In the former of these two letters it will have been observed that mention is made of a “mould of the large figure of Britannia;” this was one of the finest figures produced at Chelsea or Derby, and is now of great rarity.
The “hands” employed at Chelsea, so far as they are entered in these “weekly bills,” appear to have been as follows. I give their names and the rates of wages they were receiving:—
| Boarman, or Boreman | 5s. 3d. per day. |
| Wolliams, or Wollams | 4s. 6d. „ |
| Askew | 4s. 2d. „ |
| Jenks, or Jinks | 3s. 6d. „ |
| Snowden | 3s. 6d. „ |
| R. Boyer | 3s. 6d. „ |
| Gauron | 8s. 9d. „ |
| Barton | 3s. 6d. „ |
| Richard Roberts | 2s. 6d. „ |
| Piggot | 1s. 9d. „ |
| And 1/6 for Sunday, for taking care of the horse. | |
| Thomas | 1s. 6d. „ |
| (Turning the wheel for a Thrower.) | |
| Inglefield | 1s. 8d. „ |
During the time the Chelsea and Derby works were carried on conjointly, the proprietor held periodical sales by Messrs. Christie and Ansell, “at their Great Room, next Cumberland House, Pall Mall,” and afterwards “by the Candle,” at his own warehouse, by Mr. William Hunter of New Bond Street. Of many of these sales (see “Derby” china works) I possess catalogues—some of them priced; and they are particularly valuable and interesting as describing the articles made at the period. The goods offered for sale were evidently the best that were produced, and many of them are of a most costly and magnificent character. From the catalogues of 1781 and 1782—three years before the Chelsea works were taken down—I have selected a few examples:—
- An elegant Etruscan-shape Vase, enamel’d in compartments with a figure of Shenston, and fine blue ground striped with gold.
- Six beautiful Caudle Cups, covers and stands enamel’d with festoons of green husks, garland of coloured flowers, and fine blue and gold.
- One large Flower Pot, green and gold, finely painted in compartments, with a landscape and figures.
- A beautiful large group of the three Virtues, in biscuit.
- One group, Jason and Medea before Diana.
- 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-shaped Vases to match, figure of Virtue on one side, and Prudence on the other.
- One pair of basket-work antique-handle 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 2 Virgins awaking Cupid, in biscuit.
- One ditto of two Bacchants dressing Pan with a garland of flowers.
- 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 beautiful Seve pattern compleat Desert Service, enamel’d with roses, fine mosaic border, richly finished with chased and burnished gold; consisting of 24 plates, 3 large oblong compotiers, 2 heart-shaped, 4 round, 4 square, 4 small oblong ditto, and a pair of cream bowls, covers, stands, and spoons.
- One beautiful figure of Shakespear in biscuit, and fine blue and gold pedestal.
- One group of 3 Boys playing at Hazard, and 1 ditto of a galanter show, in biscuit.
- An elegant Stand for different cheeses and butter, enamel’d with vases and fine mazarine blue and gold (rivitted).
- A beautiful large group of 3 Graces and 2 Cupids, supposed to be crowning her Majesty with garland of flowers, in biscuit.
- 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 burnished gold, the figures representing, a votaress of Bacchus, and Innocence washing her hands at an altar.
- An elegant Seve pattern complete Desert Service, enamel’d with roses, and a rich mosaic and gold border; consisting of three dozen plates, 2 large oblong compotiers, 4 round, 2 heart-shaped, 4 large square, 4 small oblong, and 1 large ditto, with a foot for the centre, and a pair of cream bowls, covers, stands, and spoons.
- One superb and elegant large Vase, with therms, enamel’d in compartments, with figures of the three Graces, enrich’d with chased burnish and gold.
- One pair of beautiful oval Jars to match; the figures represent Apollo and Agrippina lamenting over the ashes of Germanicus.
- A pair Neptune Head Drinking Mugs, enamel’d and gilt.
- A pair Salad Dishes, enamel’d with a group of coloured flowers, festoons of green husks, and pea-green and gold borders.
- Six Egg-Spoons, 6 Asparagus Skewers, and 6 Egg-Cups, blue and white.
- One pair Foxes Heads, for drinking-cups.
- A large and elegant Ink-Stand, enamel’d and richly finished with burnished gold.
- A pair of beautiful Caudle Cups, covers and stands peacock pattern, enamel’d with gold medallions, festoons of green husks, and richly gilt.
- One pair of figures, Shakespear and Milton, in biscuit.
- Six Finger Cups and stands, enamel’d with festoons of green flowers and gold edge.
- One pair of elegant small Ice-Pails, for pint bottles, enamel’d in compartments with figures, fine crimson ground, richly finished with chased and burnished gold.
- One pair of beautiful Cabinet Cups, enamel’d with natural flowers and gold stripes.
- An elegant Punch Jug, or Coffee Pot, enamel’d with flowers, and fine blue and gold border.
- One pair of beautiful Lamps, enamel’d, with vases, and fine blue and gold.
- One superbly elegant large Vase, with therms, beautifully enamelled in compartments with a landscape, and figures representing a Roman marriage; and a pair ewer-shape Vases, enamel’d with figures of Minerva and Juno, fine blue ground, richly finished with chased and burnished gold.
- One pair beautiful Tripods, fine blue and gold.
- A beautiful group of 4 Cupids, 1 pair figures, Mars and Venus, 1 pair Baccus and Ariadne, and 2 pair music figures.
- A set of 8 Views in Windsor Park, by Mr. Sandby; very fine impressions in elegant green and gold frames.
- A set of 5 superbly elegant Vauses, enamel’d in compartments with figures and landscapes, gold stripes, richly ornamented with fine blue and gold; the center vase is enamel’d with a figure of Mars, the two side pieces with figures of Damon and Delia, Paris and Œnone, and the two end pieces with a shepherd and lamb, and shepherdess with a birdcage.
- Two pair elegant Rummers, enamel’d with groups of coloured flowers, and fine blue and gold border.
- A beautiful large Vase, with therms, enamel’d in compartments with a landscape on one side, shepherd with a lamb and shepherdess with a birdcage on the other side, gold stripes, richly ornamented with green and gold.
- One pair of beautiful Vases to correspond, enamel’d in compartments with figures of Damon and Delia, Paris and Œnone.
- A round Cheese Stand, enamel’d with a vase, fine mazarine blue border, richly finished, with chased and burnished gold.
- A superb and elegant large Vause, with therms, beautifully enamel’d with figures of Wisdom and Vigilance on one side, and a landscape on the other; 2 ewer shape ditto to match, enamel’d with figures of Virtue and Fortitude, in compartments, fine blue ground, richly finished with chased and burnished gold.
The manufactory was situated in Lawrence Street, Chelsea, at the corner of Justice Walk, and was held by Mr. Spremont—or, at all events, one house was—at the yearly rental of £24.
Sept. 5th, 1770. Recd. of Mr. Sproemont, by the Hands of Mr. Morgan, Twelve Pound for Half a Years Rent, Due for a House at Chalsa at Lady Day, 1770. I say Recd. by Me, Thos. Bush, Executor to the late Mr. Chas. Ross, £12.
Several of the adjoining houses are said to have been used as show and ware rooms; but the whole of the premises have been, of course, rebuilt many years. In a pleasant gossiping conversation between Nollekins, the sculptor, and Betew, a friend of Hogarth, related in Smith’s “Life of Nollekins,” the following allusion to the works and its situation is made:—“The factory stood just below the bridge, upon the site of Lord Dartery’s House. ‘My father worked for them at one time,’ said Nollekins. ‘Yes,’ replied Betew, ‘and Sir James Thornhill designed for them. Mr. Walpole has at Strawberry Hill half-a-dozen china plates by Sir James, which he bought at Mr. Hogarth’s sale.[61] Paul Ferg painted for them. The cunning rogues produced very white and delicate ware, but then they had their clay from China, which when the Chinese found out, they would not let the captains have any more for ballast, and the consequence was that the whole concern failed.’”
It is much to be regretted that no view of the works is known to be in existence; and their absolute site is not, as far as I am aware, marked on any plan of the locality.
The following relate to these works, and possess more than a passing interest:—