Fig. 93.—Wedgwood Cameo.
Fig. 94.—Teapot.
Fig. 94, a teapot, which is not remarkable for beauty of form or execution, is given as an example of the work done by the English potters before Wedgwood’s day, to meet the ordinary wants of common life. It should be kept in mind, in estimating Wedgwood’s character, that he combined, in an eminent degree, the artistic and the commercial faculties, and thus was able to produce results of a striking kind. Like Shakespeare, he was omnivorous, and browsed wherever the pastures were sweet. All food was good which could be turned into delectable milk.
Some of the most perfect of Wedgwood’s work was made in the black basalt; which, however, lacks the brilliancy that colors gave to the jasper-ware. The example engraved ([Fig. 95]) is from Mr. Wales’s collection.