Watcombe.
Watcombe Pottery.—The works at Watcombe, St. Mary Church, about two miles from Torquay, in Devonshire, were established in 1869, and have made more rapid progress in the time than any other manufactory on record. Their establishment owes its origin to the discovery a few years ago, by G. T. Allen, Esq., of Watcombe House, of a bed of the finest plastic clay, of considerable extent and depth.
This discovery was made while excavating behind his residence, and Mr. Allen, who is a gentleman of great learning and of refined taste, and who is son of Dr. Allen, Bishop of Ely, and was the last Master of Dulwich College before the late changes made in that institution, took immediate steps to have its qualities for ceramic purposes tested. A company was immediately afterwards formed for the getting and sale of the terra-cotta clay to various potters; but, after experiments had been made, and its unique beauty, when worked, discovered, it was wisely resolved to erect a pottery on the spot, and to convert the clay immediately from the pits into Art-manufactures and architectural enrichments. Shortly afterwards, the company were fortunate enough to secure the services of Mr. Charles Brock, of Hanley, in Staffordshire—a gentleman of the most enlightened taste, and of the most extensive practical knowledge—to become the manager and Art-director of the concern. Mr. Brock at once turned his attention to the development of the resources of the clay thus fortunately discovered; and having brought together a number of skilled workmen and workwomen from the Staffordshire potteries, and procured the best possible models and modellers, soon produced Art-works which are quite unequalled in this country, in works of this character and material. At the present time about one hundred persons are employed at the Watcombe works, and there can be but little doubt that, as they are yet quite in their infancy, that number will be considerably increased as their resources become more developed. The Watcombe clay is remarkably fine, clean, and pure; and, with skilful manipulation, and the requisite degree of heat in firing, has a warmth, delicacy, and pureness of colour, and an evenness of tint, that is very gratifying to the eye; while the surface in the “turned” specimens is fine, smooth, and almost velvety to the touch. It is capable of being modelled into raised flowers and other ornaments, and is eminently adapted for most decorative purposes. Many of the borders and pressed ornaments have almost the sharpness, as they have quite the general effect, of those made of jasper body; indeed, many of the productions bear a very strong and marked general resemblance, in appearance, to those of jasper ware; and they are superior in many respects to the much-vaunted terra cotta of France and Germany.
Fig. 726.
Figs. 727 to 733.—Watcombe Terra Cotta.
The Art-productions of the Watcombe pottery are extremely varied, and show how capable this local clay is of being turned to good account in a variety of ways. Among the more notable productions are statuettes and busts, for which the clay is peculiarly suitable. Of these, the difficult figure of “The Disc Thrower” is one of the most successful, both in modelling, in firing, and in all the other manipulative processes. Another artistic statuette is a sweetly pretty figure of a country girl, bare-footed and reclining. Her right hand holds up her apron filled with flowers, while in her left she holds an open book, which she is intently reading. The conception of the figure, simple and graceful in the highest degree, is remarkably good, and the execution is free and artistic. In others, a charming effect is produced by leaving the figure itself of the natural red of the body, and introducing a lighter tinted clay for the drapery in which they are partly enveloped; this, again, being lighted up and relieved here and there with a slight touch of colour. Among the busts are a pair of Byron and Scott—two of the most popular subjects that could be produced—and of full life-size, being about two feet six inches in height, and two feet in width. In modelling, these busts are among the most easy, graceful, and life-like we have ever seen, either in marble, in parian, or in any other material, while as productions in warm-tinted terra-cotta they surpass anything yet produced. They are not only life-like portraits of these two great and widely-different types of men, as regards features and figure and pose, but they convey an actual reflex of the mind of each in the expression which the modeller has caught and perpetuated. The tint of the Watcombe terra-cotta is a delicate rich warm red, with what may be truly called a “bloom” overspreading its surface. It is, therefore, on that account, as well as for its matchless fineness and purity, eminently adapted for busts and statuary; and, for such large size busts as the pair we are writing about, it is infinitely superior to any other material. The vases, which are made in endless variety, are characterized by extreme chasteness and elegance of outline, and by excellent taste in decoration, whether that decoration consists in festoons of hand-modelled flowers, in pressed work, in milling, in printing, or in painting. Many of them in form and in ornamentation, although of so different a body, bear comparison with the better specimens of Wedgewood-ware, and exhibit a purity of taste which is quite refreshing. For tea or déjeuné services, the insides of the teapots and cream-ewers are simply, but judiciously glazed; while the cups are, as in some old oriental examples, lined with celeste, which colour is also occasionally introduced with good taste, on the handles and mouldings. Brackets, of charming design, candlesticks, jugs, medallions, tobacco-jars, spill-cases, flower-stands—and, indeed, all the articles produced—bear the same stamp of care and elegance. The turning is done with admirable precision; the moulding with a refreshing delicacy of finish; and the gilding and enamelling—only sparsely introduced, by the way, and then only as an accessory to the general design—executed with a pure taste and by a master mind. Besides these, it is necessary to mention that architectural decorations and enrichments, statues, garden and flower-vases, pedestals, and garden edgings, besides other articles, are made; the commoner strata of clay being remarkably well adapted, from its hardness and durability, for these purposes. Our engravings convey but a very poor idea of the beauty and elegance of form of the vases, &c., here produced; the purest taste characterizes the various articles. The works are carried on by a company, under the style of “The Watcombe Terra Cotta Clay Company,” consisting of seven proprietors. They are situate about two miles from Torquay, on the Teignmouth Road, near to the picturesque rocks and downs of Watcombe. Large show-rooms have been erected, and everything done to make the Watcombe works attractive and useful. They have been visited by, and received the patronage of, many distinguished persons. The marks used by the company are simply impressed in the body of the ware, or printed on its surface. The usual mark is simply the words “Watcombe, Torquay,” or “Watcombe;” but another, and very picturesque mark has also been adopted—it is a woodpecker on a branch of a tree, with a distant landscape and ship on the sea, within a garter, on which are the words, WATCOMBE TORQUAY.
WATCOMBE,
TORQUAY.