Fig. 147.—Fine Chelsea Vase.
About 1769 the Chelsea works went into the hands of Duesbury, of Derby, who carried them on in connection with his Derby works until about 1784, when all were transferred to Derby.
The paste or body used at Chelsea was so soft and tender that it was nearly valueless for works of use. It was therefore confined to articles of beauty and luxury, such as vases, bowls, dishes, cups, and tea-services; also to figures in great variety, like those made at Bow. These are much, sought for, and command high prices. They have been counterfeited to some extent.
One very curious incident is quoted by Marryat, from Faulkner’s “History of Chelsea:” “Mr. H. Stephens was told by the foreman of the china-factory (then in the workhouse of St. Luke’s, Middlesex), that Dr. Johnson had conceived a notion that he was capable of improving on the manufacture of china.” He visited the factory with his house-keeper, had access to the various mixing-rooms, made his own composition, had them baked, etc., but always “completely failed.” The doctor retired in disgust.
That the brain of the purblind, the prejudiced, the arrogant British philosopher should have thought of many things, and should have believed himself capable of any and all things, is not surprising; but the sight of him in a porcelain-factory might well enough have originated the stories in history of “the bull in a china-shop.”
One might be pardoned for paying a “good penny” for a teacup modeled by the dexterous hands of Dr. Johnson.
Another curious fact which may interest and encourage us in these “trading-times” is, that the proprietors of the Chelsea works were then obliged to protest and petition against the smuggling of French and Dresden porcelain into England for sale in quantities, under the cover of the ministers’ privilege to import for their own use. So, if all the men in the days of our fathers were brave, they certainly were not all honest.
At the sale of the Bernal[16] collection, in 1855, some Chelsea china sold as follows: