“Six hundred years ago,” says Mr. Owen, “the art of pottery was practised in Bristol, but in what form is beyond our speculation. The record, though authentic, is too terse to give more than the bare fact, and the imagination must be fertile indeed that can supply the details. The Governor of Bristol Castle, under Edward I., in his accounts, preserved in the Pipe Roll for the twelfth year of that reign (1284), has an item—‘pro terra fodienda ad vasa fictilia facienda’—which shows that this claim for high antiquity is well founded.” Fragments of some curious pitchers and other mediæval domestic vessels are engraved by Mr. Owen, and appear to be of about the period alluded to.
The Delft Works.—At the close of the seventeenth century, Delft ware was made here, and continued to be produced until about the time when porcelain began to be produced in the city. Many specimens of Bristol Delft ware have come under my notice, some of which are, fortunately, dated. The earliest dated example I have seen is a plate marked on the rim with the initials S · M · B, and the date 1703, thus—
. The ware is of a very nice quality, with a good glaze, and the blue of good colour. The next dated specimen, in chronological order, which has come under my notice is a Delft high-heeled shoe, or choppine, which is dated on the sole 1722, along with the initials M S—thus
This very good example, which is said to be of Bristol make, was in possession of the late Mr. James, of that city. It is beautifully formed, has a buckle in front, and is flowered and bordered in blue. Two of these Delft stands in the form of high-heeled shoes, formerly belonging to Queen Charlotte, were sold at the Bernal sale. They were of an earlier date, and marked M I 1705. Another example in the same possession is a plate of the year 1740, bearing on its rim the initials R · S · P, thus—
Fig. 735.—Edkins’ Plate, belonging to Mr. Owen.