The goods produced are:—in terra-cotta, which is of fine and durable quality, and of excellent workmanship, fountains, vases, tazzas, brackets, pedestals, suspenders, terminals, flower-vases, mignonette-boxes, fern-stands, garden-seats, balustrades, cornices, chimney tops, and every description of architectural enrichment. Game-pie dishes, of admirable design and of perfect modelling, and other articles, are also produced in this material. The colour is a beautiful light cream colour, and the body being very fine the relief patterns “come out” very sharply and effectively. In “Rustic ware,” vases, garden-seats, flower-pots, brackets, fern-stands, and an infinite variety of beautiful articles are made. This “Rustic ware” is a fine buff coloured terra-cotta, glazed with a rich brown glaze, and sometimes heightened with a green tinge, just sufficient to give it a remarkably pleasing effect. The modelling of some of these goods is highly artistic. In stoneware, or Bristol ware, all the usual articles as made at Lambeth, at Bristol, and other places, are produced. In sanitary ware, all the usual and many additional articles are made; these are of remarkably fine and good quality and excellent both in body and glaze, and in firing. In ridging and roofing-tiles, sewerage-pipes, and garden-edgings, and in moulded bricks for cornices, string courses, &c., an endless variety; and in paving-tiles, and facing-bricks of various colours, as well as fire-bricks, all the usual kinds.
Terra-cotta gas-stoves are extensively made in various designs, some of which are registered. They are chaste and even elegant in design, and admirable in construction. Some of the patterns are in high relief, and others, in addition to the relief, are perforated, and have a striking and pleasing effect. Two of the designs are shown on Figs. [817 and 818].
Figs. 817 and 818.
The following is an analysis of Mr. George Skey’s Fire Clay, made by Mr. A. Winkler Willis’ of Wolverhampton:—Silica, hydrated, 71·41; detrydrated, 75·99. Alumina, hydrated, 21·17; detrydrated, 22·53. Protoxide of Iron, hydrated, ·91; detrydrated, ·97. Lime, hydrated, ·04; detrydrated, ·05. Magnesia, hydrated, a trace. Alkalies, hydrated, ·82; detrydrated, ·87. Manganese, Organic Matter, Sulphuric Acid, Chlorine, traces. Water, hydrated, 2·57. Water combined, hydrated, 3·49. Total, hydrated, 100·41; detrydrated, 100·41. Total Impurities, 1·89.
The mark used is the words GEORGE SKEY WILNECOTE WORKS NR TAMWORTH, in an oval, impressed in the ware.
Coventry.
At Stoke, near Coventry, and other places in the district, are old established coarse brown ware works. Mr. Robt. Wakefield is a maker of flower-pots, seakale-pots, &c., of good quality.