Fig. 770.
The mark which usually denotes Bristol porcelain is a plain saltire, or cross, in blue, neutral tint, or red, sometimes with the addition of figures or other marks, but more commonly by itself. The figures probably denoted the workman, not the pattern, as on the same sets different numbers appear, which would not be the case if the design was denoted. The following are varieties of the mark, the cross being sometimes in one colour, and the figure or character in another. One, it will be seen, bears, besides the saltire, the sign for a drachm (or perhaps figure 3), and another the Greek character epsilon (ε). These marks occur the one on a teapot, the other on a saucer lately in the possession of Mr. Norman. The letter B also sometimes occurs painted in the same manner as the cross, and also in combination with figures, &c. (Figs. [783 to 786].) Other marks have been ascribed to Bristol, but many of them, I believe, wrongly. In Mr. James’s collection was a small fluted cream-boat, blue and white, with an unusual mark, the blue cross, above which is an embossed letter T, as shown on Fig. [789]. The same mark occurs on a specimen in the Nightingale collection. Another mark variously ascribed to Bristol and Bow is To (Fig. [790]), and one very early trial piece in the Edkins collection bears the unique mark of the word B r i s t o l l in relief. The Dresden mark of crossed daggers occasionally occurs in connection with the cross or the letter B; the latter marks being in some instance painted over the former, and in others close by (Figs. [791 to 796]). Other marks said to be Bristol are shown on Figs. [799 and 800].
Fig. 771.
Fig. 772.
The ꝝ mark of Plymouth and the + of Bristol are on one or two known pieces, found in combination thus (Fig. [798]), from the Schreiber collection.
Figs. 773 to 800.
Mr. Owen, to whom I have had occasion many times to refer in the course of this chapter on Bristol china, and to whom I must offer my congratulations on the successful issue of his labours and on the boon he has conferred on the literature of ceramics by his researches and by the elegant volume in which those researches are recorded, gives many interesting particulars regarding Champion’s workmen and apprentices. The following notes upon workmen may be useful for reference:—