Fig. 624.
Fig. 625.
It will be seen from what I have said, that the Coalport works had already, before the commencement of the present century, absorbed those of Caughley, of Jackfield, and of the opposition establishment of Messrs. Anstice, Horton, and Rose. Some years later, the Swansea Porcelain Works, which had risen somewhat into repute, were discontinued, and the moulds, &c, bought by Mr. Rose, who removed them, along with the workmen, to Coalport, about the year 1820. Another famed manufactory, though small, that of Nantgarw, established by Billingsley, the famous flower painter, of Derby, and his son-in-law, Walker, also of Derby, in 1816 (under the assumed name of Beeley and Walker), and which produced, perhaps, the finest examples of porcelain with granulated fracture ever made, also soon afterwards was merged into the Coalport establishment. Billingsley and Walker, on discontinuing the works at Nantgarw, removed to Coalport, with all their moulds and processes, and continued employed there until Billingsley’s death, which took place in 1828. Walker was a remarkably clever workman, and did much during the time of his continuance at Coalport to improve the art of china-making. He removed thence to America, where he established a pottery, which, I believe, he still continues to work. The Nantgarw porcelain was very expensive to make, but was remarkably fine in its body and texture. The original recipes for this peculiar body are in the possession of Messrs. Rose & Co.; and it can be made at Coalport of as fine a quality as ever. I have carefully examined specimens made at Nantgarw with others made by Billingsley and Walker when they first came to Coalport, and these again with examples made by Messrs. Rose in 1860, and they appear all to be of equal excellence of body. It is, however, too expensive a process to be followed to any extent, and is never manufactured there now.
In 1820 Mr. John Rose received the gold medal of the Society of Arts for his improvements in the manufacture of china. The prize, which was offered for the best porcelain glaze produced without lead, was competed for by Copelands, Davenports, and all the principal manufacturers, as well as by Mr. Rose, but was honourably gained by him. It bears the inscription—“To Mr. John Rose, MDCCCXX., for his improved glaze for porcelain.”
The history of the works has been one of complete success from their first establishment to the present day; and this success has been attained by untiring and unflagging energy on the part of the proprietary, and by a determination to make their manufactory second to none in existence in extent and in beauty and purity of work. The porcelain trade owes much to the ability and energy of Mr. John Rose; and this skill, ability, and energy is equally the characteristic of the present proprietor, Mr. Pugh.
Both at the Great Exhibition in 1851 and that of 1862, as well as at the French Exhibition in 1855, Messrs. Rose & Co. carried off medals for their productions; and these recognitions of excellence have been continued at the later International Exhibitions. At the first a magnificent dessert service in the difficult but truly beautiful Rose du Barry colour, which the firm had succeeded in restoring in all its beauty to the ceramic art, was exhibited, and excited considerable interest. This service, considered by competent judges to equal the original Sèvres in evenness of colour, was purchased by Lord Ashburton. At the second, Messrs. Rose exhibited a large number of exquisite examples of their make; and services were purchased by the Emperor of the French, by M. Fould, and by the principal savans of Paris. At the third, the selection of vases and other decorative pieces was of the finest possible character.
