for Coalbrookdale, or the same two letters conjoined thus—
sometimes also Coalbrookdale appears in full, and at others the contraction “C Dale,” in similar writing letters.
Another mark, adopted in 1820, was of large size, and will, perhaps, be as well understood by description as engraving. It is a circle of nearly two inches diameter, in which is a wreath of laurel encircling the words, “Coalport Improved Felt Spar Porcelain,” in four lines across. Surrounding the wreath are the words, “Patronised by the Society of Arts. The Gold Medal awarded May 30, 1820;” while beneath, and outside the circle, is the name “I. Rose and Co.” This mark was adopted consequent on Mr. John Rose obtaining the Society of Arts’ gold medal for “his improved glaze for porcelain” to which I have before alluded, and the articles on which it appears are of extremely good material and very perfect glaze.
Other marks adopted by this firm, although but seldom used (the great bulk of the goods, as I have said before, being sent out without any mark at all), are the following:—
The first of these is a monogram of the letters C B D, for Coalbrookdale, so joined together as to produce a very characteristic and distinctive mark. The second, the same monogram, surrounded by a garter bearing the name of “Daniell, London”—a firm for many years, like Mortlocks and other leading houses, connected with Coalport or Coalbrookdale, who have had that mark used for some especial orders. The third and last is the most recent mark, and is almost the only one now used by the Coalport works: it embraces the initials of the various manufactories which have from time to time been incorporated with, or merged into, the Coalport establishment. Thus the scroll—which at first sight may, to the uninitiated, look like a short “and” (&)—will, on examination, be seen to be a combination of the writing letters, C and S, for Coalport and Salopian, enclosing within its bows the three letters, C, S, and N, denoting respectively Caughley, Swansea, and Nantgarw.
Having now passed through the history of these famed works, and shown their connection with others, both in manufacture and in printing, it only remains to say a few words on the varieties of goods for which the Salopian works have been famed, both in times past and at present. First and foremost, then, of course, come the blue painted and printed wares copied from Chinese patterns, for which both it and the early Worcester works were remarkable. The first painted, as well as printed, wares were close imitations of the foreign; but groups of flowers of original design, &c., were also introduced, and designs based, perhaps, on foreign models were adopted. Groups of figures, in the characteristic costume of the period, were also executed with great taste and ability. Of the Chinese patterns, the two most famous—the well-known “willow pattern” (known generally among the trade as the “Broseley pattern”) and the “blue dragon” (also known as the “Broseley blue dragon”)—owe their first introduction to the Caughley works; and this fact alone is sufficient to entitle them to more than ordinary notice. The willow pattern has undoubtedly been the most popular, and had the most extensive sale of any pattern ever introduced. It has, of course, been made by most houses, but the credit of its first introduction belongs to Caughley; and early examples, bearing the Caughley mark—the cups without handles, and ribbed and finished precisely like the foreign—are rare. The dragon, known still as “the Broseley blue dragon” or “Broseley blue Canton,” was also a most successful imitation of the Chinese, and almost rivalled the “willow” in popularity. A special form of jug, considered in those days to be very far advanced in art, known technically as the “cabbage-leaf jug,” was also first made at the Caughley works.
Later on, the “worm sprig” pattern, the “tournay sprig,” and other equally successful patterns were here introduced from the Dresden, as were also the celebrated Dresden raised flowers and the “Berlin chain edge” pattern. About 1821 a peculiar marone-coloured ground, which is much sought after, was introduced at Coalport, by Walker, of Nantgarw, of whom I have before spoken; and at this time many marked improvements were made in the different processes of manufacture.
