Fig. 702.
Fig. 703.
The marks used by Messrs. Maw are—
MAW & CO
BENTHALL
WORKS
BROSELEY
SALOP
MAW & CO
BROSELEY
MAW & CO
BENTHALL
BROSELEY
MAW & CO
BROSELEY
SALOP
MAW & CO
The enamelled hearth-pavements and wall-tiles are another great speciality of these works, and are of unsurpassable richness and beauty, as are also their majolica tiles and fire-place linings. These are produced in every possible variety, and are remarkable not only for the richness and delicacy of the colours which are used, and for their purely artistic and masterly combination, but for the excellence of both body and glaze, and the scrupulous accuracy of forms for fitting together. The same remark applies to the embossed and indented tiles, and also to those which are partially pierced for open work. They are all equally good, and bear evidence of that thorough appreciation of art which pervades all the productions of the Benthall works. The engravings (Figs. [702] and [703]) show two of their majolica chimney-pieces. The first is of the finest majolica, with a fire-place lining of encaustic, or enamel, tiles, which would also be used for the hearth. The decorations are in high and bold relief, and being coloured with pure artistic taste, have a charming and very striking effect. It is 4 feet 8 inches in height, and 7 feet in width, and is, of course, furnished with a marble shelf at the top—which, however, is not shown in the illustration.