Fig. 707.
Fig. 708.
The white porcelain of Plymouth is one of its notable features, for in it some remarkably fine works exist in different collections. These mostly consist of salt-cellars, pickle-cups, and toilet-pieces, formed of shells and corals, beautifully, indeed exquisitely, modelled from nature. The shells and corals, and other marine objects which compose these pieces, are remarkably true to nature, and their arrangement in groups is very artistic and good. As a rule these pieces are not marked. Some of the forms of these shell groups are shown in the accompanying engravings. The accidental arrangement of the small shells, sea-weeds, and coral, are very characteristic of Plymouth manufacture, and evince a high degree of artistic excellence. The salt-cellars of this description, in the Museum of Practical Geology, are good examples, and useful for reference. In white, too, Cookworthy produced figures, birds, and animals, both singly and in groups, which bore no mark. Amongst the most successful and important productions of the Plymouth works, in white, are busts, of which one or two excellent examples are in existence. The finest of these is a bust, of large size, of King George II., in possession of the late Dr. Cookworthy, of Plymouth, the great-nephew of William Cookworthy, the founder of the works, from whom it has passed in succession to its present owner, who is now the sole representative of the family. The bust, which is remarkably fine, and exquisitely modelled, evidences a very advanced state of Art, and shows great skill, both in modelling, in body, and in firing. Its height is seventeen inches, and its extreme width thirteen inches. Dr. Cookworthy also possessed some remarkably fine allegorical figures, groups for candlesticks, &c., all, although unmarked, said to be authenticated as Plymouth manufacture. An elephant said to be probably of Plymouth manufacture is in the Museum of Practical Geology, as are also Figs. [708] and [713].
Fig. 709.
The prosecution of the new works having progressed satisfactorily, Cookworthy in 1768 took out a patent for the manufacture of “a kind of porcelain newly invented by me, composed of moor-stone or growan, and growan clay.” The patent was dated the 17th of March, 1768, and contained the usual proviso that full specification should be lodged and enrolled within four months of that date. This specification was duly enrolled, and I am happy to be able to give it in extenso to my readers. It is a most interesting document, and contains a great deal of valuable information; it is as follows:—
“To all people to whom these presents shall come, I, William Cookworthy, of Plymouth, in the County of Devon, Chemist, send greeting.
“Whereas His Most Gracious Majesty King George the Third, by Letters Patent bearing date at Westminster the Seventeenth day of March now last past, did give and grant unto me, the said William Cookworthy, my executors, administrators, and assigns, his especial license, full power, sole privilege and authority, that I, the said William Cookworthy, my executors, administrators, and assigns, and every of us, by myself and themselves, and by mine and their deputy or deputys, servants or agents, or such others as I, the said William Cookworthy, my executors, administrators, or assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time, and at all times thereafter during the term of years therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend ‘a kind of Porcellain newly invented by me, compos’d of Moor-stone or Growan, and Growan Clay,’ within that part of His Majesty’s kingdom of Great Britain called England, his dominion of Wales, and town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, in such manner as to me, the said William Cookworthy, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or any of us, should in our discretion seem meet, and that I, the said William Cookworthy, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should and lawfully might have and enjoy the whole profit, benefit, commodity, and advantage from time to time coming, growing, accruing, and arising by reason of the said invention, for and during the term of years therein mentioned, to have, hold, exercise, and enjoy the said license, powers, privileges, and advantages thereinbefore granted unto me, the said William Cookworthy, my executors, administrators, and assigns, for and during and unto the full end and term of fourteen years from the date of the said Letters Patent, next and immediately ensuing, and fully to be compleat and ended according to the statute in such case made and provided; in which said Letters Patent there is contained a provisoe as or to the effect following (viz.), that if I, the said William Cookworthy, should not particularly describe and ascertain the nature of my said invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, and cause the same to be inrolled in His Majesty’s High Court of Chancery within four calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent; that then the said Letters Patent and all libertys and advantages whatsoever thereby granted should utterly cease, determine, and become void, as in and by the said Letters Patent (relation being thereunto had) more fully and at large it doth and may appear.
“Now know ye that I, the said William Cookworthy, in pursuance of the said recited provisoe, do, by this my Deed in writing, declare and make known the nature of my said invention, and the quality of the materials, and manner in which the same is performed, which is as followeth (that is to say):—