowledge in 1862, and again when he was writing his interesting

“Recollections,” in which he has embodied some of the information I

supplied him with. Through the re-marriage of their father, the two

boys, Andrew and Jacques, had early to shift for themselves; the latter

made his way to Geneva, where he learned the business of watch-making,

and the former, I believe, went into Saxony, and there learned the art

of making porcelain at Dresden. How he came to Derby is at present a

mystery, but he was there at all events as early as, if not earlier

than, 1751. This is proved, as I shall presently show, by the birth of

one of his sons. In 1751 he would be 23 years of age, and was living

in the parish of St. Alkmund, in Derby. The following entries are

extracted from the parish register of St. Alkmund’s:--

1751. Sept. 21. Baptized Paul Edmund, the son of Andrew Planché and

Sarah his wife.

1754. 12 Oct. Bap. James, the son of Andrew Planché and Sarah his

wife.

1754. Dec. 10. Buried James, the son of Andrew Planché and Sarah

his wife.

1756. March 4. Bap. James, the bastard son of Andrew Planché and

Margaret Burroughs.

1756. July 3. Bap. William, the son of Andrew Planché and Sarah

his wife.

That Andrew Planché was not very strict in his morals is revealed by

these extracts, which show that in 1756 he had two sons baptised within

four months of each other, the first by a young woman named Margaret

Burroughs, and the second by his wife. This was the year, 1756, in

which the articles of agreement were drawn up. What became of Planché

after he left Derby is not known. He appears to have been a very

erratic individual, and his whereabouts uncertain. He was living at

Bath at the ripe age of 76, in 1804, and died there soon afterwards. At

all events, I have proof that he was in Derby eight years--how much

longer I know not--and I have also, as will be seen, indisputable proof

that William Duesbury had no connection with Derby till 1755–6, the

date of the deed I have printed above.

When Duesbury, whether in conjunction with Planché and Heath or not,

commenced business, it appears to have been in the small premises which

had not long before been relinquished for a guinea by the father of

William Hutton; and in them was thus commenced, in a very small way,

that manufacture of porcelain which afterwards grew to so immense an

extent. In the year 1756 the draft of agreement was drawn up, and the

ware made at the manufactory must soon have found a ready sale, for

in the course of a very few years Mr. Duesbury was carrying on a good

trade, had a London house for the sale of his productions, and became a

thriving and well-to-do man.

William Duesbury was of Longton Hall, in the county of Stafford,

and was the son of William Duesbury, currier, of Cannock, in the

same county, who in 1755, as is evidenced by the original deed in

my possession, made over to him his household furniture, leather,

implements of trade, and other effects, on condition that he should

find him “during the term of his natural life, good and sufficient

meat, drink, washing, and lodging, wearing apparel, and all other

necessaries whatsoever.” The following is a verbatim copy of this

curious deed, from the original. It is fully stamped, signed, and

attested, and runs as follows:--

“THIS INDENTURE made the Twenty-seventh day of September in

the twenty-ninth Year of the reign of King George the second

over Great Britain and so forth and in the Year of our Lord

One Thousand Seven Hundred and fifty-five BETWEEN William

Duesbury of Cannock in the County of Stafford Currier of the

one part and William Duesbury of Longton Hall in the Parish

of Stoke-upon-Trent in the said County of Stafford Son of the

said William Duesbury of the other part WITNESSETH that for

and in Consideration of the natural Love and affection which

he the said William Duesbury hath and beareth to the said

William Duesbury the younger And of the Covenant or Agreement

hereinafter contained on the part and behalf of the said William

Duesbury the younger to be done and performed and of the Sum

of Five Shillings of lawful British Money to the said William

Duesbury in hand paid by the said William Duesbury the younger

at or before the execution of these presents the receipt whereof

is hereby acknowledged He the said William Duesbury Hath given

granted bargained and sold and by these presents DOTH give grant

bargain and sell unto the said William Duesbury the younger All

and singular the Household Goods Leather Implements of Trade

and all other the goods Chattles and Personal Estate of him the

said William Duesbury situate and being at Cannock aforesaid or

elsewhere in the said County of Stafford and every of them and

every part thereof And all the Estate right title Interest &

property claim and demand whatsoever both in Law and Equity of

the said William Duesbury of in or unto the same every or any

part thereof TO HAVE AND TO HOLD take retain and enjoy the said

Household Goods Leather Implements of Trade and every of them

And all other the goods Chattles and personal Estate above given

granted bargained and sold or mentioned and intended so to be

with their appurtenances unto the said William Duesbury the

younger his Extors. admors. & assigns from henceforth absolutely

and for ever to his and their own Use and benefit And the said

William Duesbury for himself his Extors. & admors. doth covenant

promise and grant to and with the said William Duesbury the

younger his Extors. admors. & assigns that he the said William

Duesbury his Extors. & admors or some of them All and singular

the said Goods Chattles and personal Estate above given granted

bargained and sold or mentioned & intended so to be to the said

William Duesbury the younger his Extors. & admors. against

all Men shall and will warrant & for ever defend And the said

William Duesbury hath put the said William Duesbury the younger

into possion. of all & singular the said Goods and Chattles by

delivering him one Pewter Plate in the name of all and singular

the said Goods and Chattles at the execution of these presents

AND THIS INDENTURE FURTHER WITNESSETH And the said William

Duesbury the younger in Consideration of the Premises for

himself his Heirs Extors. & admors. doth covenant promise grant

and agree to and with the said William Duesbury his Extors. &

admors. That he the said William Duesbury the younger his Heirs

Extors. and admors. or some of them shall and will from time to

time and at all times hereafter find and provide for the said

William Duesbury during the term of his natural Life good &

sufficient meat drink washing and Lodging wearing apparel and

all other necessaries whatsoever at the proper Costs and Charges

of him the said William Duesbury the younger his Heirs Extors.

Admors. or assigns IN WITNESS whereof the said Parties to these

presents have hereunto set their Hands and Seals the day & year

first above written.

Sealed and delivered } WILLIAM DUESBURY.[circle]

in the presence of }

MARY KNIGHT.

JO: KNIGHT. WILLIAM DUESBURY.[circle]

I next find William Duesbury, the enameller, of Longton, entering into

partnership with Heath and Planché on the first January in the year

following his executing this deed for the maintenance of his father;

and entries in the family Bible prove that at this time he removed to

Derby, to carry on his newly-acquired business “in ye art of making

English china, as also in buying and selling of all sorts of wares

belonging to ye art of making china.” The partnership deed bearing

date the first of January, 1756, shows that the negotiations must have

been made in the previous year, 1755, and as the deed of gift from his

father is dated September 27th of that year, it is evident that the one

was consequent on the other, and that the arrangement with his father

was the result of his determination to come to Derby. The father lived

until 1768, and died and was buried in Derby. In the parish register is

the entry, “1768. Buried, Mr. Duesbrie, March 17.”

William Duesbury was born on the 7th of September, 1725, and married

Sarah James, of Shrewsbury (who was born on the 12th of August, 1724).

In 1755 he was residing at Longton, as an enameller on china ware, &c.,

and in 1756 removed to Derby to carry on the porcelain works there. By

his wife Sarah, who died on the 14th of September, 1780, and was buried

at St. Alkmund’s Church, Derby, he had several children. These were, so

far as I have been able to ascertain, William, born in London in 1752,

and died there in infancy; Anne, born at Longton, Oct. 3, 1754, who

became the wife of Richard Egan, linendraper, of London, and afterwards

china, earthenware, and glass dealer, of Bath; Mary, born in London,

in 1753, but baptised at St. Alkmund’s, Derby, who died in infancy;

another Mary, born at Derby, Nov., 1756, and died in 1783; Sarah, born

in 1758, and died an infant; another Sarah, born in 1759, and buried

in 1767; Dorothea, born in 1761, who married the Rev. John Chawner, of

Church Broughton, in 1786; William, born in 1763, who succeeded his

father; and James, born in 1765, who, after an erratic and evidently

misunderstood and unfortunate life, died in obscurity. Mr. Duesbury

himself, after a long and useful life, in the course of which he not

only established the Derby China Works, but became the purchaser of

those of Chelsea, Bow, Vauxhall, and Kentish Town, died at Derby,

and was buried at St. Alkmund’s Church, in that town, on the 2nd of

November, 1786.

William Duesbury, son and successor of the last named, was born at

Derby, and baptised at St. Alkmund’s Church there, March 1, 1763. On

the 4th of January, 1787, he married Elizabeth, daughter of William

Edwards, Esq., solicitor, of Derby, the lady having three days before

completed her twentieth year. By her he had issue three sons--William,

who succeeded him; Nathaniel, who died in 1809, aged 19; and Frederick,

who became an eminent physician in London--and two daughters, viz.,

Sarah, who remained unmarried, and died in 1875; and Anne Elizabeth,

who became the wife of Francis Jessop, Esq., solicitor, of Derby. So

far it has been necessary to summarise this bit of family genealogy,

but the remainder will form a part of the thread of the history of the

works.

The manufacture of china under the first William Duesbury must have

rapidly risen into eminence, for in 1763, in an account of “goods sent

to London,” no less than forty-two large boxes appear at one time to

have been despatched to the metropolis, and the proceeds, I presume,

of the sale of a part of them, on the 2nd of May, in that year,

amounted to no less a sum than £666 17_s._ 6_d._ It is very

interesting, at this early period of the art, to be enabled to say of

what varieties of goods the consignment to London consisted, and I

therefore give the list of contents of some of the boxes entire, and

also a few items from others. I do this the more readily because it has

been recently said by the writer to whom I have already alluded, “We

doubt very much whether the higher sorts of fine porcelain (figures,

vases, &c.) were made upon the Nottingham Road until the purchase of

the Chelsea Works in 1769 and the commencement of what is called the

Chelsea-Derby period, which lasted until 1785 or 1786.”

Box No. 41 contained--

8 Large Flower Jarrs, at 21_s._

3 Large Ink Stands, at 42_s._

1 Small ditto, at 24_s._

4 Large Britanias, at 36_s._

6 Second-sized Huzzars, at 12_s._

4 Large Pidgeons, at 7_s._

12 Small Rabbets, at 2_s._

12 Chickens, at 2_s._

16 Small Baskets, at 2_s._ 6_d._

Box No. 31--

4 Large Quarters, at 40_s._

4 Shakespeares, at 42_s._

6 Miltons, at 42_s._

24 Bucks, on Pedestals, at 2_s._ 6_d._

Box No. 29--

4 Large Quarters, at 40_s._

2 Jupiters, at 68_s._

2 Junos.

5 Ledas, at 36_s._

1 Europa, at 36_s._

2 Bird-catchers, at 10_s._ 6_d._

12 Sixth-sized Solid Baskets.

18 Second-sized Boys, at 1_s._ 6_d._

Box No.11--

24 Enammelled, round, fourth-size, open-worked Baskets.

12 Blue ditto.

12 Open-worked Spectacle Baskets.

9 Second-size Sage-leaf boats.

There were also, of various sizes, blue fluted boats, Mosaic boats,

sage-leaf boats, potting pots, caudle cups, blue strawberry pots,

fig-leaf sauce boats, octagon fruit plates, vine-leaf plates, coffee

cups, flower vases, standing sheep, feeding sheep, cats, sunflower

blows, pedestals, honeycomb jars, coffee pots, blue guglets and basins

to ditto; butter tubs, Chelsea jars, tea pots, honeycomb pots, figures

of Mars and Minerva, sets of the Elements, Spanish shepherds, Neptune,

the Muses, bucks, tumblers, roses, Jupiter, Diana, boys, garland

shepherd, Spaniards, Chelsea-pattern candlesticks, Dresden ditto, jars

and beakers, polyanthus pots, &c., &c.

It is worthy of note that at this time, although much within the ten

years stipulated for the partnership, the name of William Duesbury

alone usually occurs. It is true that in some instances “Duesbury

and Co.,” and “Duesbury and Heath,” are met with, but these are the

exception. The works at Derby continued now rapidly to extend, and

fresh articles and subjects were being continually added to those

already made. The best available talent was got together, apprentices

were taken to the modelling, the painting, the making or “repairing”

of china, and other parts of the manufacture, and it was soon found

advisable to have a regular warehouse in London.

The mark used in the earliest days of the works is not certain, but I

believe, and I have reason for that belief, that it was simply the

letter D, which, would stand either for “Duesbury” or for “Derby;”

probably in gold. The figures and groups, too, were numbered and

registered for reproduction.

On the 17th of August, 1769, Mr. Duesbury arranged for the purchase of

the Chelsea China Works, their purchase being completed on the 5th of

February, 1770, when a payment of £400, in part of the purchase-money,

was made by Mr. Duesbury, who thus, as the proprietor of the Derby and

the Chelsea Works, became the largest manufacturer in the kingdom.[10]

The history of the Chelsea Works has already been fully given in the

first volume of this work, and therefore it is only necessary here to

say, that in 1862, in my paper on the Derby China Works, in the _Art

Journal_, I was for the first time enabled to state the fact that

Mr. Duesbury purchased “the Chelsea Porcelain Manufactory, and its

appurtenances and lease thereof,” on the 5th of February, 1770, and

that it was covenanted to be assigned over to him on or before the 8th

of that month; the date of the arrangement to purchase being August

17th, 1769. For some few years, then, Mr. Duesbury carried on both

establishments, and subsequently removed the models and some of the

workmen to Derby, where also he removed such of the models, &c., from

Bow, which had likewise come into his possession. The purchase of the

Chelsea Works soon entailed upon him the commencement of some heavy law

proceedings which lasted many years. The cause of these proceedings

was the attempt at recovery of a quantity of goods claimed by Duesbury

as a part of his purchase, being goods made by Spremont, and of his

material, but which were afterwards sold, it was said, wrongfully, by

Francis Thomas, to a person named Burnsall. The action was commenced

in 1770, and in 1771 Mr. Spremont, the old proprietor of the Chelsea

Works, died. The proceedings, however, continued for several years.

During the time Mr. Duesbury carried on the Chelsea Works, from

February 1770 to 1773, the “weekly bills” are now in my possession,

and are particularly interesting as showing the nature of the articles

then made, and the names of the painters and others employed, and the

amount of wages they earned. The following examples will be read with

interest. The first I give is quite one of the early ones--of the same

month in which the works were delivered over to Duesbury:--

1770. _A Weekly Bill at Chelsea from the 24 of March to the 31._

£ _s._ _d._

Barton, 6 days att 3_s._ 6_d._ 1 1 0

Boyer, 6 days att 3_s._ 6_d._ 1 1 0

3 dozen of Seals of the Lambs, made overtime 0 3 6

3 dozen of Lyons, ditto 0 3 6

Roberts, 6 days att 2_s._ 6_d._ 0 15 0

Piggot, 6 days att 1_s._ 9_d._ 0 10 6

Ditto, Taking Care of the Horse on Sunday 0 1 6

Inglefield, 6 days at 1_s._ 8_d._ 0 10 0

------------

£4 6 0

Work done this Week at Chelsea--

6 Large Ornement Pedistols for the Grand Popore.

5 Large Popore Perfume Pots to Ditto.

1 Square Perfume Pot Deckarated with heads of the 4 seasons.

Roberts, Making Cases hall the week.

Piggot, Working the hors in the Mill, and fettling of rims.

Inglefield, Pounding of the glass, and cutting of wood.

Recd. of Mr. Duesbury in full of all Demands for self and

the a Bove.

RICHD. BARTON.

1770. _A Weekly Bill at Chelsea from Decr. 1 to the 8._

£ _s._ _d._

Boarman,[11] 6 days att 5_s_ 3_d._ 1 11 6

Wolliams, 6 days att 4_s._ 6_d._ 1 7 0

Jenks, 6 days att 3_s._ 6_d._ 1 1 0

Boyer, 6 days att 3_s._ 6_d._ 1 1 0

Barton, 6 days att 3_s._ 6_d._ 1 1 0

Roberts, 3 days att 2_s._ 6_d._ 0 7 6

Piggott, 6 days att 1_s._ 9_d._ 0 10 6

Ditto, Sunday, taking care of the Horse 0 1 6

Inglefield, 6 days att 1_s._ 8_d._ 0 10 0

Overtime by Barton and Boyer, 10 Globe Cover Jarrs 0 10 0

72 Seals painted in Mottords[12] by Boarman and

Wolliams 0 7 6

42 Seals, painted by Jinks at 2_d._ each, figures 0 7 0

A Letter from Darby 0 0 5

2 Tons of fine clay Shipping to Darby 2 7 0

And 1 Ton to Chelsea of Corse 0 17 0

A Letter to Darby 0 0 1

Tax’s of the Factory 2 0 3

Turpentine for the Painters 0 0 6

Peaper for the Use of the factory 0 0 4

-------------

£14 1 1

Deduct for 2 Tun Clay[13] 2 7 0

-------------

£11 14 1

Rec. of Mr. Duesbury in full of all demands for Self and the a Bove.

_Exd. and Ent._

RICHD. BARTON.

Amongst other interesting entries from week to week in the bills, I

have chosen a few examples to illustrate the kind of work then carried

on in this factory.

£ _s._ _d._

Paid for the Plaister Mould

from Darby, the 9 of August 0 0 6

Paid for a box from Darby 0 0 6

Overwork by Barton and Boyer, 2 Junquill Beakers 0 4 0

And 1 Vincent Pattern Perfume Pot 0 1 6

Seals painted by Jinks, 33 Lambs 1½_d._ 0 4 1½

33 Covers Painted Overtime by Jinks at 1½_d._ each 0 4 1⅓

Cord[14] for the Kilns 1 17 4

Overtime by Boyer and Barton, 5 Sweet Meat Basons

at 1_s._ each 0 5 0

----4 hart shaped Perfume Pots with handles, at

1_s._ 3_d._ each 0 5 0

1 Cupid Forgin Harts at 1_s._ 3_d._ 0 1 3

Overtime, Painting by Jinks 2 dozen of Tom titts

at 1½_d._ each 0 3 0

Seals made overtime 3 dozen Chineas Men with a Bird 0 3 6

3 dozen Cupids as a Backus 0 3 6

24 Strawberry Compotiers made with the Darby clay.

1 dozen and 6 Cupid Booted and Spurd 0 1 9

1 dozen and 6 Harts on a Cushin 0 1 9

1 dozen and 6 Cupid as a Doctor 0 1 9

1 dozen and 6 Turks a Smokin 0 1 9

1 dozen and 6 Shepherds Shearing of Sheep 0 1 9

12 Tooth Picks with Head of Turk and Companions,

painted with emblematick Mottoes, ditto at

1_s._ 6_d._ 0 18 0

Examples of this kind[15] could be multiplied to any extent, but to

bring the extracts a little later down in date, I shall content myself

by giving the “weekly bill at Chelsea from June 19 to the 26, 1773,” to

show that the same hands, with the addition of a modeller named Gauron,

were still employed:--

£ _s._ _d._

Gauron, 5¾ days at 8_s._ 9_d._ 2 10 3½

Boreman, 5¼ days at 5_s._ 3_d._ 1 7 7

Woolams, 5½ days at 4_s._ 6_d._ 1 4 9

Jenks, 6 days at 3_s._ 6_d._ 1 1 0

Snowden, 6 days at 3_s._ 6_d._ 1 1 0

Boyer, 6 days at 3_s._ 6_d._ 1 1 0

Barton, 6 days at 3_s._ 6_d._ 1 1 0

Roberts, 6 days at 2_s._ 6_d._ 1 15 0

Painting, overwork, Smelling Bottles of boys

catching Squirrel at 1_s._ 3_d._ 0 2 6

2 Ditto, with a Bird’s Nest at 1_s._ each 0 2 0

1 Ditto, Piping with a Dog at 1_s._ 0 1 0

1 Ditto, Double Dove 0 1 0

Mottoing 60 Seals at 1¼_d._ each 0 6 3

Modling Clay 0 0 6

A Parsel 0 0 2

A Letter 0 0 1

------------

£10 15 1¾

Recd. of Mr. Duesbury in full of all demands for Self and the a Bove.

RICHD. BARTON.

Before Mr. Duesbury purchased the Chelsea works the mark of that

manufactory was an anchor, [Illustration: Fig. 44.] and to this Mr.

Duesbury added the letter D; and the mark now known as distinguishing

the “Derby Chelsea” ware was thus--generally in gold. Examples of this

period are of comparative rarity, and are eagerly sought after by

collectors.

[Illustration: Fig. 45.]

In 1772, in the very curious MS. “Lists of Gent., &c., in Derby, 1772,”

in my own possession (a list prepared for official purposes over

elections), are the following entries under “Southwark,” as that part

of Derby was called. In one:--

Duesbury, Mr. W^m China Manufacturer.

Steer, Mr. John A^t to China Manufactory.

Wood, Mr. W^m Do.

and in the other list:--

Mr. Duesbury China Manufacturer.

Mr. W^m Wood Clerk to Do.

Mr. John Steer Do.

In June, 1773, Mr. Duesbury took the lease of premises (late the Castle

Tavern) in Bedford Street, Covent Garden, for a warehouse for his

Derby and Chelsea ware, and here, with this William Wood as his agent

(afterwards succeeded by J. Lygo), he exhibited and kept a large stock

of his manufactures, and carried on, in conjunction with his two works,

a very thriving and lucrative trade. Here he issued a “List of the

principal additions made this year to the new invented Groups, Jars,

Vases, Urns, Beakers, Cups, Chalices, &., of Mr. Duesbury’s Derby and

Chelsea Manufactory of Porcelaines, Biscuits, and China Ware, both

Ornamental and Useful.” This “list” is printed in small quarto. Among

the articles enumerated, one hundred and twenty-three in number, the

following will be sufficient to show their beautiful and elaborate

nature, and the amount of labour and artistic skill which they

exhibited:--

“1. Their present majesties, the king and queen, and royal

family, in three grouped pieces of biscuit. The centre piece

represents the king in a Vandyke dress, on a blue and gold

basement, supported by four lions leaning on an altar richly

ornamented in blue and gold, with hanging trophies of the polite

arts and sciences. The crown, _munde_, and sceptre reposing on a

cushion, of crimson, embroidered, fringed, and tapelled in gold.

14 inches.

“42. A large _beaker_, sky-blue ground spotted in white; two

dolphins, lion footed, standing on white goats’ heads, form the

two anses in crimson and white edged with gold, the mouth of

the beaker and the top of the vase are furrowed with twisted

crenures in white and gold; the zone of the top is adorned with

golden lions, turned toward white and gold marks; the rim of the

cup part is foliated and crenulated friese, white and gold, with

detached patera, the pediment striped with gold in alternate

triangles, the foot covered with gilt leaves; the pedestal in

white and gold has four white sphinxes for angular supporters,

over which runs a gold festoon fixed to the surbase; the whole,

with the pedestals, 20 inches.

“105. A white _gallon cask_, with gold edged hoops, adorned

with four trophies of music emblems of love, in chiaro-oscuro,

surmounted by a young coloured Bacchus, sitting on the bung

tasting a grape, of which he holds a basket full between his

legs, and a cup in his left hand, the barrel is made to turn

round on a pivot fixed in an _ormolu_ pediment, a satyr’s mask

holds an _ormolu_ cock in his mouth, which opens and shuts by a

spring. 18 inches.”

The works at Chelsea were not finally discontinued until the year 1784,

when they were destroyed by Mr. Duesbury, the kilns and every part

of the work pulled down, and what was available sent down to Derby.

The removal of the kilns, and the work of demolition, was entrusted

to Robert Boyer, the painter, &c., the old and faithful servant whose

name appears in the “weekly bills” above given; and when his work was

done he removed to Derby at twenty-five shillings per week in place

of a guinea, with house rent free, and fire as heretofore.[16] It is

also worthy of remark that Mr. Duesbury purchased the Bow business, and

owned the pottery at Pedlar’s Acre, at Lambeth, the rents of which he

assigned in 1781.

[Illustration: Fig. 46.]

Periodical sales of stock were held in London by Mr. Duesbury, and

judging by the catalogues of “Sales by Auction” by Messrs. Christie

and Ansell, of Pall Mall, and “Sales by Candle,” by Mr. Hunter, the

articles sent up for the purpose were excellent examples of the

manufacture, and just such as were likely to be sought after by the

traders--the “chinamen” of London. The descriptions of the goods were

of much the same character as in the “list” referred to, with this

addition, that in the late catalogues the price (the trade price

possibly) was attached to each article. I have by me the priced

catalogues of several years’ sales, and it is highly interesting to

examine them, and to see the prices the different articles realised

at the sales. They give, perhaps, one of the best insights into the

porcelain trade of that period of anything I have seen. A few items,

taken at random, from some of these catalogues, will be useful to

the collector. The “Catalogue of an elegant and extensive assortment

of Derby and Chelsea Porcelaine” for sale on May 10th, 1781, and

four following days, has a long and full title-page, and occupies

thirty-two octavo pages. The company were invited to this sale by

cards, of which the following is a copy:--

“At Mess^{rs} Christie and Ansell’s great Room, next _Cumberland

House, Pall Mall_, will be sold by Auction on _Tuesday_ next,

the 7th of _May_ 1782, and the Four following Days, an elegant

and extensive Assortment of the DERBY and CHELSEA PORCELAIN,

consisting of TABLE and DESERT SERVICES, TEA and COFFEE

EQUIPAGES, BISCUIT ORNAMENTS, &c., &c.

“To be viewed on _Saturday_ the 4th of _May_, and till the Sale

(Sunday excepted), which will begin each Day at 12 o’clock.

“N.B.--Mr. _Duesbury_ flatters himself the Produce of his

Manufactory this Year will be found far superior to any Thing

he has ever yet exhibited, and therefore humbly hopes he shall

experience the wonted generous Countenance of the Nobility, and

his Friends in general, whose Patronage (with the highest Sense

of Gratitude) he will be ever studious to deserve.”

The following are a few of the lots offered. It was a five days’ sale,

and there were 529 lots in all. The figures I have placed in brackets,

thus [ ] are the prices the lots realised at this sale:--

A complete set of tea china, waved, shank’d, enamel’d with a

border of green flowers and gold edge, 41 pieces. [£3 3s.]

Six French-shape chocolate-cups and saucers, enamel’d with

festoons of green husks and pink and gold border. [18s.]

One small-size group representing Music, in biscuit. [21s.]

One pair of element-groups representing Air and Water, and 4

standing seasons, in ditto (biscuit). [£1 18s.]

An elegant Etruscan-shape vase, enamel’d in compartments with a

figure of Shenston, and fine blue ground striped with gold.

One set of five beautiful vases, enamel’d in compartments with

landscapes and figures, richly finished with green and gold.

A beautiful dejune, enamel’d in compartments with Cupids and

striped with gold.

A beautiful large group of figures of the three Virtues, in

biscuit. [30s.]

A beautiful desert-service, enamel’d with coloured flowers and

fine blue and gold leafage border, consisting of 24 plates, 2

large oblong compotiers, 1 ditto with a foot, 2 heart-shape, 4

round, and 4 square ditto, 1 pair cream-bowls, covers, stand,

and spoons.

One beautiful vase, enamel’d in compartments with a landscape on

one side and Romeo and Juliet on the other, richly finished with

chas’d and burnish’d gold.

One pair of ewer-shape vases, enamel’d in compartments with

figures and richly gilt.

An elegant inkstand, fine blue and gold. [10s. 6d.]

One group of Jason and Medea before Diana.

One set of (three) vases, beautifully painted in compartments

with jett figures, and richly finished with chas’d and burnish’d

gold. [£7.]

One pair of Etruscan-shape vases, enamel’d with trophies and

figures richly gilt.

A beautiful dejune, enamel’d with vases, &c., rich, finished

with fine blue and gold. [63s.]

Six caudle cups, covers and stands, peacock pattern, white and

gold. [25s.]

A superb and elegant pair of caudle cups, covers and stands,

enamel’d in compartments with figures and striped with gold.

One pair of small foxes, in biscuit. [10s.]

A figure of Time and a set of the Seasons, enamel’d. [35s.]

One small group representing Music, 1 pair Sportsman and

Companion, 4 small groups, and 4 small flower vases, in biscuit.

[£2 6s.]

One pair of Dragon candlesticks, green and gold.

A beautiful three-quart punch-bowl, enamel’d with flowers and

rich blue and gold border [17s.]

One superb and elegant vase with therms, beautifully enamel’d

with figures, the Three Graces on one side and a landscape on

the other, in compartments, enriched with chased and burnished

gold, and 2 ewer-shape vases to match, figure of Virtue on one

side and Prudence on the other.

One pair of basket-work antique-handled vases, enamel’d with

figures, Pomona and Prudence on one side and a landscape on the

other, in compartments, gilt to match.

One beautiful large group of two Virgins awaking Cupid, in

biscuit. [42s.]

One ditto to match of two Bacchants dressing Pan with a garland

of flowers.

One pair of beautiful groups representing Poetry and Music, in

biscuit.

One set of figures, the four quarters and four small groups, in

biscuit. [30s.]

One large punch-bowl, enamel’d with festoons of coloured flowers

and gold edge. [12s.]

One large perfume-vase, beautifully painted in figures in

compartments representing Eneas meeting Venus before he enters

Carthage, richly gilt.

One pair of large beakers to match, enamel’d in compartments

with figures, on one side Bacchus and Ariadne, and on the other

Venus and Adonis, richly gilt.

A very rich and beautiful compleat desert service, enamel’d

with different vases, festoons of green husks, and fine blue

and gold, consisting of 24 plates, 2 large oblong compotiers,

1 ditto with a foot, 4 round, 2 heart-shape, 4 oval, 4 oblong

ditto, and a pair of cream-bowls, covers, stands, and spoons.

[£22 1s.]

Four pierced desert flower-vases, 1 pair fitting figures, and 4

shooting Cupids, in biscuit.

One pair of fox-hunters’ cups.

A very beautiful Seve-pattern compleat desert service, enamel’d

with roses, fine mosaic border, richly finished with chased and

burnish’d gold, consisting of 24 plates, 3 oblong compotiers, 2

heart-shape, 4 round, 4 square, 4 small oblong ditto, and a pair

cream-bowls, covers, stands, and spoons. [£25 4s.]

One pair of sitting religious figures, in biscuit. [9s.]

One pair Satyr-head drinking-mugs, enamell’d and gilt. [8s.]

One beautiful figure of Shakespear, in biscuit, and fine blue

and gold pedestal. [21s.]

One pair large rummers, enamel’d with festoons of coloured

flowers, and gilt. [6s. 6d.]

Two large leaves, 4 small ditto, and one round fruit-dish. [13s.]

One group of 3 boys playing at hazard, and one ditto of a

galanter show, in biscuit.

Six Egg-spoons, 6 artichoke-cups, and 6 asparagus-servers,

enamel’d, fine blue and white. [9s.]

One sett of 3 vases, enamel’d with birds and gilt.

One large-size group representing Poetry and Music, in biscuit.

[22s.]

One pair of large gardeners, 2 pair of muses, and 4 small

flower-vases in ditto.

An elegant stand for different cheeses and butter, enamel’d with

vazes and fine mazarine blue and gold (rivetted). [21s.]

1 sett of 5 elegant jars, enamel’d in compartments with groups

of natural flowers and fine blue and gold.

A beautiful large group of 3 graces and 2 cupids, supposed to be

crowning her Majesty with garland of flowers, in biscuit.

One pair of element groups, 1 pair of large fruit and flower

figures, and one pair figures representing earth and water, in

ditto. [42s.]

A neat chimney-piece embellished with composition ornaments.

Six beautiful coffee or chocolate cups and saucers, enamel’d

with Cupids, fine blue ring and gilt.

A very rich and beautiful desert-service, enamel’d with roses

and fine mazarine blue and gold border, consisting of 24 plates,

2 large oblong compotiers, 1 ditto with a foot, 2 heart-shape,

4 oval, 4 octagon, and 4 shell-shape ditto, and a pair of cream

bowls, covers, stands, and spoons. [£28 7s.]

One beautiful group of 2 Virgins awaking Cupid, and a ditto of

2 bacchants dressing Pan with a garland of flowers, in biscuit.

[£3 18s.]

One superb and elegant vase with therms, beautifully enamel’d

with figures of wisdom and Vigilance on one side, and a

landscape on the other in compartments, and richly ornamented

with fine blue and gold, 2 ewer-shape vases to match, figure of

Virtue on one side and fortitude on the other, with landscape

and fine blue and gold.

One pair of elegant tripods richly ornamented with fine blue and

gold.

One pair of beautiful antique lamps.

One beautiful vase, enamel’d in compartments, with a figure of

rhetoric and a landscape enrich’d with gold stripes.

Two Neptune-head drinking-mugs.

One figure of Andromache weeping over the ashes of Hector, and

one pair of Madona groups, in biscuit.

A large dove-house ornamented with natural flowers and richly

gilt.

One large oval-shape vase and two egg-shape, enamel’d with

Cupids gathering the vintage, richly finished with burnished

gold.

One pair of elegant figures, Bacchus and Ariadne, 1 pair

sportsman and companion, and 1 pair harlequin and columbine, in

biscuit. [37s.]

One group of 4 Cupids, in biscuit. [17s.]

Four pierced flower vases, 2 pair gardeners, and 1 pair small

dancing groups in ditto. [34s.]

A superb and elegant large vase with therms, beautifully

enamel’d with figures of the three Graces on one side and a

landscape on the other, 1 pair of ewer-shape vases to match,

figure of Virtue and History on one side and landscapes on the

other, in compartments, enrich’d with chased and burnished gold.

One pair of Egg-shape vases to match, enamel’d with figures of

Prudence and Rhetoric.

Four small desert flower-vases, in biscuit. [9s.]

A beautiful group of 4 Cupids, 2 pair of small music figures, 1

pair French shepherds, and 4 small vases, in biscuit. [£2 3s.]

One pair large dancing groups, in biscuit. [24s.]

A pair of uncommonly large octagon jars (near 2 feet high)

decorated with natural flowers and finely enamel’d with figures,

landscapes, &c., richly ornamented with chased and burnish’d

gold, the figures represent a votaress of Bacchus and Innocence

washing her hands at an altar.

Six breakfast basons and saucers, enamel’d with green festoons

and gold edges.

One pair of large perfume-vases, enamel’d with flowers,

ornamented with dogs, rabbits, &c., and gilt.

An elegant Seve-pattern complete desert-service, enamel’d with

roses and rich mosaic and gold border, consisting of 3 dozen

plates, 2 large oblong compotiers, 4 round, 2 heart-shape, 4

large square, 4 small oblong, and one large ditto with a foot

for the center, and a pair of cream-bowls, covers, stands, and

spoons. [£30 9s.]

One pair groups, the arts and sciences, and a pair large

gardeners, in biscuit. [30s.]

One superb and elegant large vase with therms, enamel’d in

compartments with figures, the three Graces, enrich’d with

chas’d burnish’d and gold. [£8 8s.]

One pair of beautiful oval jars to match, the figures represent

Apollo and Agrippina lamenting over the ashes of Germanicus. [£6

6s.]

One of pair small enamel’d foxes. [10s.]

A pair of hares’ heads, enamel’d, after nature. [10s.]

Three elegant vases, enamel’d with rose-coloured figures from

Ovid, and enriched with gold. [£9 19s. 6d.]

One pair large dogs, enamel’d.

A desert-service, enamel’d with roses, festoons of green husks,

and pink and gold border, consisting of 24 plates, 3 large

oblong compotiers, 4 round, 2 heart-shape, and 4 small oblong

ditto, and a pair of cream-bowls, covers, stands, and spoons.

[£13 2s. 6d.]

Six elegant ice cream cups, enamel’d with festoons of red husks,

and fine blue and gold.

Two pair of large boys riding on dolphin and fawn, in biscuit.

One of these sale catalogues, at the risk of occupying much space, I

here reprint entire, because I conceive nothing could more completely

show the character of the goods, ornamental as well as useful, which at

that time were the staple productions of the Derby works. It cannot,

I opine, but be of immense use to collectors in assisting them to

correctly appropriate and date their examples. The catalogue which

I now reprint (one of several years in my possession) is of folio

size, and occupies twelve pages. The selling prices are printed in the

catalogue; the prices realised at the sale, however, were not, on the

average, more than one-half the printed ones. The proceeds of the whole

sale was £276 4_s._ It is of the year 1785. The title-page is as

follows:--

“_Four Months Promp._----CHINA, for SALE, by the CANDLE,

at Mr. WILLIAM DUESBURY’S Warehouse, in _Bedford-Street,

Covent-Garden,_ On _Wednesday_ the 9th, and _Thursday_ the

10th of _March_, 1785, at Six of the Clock in the Afternoon,

A very good ASSORTMENT of Derby Figures and Candlesticks,

compleat Tea and Desert Services, Caudle and Chocolate Cups,

&c. of the newest and best Patterns. To be viewed on _Monday_

and _Tuesday_, and ‘till the Time of Sale. To be Sold by

AUCTION by WILLIAM HUNTER, _Sworn Broker_, No. 59, _New

Bond-Street_.--Printed by Joseph Good, Stationer, &c., No. 79,

Fleet Street.”

At the back of the title are the conditions, thus:--

“_Bedford-Street, Covent-Garden, March 9, 1785._--CONDITIONS OF

THE SALE.--I. The Goods are all to be taken away without any

Allowance at the Buyer’s Expence, on or before the 14th day of

_March_, 1785, and paid for on delivery.--II. Buyer’s Notes,

approved of by the proprietor, will be taken payable four Months

after date.--III. The Proprietor will allow a discount of 2½

_per Cent._ to those who chuse to pay ready money.--IV. Such

goods as shall not be taken away as aforesaid, the Proprietor

shall be at liberty to re-sell without further notice, either by

public sale or private contract; and all losses attending such

re-sale shall be made good by the respective Buyer or Buyers at

this Sale.--V. If any dispute shall arise between any Bidders

concerning any lot, such lot to be put up again.--VI. The Buyer

to pay Six-pence per lot deposit, in order to bind the bargain,

which is not returnable.”

Then follows:--

A CATALOGUE, &c.

LOT. £ _s._ _d._

1 A Tythe pig group, 1 pair of large gardeners,

1 pair of Jupiter and Juno, 1 pair of Harlequin

and Columbine, and 2 pair of basket boys 3 11 0

2 A set of 3 jars, decorated with natural flowers,

and gilt

3 Five dozen of small boys

4 A pair of large singers, 1 pair of sitting pipe and

guitar figures, 1 pair of less ditto, 1 pair of

sporting figures, and 12 boys 3 17 0

5 A compleat set of tea china, double shape,

enameled with roses, festoons of green husks,

and purple and gold border, 40 pieces 5 5 0

6 Two Cupid groups, 1 pair of large Bacchus and

Ariadne, 1 pair of pheasant figures, and 12 boys 5 14 0

7 Six double shape caudle cups and stands, enameled

with Dresden flowers, and gilt

8 A pair of figures Shakspeare and Milton 3 3 0

9 Two second size Dianas, 1 pair of piping shepherds,

1 pair of large gardeners, 1 pair of sporting

figures, and 1 pair of Mars and Venus 4 15 0

10 Two breakfast sets, enameled fine blue and white,

15 pieces each 3 5 0

11 A figure of Andromache, 1 pair of figures Diana

and Apollo, 1 pair of boys riding on goat and

panther, and 2 pair of small singers 6 1 6

12 A very elegant compleat set of tea china,

Devonshire shape, enameled with roses, and

richly finished with fine blue and gold, 41

pieces 10 10 0

13 A pair of figures Andromache and Plenty, 1 pair

of haymakers, 1 pair of Mars and Minerva, and

2 basket boys 4 15 0

14 A pair of Madona groups, and 2 pair of sitting

fruit and flower figures 3 6 0

15 Twelve very elegant cups and saucers, slop bason,

cream ewer, and 4 plates 6 13 0

16 A large pastoral group, and 1 pair of groups

Poetry and Music 5 15 6

17 Five dozen of small boys

18 A beautiful breakfast set, fluted, enameled fine

blue and gold, 18 pieces 3 18 0

19 A pair of grotesque Punches, 1 pair of sitting

figures, 1 set of standing seasons, and 1 pair

of gardeners 3 15 0

20 Two groups of the four seasons, 2 pair of fruit

and flower figures 4 18 0

21 A compleat set of tea china, plain shape,

enameled, fine blue and gold border, the Prince

of Wales’s pattern, 41 pieces 8 8 0

22 A breakfast set handled cups, small waved flute,

18 pieces 2 0 0

23 Twelve French shape cups and saucers, ditto 2 2 0

24 A pair of figures Diana and Apollo, and 1 set of

small elements 4 10 0

25 A set of large antique seasons, 1 pair of large

singers, 1 pair of pipe and guitar figures,

and 2 pair of basket boys 4 1 0

26 A compleat set of tea china, white and gold,

41 pieces

27 Six very elegant caudle cups covers and stands,

enameled with flowers and fine blue and gold 6 0 0

28 A group of Poetry, 1 pair of Mars and Venus

candlesticks, 1 pair of piping shepherds, and

1 pair of boys riding on goat and panther 4 12 0

29 A pair of large pipe and guitar candlesticks,

1 pair of garland shepherds, and 1 pair of

large pipe and guitar figures 4 0 0

30 A figure of Falstaff, a figure of Neptune, 1

pair of large gardeners, and 2 figures of

Prudence 5 4 0

31 A very capital compleat set of tea china,

fluted, richly enameled with fine blue and

gold, 41 pieces 14 14 0

32 A compleat set of tea china, waved shanked,

enameled with roses, festoon of red husks, and

green and gold border, 41 pieces

33 A group of Jason and Medea before Diana, and 1

pair of groups, Poetry and Music 5 5 0

34 A figure of Diana, two pair of pheasant figures,

1 pair of boys riding on goat and panther, 3

pair of small music figures, and 4 busts 5 5 0

35 Six half-pint basons and stands, slop bason,

sugar box, cream ewer, and 2 plates, enameled

fine blue and white 2 6 0

36 A beautiful compleat desert service, enameled

with roses, and fine blue and gold borders,

consisting of 24 plates, 13 comporteers, 1 pair

of cream bowls, covers, stands, and spoons 26 5 0

37 A figure of Justice, 1 set of small elements,

1 pair of Cupids, and 12 boys 4 8 0

38 A group of Jason and Medea before Diana, 1 pair

of pipe and guitar candlesticks, and 2 pair

of haymakers 4 17 0

39 A pair of figures Shakspeare and Milton, and a

figure of Mr. Garrick 4 14 6

40 An elegant compleat set of tea china, new shape,

white and gold, 41 pieces 8 8 0

41 A figure of Andromache, 1 pair of Bacchus and

Ariadne, 1 pair of pipe and guitar figures,

and 1 pair of fruit and flower 4 15 0

42 A pair of Madona groups, a pair of large

gardeners, and 1 pair of sitting figures 4 8 0

43 A very elegant bason and ewer, richly ornamented

with fine blue and gold 2 10 0

44 A compleat set of tea china, Devonshire shape,

enameled with roses, festoons of red husks,

and green and gold borders, 41 pieces 5 5 0

45 A pair of pipe and guitar candlesticks, one pair

of Mars and Venus figures, 1 pair of pipe and

tabor, 1 pair of sporting figures, and 1 pair

of small pipe and guitar 4 9 0

46 A pair of Mars and Venus candlesticks, 2 pair of

sacrifice figures, 6 Cupids, and 12 small boys 4 0 0

47 A group of Poetry, and 1 pair of figures

Andromache and Plenty 4 7 0

48 A beautiful dejune, enameled fine blue and gold 3 13 6

49 A compleat set of tea china, waved shanked,

enameled with festoons of coloured flowers,

and green and gold border, 41 pieces 6 6 0

50 A figure of Falstaff, 1 pair of grotesque Punches,

1 set of Seasons, and 1 pair of Cupids riding

on goat and panther 4 11 0

51 Two Cupid groups, 2 pair of large music figures,

4 seasons, and 4 busts 5 8 0

52 A large figure of Britannia, 1 figure of Justice,

and 1 figure of Falstaff 4 19 0

53 A very elegant breakfast set of plain shanked,

enameled fine blue and gold, 18 pieces 4 9 0

54 A ditto 4 9 0

55 A tythe pig group, 1 set of standing seasons,

1 pair of Mars and Minerva, 1 pair of large

gardeners, and 12 small boys 4 3 0

56 A pair of Madona groups, 2 pair of sacrifice

figures, 1 small group, and 3 pair of small

music figures 5 3 0

57 A compleat set of tea china, new embossed,

enameled with a fine blue and gold border

(the Queen’s pattern) 41 pieces 6 6 0

58 Six caudle cups, covers and stands, ditto 3 12 0

59 A pair of large groups 4 4 0

60 A pair of groups, Poetry and Music, and 1 pair

of boys riding on goat and panther 4 7 0

61 Two figures of Diana, 1 pair of sitting pipe

and guitar figures, and 2 pair of music figures 4 13 0

62 A very elegant compleat set of tea china, fluted,

richly ornamented with fine blue and gold, 41

pieces 14 14 0

63 A figure of Falstaff, 2 pair of Cupids, 1 set

of standing seasons, and 12 small boys 3 15 0

64 A compleat desert service, enameled fine old

japan pattern, consisting of 24 plates, 13

comporteers, and 1 pair of cream bowls,

covers, stands, and spoons 20 0 0

65 A large pastoral group, 2 figures of Diana,

and 1 pair of large singers 5 5 0

66 A pair of groups, Poetry and Music, and 1 pair

of large pipe and guitar figures 4 4 0

67 A very elegant set of tea china handled cups,

white and gold, 41 pieces 8 18 6

68 A group of the Virtues, and 1 ditto of the

quarters 4 4 0

69 Five dozen of small boys

70 A compleat set of tea china, fluted, enameled

fine blue and gold, 41 pieces

71 A set of small elements, 2 pair of large

gardeners, 1 pair of sporting figures, and

3 pair of basket boys 5 3 0

72 Two sets of breakfast sets, small waved flute,

enameled fine blue and white, 17 pieces each 3 19 0

73 A compleat set of tea china, waved shanked,

white and gold, 41 pieces

74 A pair of spring candlesticks, 1 pair of boys

ditto, 1 pair of haymakers, 1 pair of Mars and

Venus figures, 1 pair of small singers, and 2

pair of buck and doe 4 10 0

75 Six Devonshire shape caudle cups, covers, and

stands, enameled fine green and gold 3 12 0

76 Two figures of Neptune, 3 pair of large fruit

and flower figures, 6 squarrels, and 12 boys 5 16 0

77 A set of 3 vauses, enameled with flowers, and

green and gold

78 A pair of figures Andromache and Plenty, and

1 pair of large pipe and guitar candlesticks 4 12 0

79 A very elegant compleat set of tea china,

peacock pattern, enameled fine blue and gold,

41 pieces 11 11 0

80 A tythe pig group, 1 pair of Jupiter and Juno,

2 pair of Harlequin and Columbine, 1 set of

standing seasons, and 12 small boys 4 11 0

81 A pair of groups, Poetry and Music, and 1 pair

of boys riding on goat and panther 4 7 0

82 A breakfast set of bell-shape cups with handles,

enameled fine blue and gold, 18 pieces 3 13 0

83 A ditto 3 13 0

84 A set of elements, 1 pair of singers, and 1 pair

of Mars and Venus figures 5 8 0

85 A pair of figures Shakspeare and Milton 3 3 0

86 A compleat set of tea china, white and gold, 41

pieces

87 A group of 2 Baccants, 1 figure of Andromache,

and 1 figure of Neptune 4 14 0

88 A figure of Diana, 2 pair of sitting pipe and

guitar figures, 1 set of grotesque seasons, 1

pair of Jupiter and Juno, and 12 boys 4 8 0

89 A pair of Madona groups, 1 set of quarters, and

2 pair of basket boys 4 4 0

90 A pair of figures Andromache and Plenty, and a

pair of pipe and guitar chandeliers 4 18 0

91 A figure of Falstaff, 1 set of small elements,

2 Cupids and 2 pair of sporting figures 4 14 0

92 Five dozen of small boys

93 A group of 3 virgins distressing Cupid, and 2

Cupid groups 5 16 0

94 A figure of Diana, 1 pair of haymakers, 2 pair

of small gardeners, 5 desert gardeners, 4

busts, and 12 boys 3 4 0

95 A tythe pig group, 1 pair of sitting pipe and

guitar figures, 1 pair of Harlequins, and 3

pair of basket boys 3 2 0

96 A group of Poetry, 2 pair of small elements,

and 1 pair of sitting pipe and guitar figures 4 11 0

97 A figure of Justice, 1 pair of piping shepherds,

1 set of standing seasons, and 1 pair of

grotesque figures 4 12 0

98 A pair of large groups 4 4 0

99 A pair of Madona groups, 2 pair of sitting

fruit and flower figures, and 3 pair of

small music figures 4 7 0

100 A pair of figures Diana and Apollo, 2 pair

of large gardeners, and 1 pair of sitting

figures 4 14 0

101 A set of large French seasons

102 A pair of pipe and guitar candlesticks, 1 pair

of spring ditto, and a set of standing seasons 3 3 0

103 Æsculapius and Hygiæa, 1 pair of sacrifice

figures, 4 pair of small Turks, 2 pair of

salutation figures, 2 basket boys, 13 birds,

2 dogs, and 4 boys

104 A group of Poetry, 2 pair of sporting figures,

and 1 pair of boys riding on goat and panther 4 2 0

105 A pair of large ice-pails, white and gold 5 5 0

106 A group of Jason and Medea, 1 pair of large

singers, 1 pair of Mars and Minerva, and 2

pair of basket boys 5 1 0

107 A compleat set of tea china, white and gold,

41 pieces

108 A group of Poetry, 8 antique seasons, 1 pair

of sitting figures, 1 pair of music figures,

and 12 boys 4 14 0

109 Four elegant broth basons, covers, and stands,

enameled fine blue and gold pearl border 3 0 0

110 A pair of Madona groups, 1 pair of Jupiter and

Juno, and a set of sitting seasons 4 1 0

111 Twenty-two sundry small figures

112 A beautiful bason and ewer, and 2 punch jugs,

with covers, enameled fine blue and gold 3 18 0

113 A large pastoral group, 4 antique seasons, and

a pair of large gardeners

114 A pair of groups Poetry and Music, and a pair

of boys riding on goat and panther 4 7 0

115 A breakfast set, small flute, enameled with a

fine blue and gold pearl border, 18 Pieces 4 3 0

116 A compleat set of tea china, new embossed,

enameled with a fine blue and gold border,

41 pieces 6 6 0

117 A pair of figures Andromache and Plenty, a

pair of Cupids, and 2 pair of sitting pipe

and guitar 4 13 0

118 Five dozen of small boys

119 A compleat desert service, enameled, fine old

Japan pattern, consisting of 24 plates, 13

comporteers, and 1 pair of cream bowls,

covers, stands, and spoons 26 5 0

120 A figure of Falstaff, 2 pair of Bacchus and

Ariadne, and 1 pair of boys riding on goat

and panther 5 18 0

121 Twelve new shape cups and saucers, 1 slop

bason, sugar-box, cream ewer, and plate,

enameled with fine blue springs, and narrow

blue border 2 0 0

122 A very elegant compleat set of tea china

handled cups, richly enameled with fine

blue and gold scrole border, 41 pieces 12 12 0

123 A group of the virtues, 1 pair of large

Bacchus and Ariadne, 1 pair of haymakers, and

1 pair of sitting figures 5 3 0

124 A tythe pig group, a set of standing seasons,

a pair of Cupids, a pair of gardeners, and 3

pair of basket boys 4 2 0

125 Twelve chocolate cups and saucers, enameled

with festoons of green husks, and pink and

gold border 3 18 0

126 A beautiful dejune, enameled, with vauses, &c.

and fine blue and gold 4 4 0

127 A pair of figures Shakspeare and Milton, and a

pair of sitting pipe and guitar figures 4 4 0

128 A figure of Falstaff, and a set of elements 4 5 0

129 Two breakfast sets, enameled fine blue and white 4 6 0

130 A pair of pipe and guitar candlesticks, and a

pair of spring ditto 2 3 0

131 Six elegant caudle cups, covers, and stands,

enameled fine blue and gold

132 Two breakfast sets, enameled fine blue and

white, 18 pieces each 4 6 0

133 Two Cupid groups, a pair of singers, and a pair

of boys riding on goat and panther 4 11 0

134 A figure of Falstaff, 4 small elements, and 2

pair of Jupiter and Juno 4 13 0

135 A beautiful compleat set of tea china, enameled

with festoons of gold husks, and fine blue

and gold border (Prince of Wales’s pattern) 10 10 0

136 A pair of large groups 5 15 0

137 A pair of figures Shakspeare and Milton 3 2 0

138 Six elegant caudle cups, covers, and stands,

enameled fine blue and gold

139 A breakfast set, enameled with blue and gold

springs, and blue and gold border, 18 pieces 3 13 0

140 A pair of large pipe and guitar candlesticks,

and a set of small French seasons 3 18 0

141 A tythe pig group, 1 pair of large gardeners,

2 pair of sitting pipe and guitar figures,

and 3 pair of basket boys 3 14 0

142 A compleat set of tea china, white and gold

143 A season group, 1 pair of Bacchus and Ariadne,

and 3 odd figures

144 A pair of large Bacchus and Ariadne, 1 pair

of boys riding on goat and panther, 1 pair

of large fruit and flower figures, 3 pair

of small ditto, and 1 pair of basket boys 4 16 0

145 A compleat set of tea china, peacock pattern,

enameled green and gold, 41 pieces 8 8 0

146 Four caudle cups, covers, and stands, enameled

with roses, festoons, and purple and gold

border 2 8 0

147 Two large pastoral groups 4 4 0

148 A pair of figures Andromache and Plenty, and

1 pair of grotesque Punches 3 17 0

149 Five dozen of small boys

150 A elegant compleat set of tea china, white

and gold, 41 pieces

151 A group of Jason and Medea before Diana,

1 pair of large singers, 1 pair of large

gardeners, and 1 pair of sporting figures 4 13 0

152 A large pastoral group, and 1 pair of pipe

and guitar candlesticks 3 17 6

153 A beautiful compleat desert service, enameled

with roses and fine blue and gold borders,

consisting of 24 plates, 13 comporteers,

and 1 pair of cream bowls, covers, stands,

and spoons 26 5 0

154 A figure of Andromache, a pair of antique

seasons, a pair of Bacchus and Ariadne, a

pair of sacrifice figures, and a pair of

fruit and flower 4 13 0

155 A compleat set of tea china, white and gold,

41 pieces

156 Five dozen of small boys

157 A large group of three virgins, a pair of

large seasons, and 2 pair of music figures

158 Six chocolate cups and saucers, enameled with

fine blue and gold borders, and 6 ditto,

enameled with Dresden flowers and gold edge 3 6 0

159 Four basons, covers, and stands, enameled with

red husks, and fine blue and gold border 3 3 0

160 A group of Baccants, and 2 pair of large elements 5 14 0

161 A pair of figures Andromache and Plenty, and

2 pair of sporting figures 4 4 0

162 A compleat desert service, enameled fine old

blue and gold Japan pattern, consisting of

24 plates, 13 comporteers, and a pair of

cream bowls, covers, stands, and spoons 18 18 0

163 A pair of Mars and Venus candlesticks, 2 pair

of haymakers, and 1 set of quarters 4 6 0

164 A very elegant compleat set of tea china,

enameled with roses, and fine blue and

gold border, 41 pieces 8 8 0

165 Twelve breakfast basons and stands, slop bason,

sugar box, and 12 bread and butter plates,

white and gold 4 10 0

166 A tythe pig group, 2 pair of small singers, 2

pair of sporting figures, and 3 pair of

basket boys 3 16 0

167 A group of three virgins, a pair of large

seasons, and a pair of Bacchus and Ariadne 5 15 6

168 A compleate set of tea china, enameled fine

blue and gold, 41 pieces

169 A group of the quarters, 1 pair of large

elements, and 6 antique seasons 4 18 0

170 A pair of Madona groups, and 2 pair of Mars

and Minerva 3 18 0

171 A compleat set of tea china, white and gold

dontel edge, 41 pieces 4 4 0

172 A Cupid group, a pair of season groups, and 2

pair of small Bacchus and Ariadne 5 0 0

173 Five dozen of small boys

174 A very elegant compleat set of tea china,

fluted, richly enameled with fine blue

and gold, 41 pieces 14 14 0

175 A pair of pipe and guitar chandeliers, 1 pair

of garland shepherds, and 1 pair of French

shepherds 4 2 0

176 A pair of Welch taylors, 2 pair of sporting

figures, 2 pair of small gardeners, and 1

set of sitting seasons 4 8 0

177 A compleat desert service, enameled with groups

of flowers, and fine blue and gold vini

border, consisting of 24 plates, 13

comporteers, and 1 pair of cream-bowls and

stands 25 0 0

178 A pair of figures Andromache and Plenty, 1

pair of fruit flower figures, and 1 pair

of sacrifice figures 4 2 0

179 A figure of Diana, 1 pair of sitting pipe

and guitar figures, 2 pair of Harlequin

and Columbine, and 2 pair of basket boys 3 19 0

180 An elegant compleat set of tea china, 41 pieces

181 A group of the 4 seasons, 1 set of French

seasons, 2 antique seasons, and 6 small

Turks

182 A Cupid group, 1 pair of Bacchus and Ariadne,

6 antique seasons, and 12 boys

183 A set of 5 large vauses, enameled compartments,

with figures, and richly gilt

184 A group of poetry, and 1 pair of large figures 3 6 0

185 A pair of groups Poetry and Music, and 4 odd

figures

186 Five dozen of small boys

187 A tythe pig group, 1 set of standing seasons,

1 pair of sitting figures, and 2 pair of

small gardeners 3 11 0

188 A pair of boy candlesticks, 2 pair of large

gardeners, 1 pair of sitting pipe and

guitar figures, and 2 pair of small fruit

and flower 3 18 0

189 Sundries

190 Ditto

191 Ditto

192 Ditto

193 Ditto

194 Ditto

195 Ditto

196 Ditto

197 Ditto

198 Ditto

[Illustration: Figs. 47 to 50.--From the Museum of Practical

Geology.]

A few months before Mr. Duesbury’s death--which, as I have stated, took

place in November, 1786--he took his son William into partnership,

and the business was carried on under the style of “Messrs. William

Duesbury and Son.” It thus appears upon the title-pages of the sale

catalogue of 22nd September in that year, but is altered back to “Mr.

William Duesbury” alone in that for 21st December following. For some

years before the death of his father the younger Mr. William Duesbury

had devoted himself untiringly to the advancement of the works. No

man could have been more highly respected, both by his workmen and by

all who knew or had dealings with him at home and abroad, than was

this second William Duesbury, and under his care the works continued

to grow in importance with an astonishing rapidity, and soon became

by far the most prosperous and most successful in the kingdom. The

connection which had previously been formed with the principal

families, from royalty downwards, spread and increased, and among the

hundreds of names of purchasers on the sale sheets and other papers,

I come across, at random, those of the King, the Queen, the Prince of

Wales (afterwards George IV.), who was a large customer for dessert,

tea, coffee, and other services; the Duchess of Devonshire, William

Pitt, Sir Hugh Pallisser, the Margravine of Anspach, the Duke of

Northumberland, Lord Howe, and indeed almost every title then in the

peerage. Besides this, several ladies of distinction painted groups

of flowers and other pictures on porcelain, supplied to them for the

purpose by Mr. Duesbury, who afterwards fired and finished them for

their own special use. Of these ladies, Lady Margaret Fordyce, Lady

Plymouth, and Lady Aubrey executed some beautiful drawings, which

probably may still remain in their families. Lord Lonsdale also had

twenty-four plates painted with landscapes in Cumberland, from his

own sketches, and many other noblemen and gentlemen did the same;

many sets of china being painted with views of different parts of the

estates of those for whom they were manufactured. Bronze figures of

horses--probably originally belonging to the famous Duke of Newcastle,

whose work on Horsemanship is the finest ever produced--were lent to

Mr. Duesbury from Welbeck Abbey; and Lady Spencer also sent some choice

moulds for working from. Altogether the Derby works, during the latter

part of the first Mr. Duesbury’s time, and during the life of his son,

were, as I have said, the most successful, the best conducted, and the

most fashionable establishment of the kind in the kingdom.

[Illustration: Fig. 51.--“King’s vase,” Museum of Practical

Geology.]

Constant application to business, and the wear and tear of the brain

from incessant anxieties, about 1795 made such fearful inroads on the

health of Mr. Duesbury, that he was induced by his friends to take into

partnership a Mr. Michael Kean, a very clever miniature painter, an

Irishman by birth, who brought his talents to bear on the works, and

by his skill in designing and drawing added much to the beauty of the

articles manufactured. His connection however, seems to have been a

source of still greater anxiety to Mr. Duesbury, whose mind gradually

gave way under his load of care. In 1796 Mr. Duesbury died, and after

a time Mr. Kean (who had for a time the management of the business for

the widow and her young family) married the widow, but not long after,

from reasons into which it is needless to enter, as they do not affect

the narrative, withdrew hastily from the concern, and the works were

then continued for, and afterwards by, the third William Duesbury. Mrs.

Duesbury, by her second marriage (with Michael Kean) had a family of

five children. She died in 1829, after having passed a not altogether

happy life. This third William Duesbury (grandson of the founder of the

works) was the eldest son of William Duesbury by his wife, Elizabeth

Edwards. He was born in 1787, and on the 26th September, 1808, married

Annabella, daughter of William E. Sheffield, Esq., of the Polygon,

Somers Town, London, and for a time the concern was carried on under

the firm of “Duesbury and Sheffield.”

In 1815, Mr. Duesbury leased the premises to Mr. Robert Bloor, who had

been a clerk to his father, and had carried on the business during Mr.

Duesbury’s minority, and the entire concern ultimately passed into his

hands, and was carried on by him for the first few years with much

judgment and skill.

[Illustration: Fig. 52.]