“In the same collection are two books of pencil sketches by a French artist named De la Cour, of plants, trees, festoons of flowers, rococo scrolls, cane handles, frames, chimney-pieces, landscapes (among which is a view of London), figures, single figures for statuettes, &c. Another book contains coloured engravings by Martin Engelbrecht, of Nuremberg, of a great variety of subjects suitable for painting on china: costumes of various nations, ladies and gentlemen splendidly attired, shepherds and shepherdesses, garden scenes and summer-houses, palaces, birds, animals and insects, hunting scenes, musicians, Chinese figures and scenery, interlaced ornaments, &c. A fourth book, published by Edwards and Darley, 1754, consists of engraved subjects,—Chinese interiors, vases, figures, pagodas, bridges, animals, exotic birds, insects, &c. The Chinese designs are mixed up with rococo scrolls and other ornamental work.”
Enough will have been gleaned from the foregoing regarding the various productions of the Bow Works. One or two noted examples, however, require to be specially named, as being usually associated in the minds of collectors with this manufactory. One of these is a well-known small goat milk-jug which was formerly always attributed to Bow. It bears a bee in relief under the spout which was supposed to be allegorical of the initial B of Bow. Some examples, however, are without the bee. They are occasionally marked with a simple triangle, which, however, has been shown to have been occasionally used at Chelsea; and that the goat jugs were also there made.[71]
The marks attributed to the Bow factory are numerous and varied; and some which are so ascribed have not, I believe, the slightest connection with those works. The following are among the marks, said by one writer or other to belong to Bow, but some of them are very doubtful. Indeed, there is almost an absolute certainty that some of those ascribed to Bow, in reality belong to Chelsea and other places. Some of these marks are incised.
Figs. 418 to 450.
Stratford.
The London Chronicle of 1755 contains the following paragraph: “Yesterday four persons, well skilled in the making of British china, were engaged for Scotland, where a new porcelain manufacture is going to be established in the manner of that now carried on at Chelsea, Stratford, and Bow.” From this it is evident that in 1755 a china manufactory, distinct from that at Bow, was carried on at this place. Nothing, however, is at present known as to its history.
Kentish Town.
In the middle of last century John Giles had a small establishment and kiln at Kentish Town, where he finished and burned china, &c., procured in the white from other manufactories. He advertised “to procure and paint, for any person, Worcester porcelain to any or in any pattern;” and here vases and other articles, decorated by himself and by other artists and amateurs, were burned. An interesting reference to this kiln will be found in my account of the Bow china works on another page, where Thomas Craft, speaking of a bowl he had made, writing from memory in 1790, says “about the year 1760:” “I took it in a box to Kentish Town, and had it burned there in Mr. Gyles’s kiln, cost me 3s.” In 1771 Giles took premises in Cockspur Street, as a sale-room, &c. On the 9th of July in that year the lease of these premises was granted from “George Stubbs, of the parish of St. Margaret, Westmr., in the county of Middx., Esq.,“ to James Giles, of the parish of St. James, within the liberty of Westmr., in the said county of Middlx., china-man,” of “all that messuage or tenement and premises, lately called or known by the name of the Gun Tavern, in the parish of St. Martin-in-the-Fields, in the said county of Middx., situate and being on the north side of a street called Cockspur Street, leading from Pall Mall to Charing Cross, and lately in the tenure or occupation of Susannah Cannon, deceased, together with all ways,” &c., &c., for a term of 21 years, at an annual rental of £110. These premises were held from the Crown, on a longer lease, by Stubbs, so that this was a sub-letting to Giles, who had power to enter upon them on the above date, but to be free from rent until September 29th in consideration of any sums he might lay out in repairs, he covenanting to lay out in improvements and repairs £300, if requisite. The deed, in my own possession, bears the signature and seal of “Geo. Stubbs,” and the attesting signatures of “G. Stubbs. Jos. Mead, his Clerk.”
Giles appears to have become involved soon after this, and was assisted with loans and money and in other ways, by Duesbury, of the Derby china works. This is proved by papers in my own possession, amongst which are several notes of hand, as “Borrowed of Mr. Duesbury five guineas, which I promise to repay on demand. James Giles.” “Paid Mr. Heath a Bill on Mr. Giles, dated Feb. 20, at two months, value £120.” “April 1, James Giles’s note due 4th June, 1777, £50.” “May 29, Jas. Giles’s note due July 12, £50,” etc., etc. Ultimately Mr. Duesbury, on the failure of Giles, took to his stock and entire concern, and the original accounts, &c., connected with this are in my own possession. One of these, the balance-sheet of the estate for 1776–77, is very curious as showing some of the fashionable people with whom he did business:—