These works, besides a very large local and coasting trade, had extensive transactions with several foreign ports. From their first establishment to the time of the issuing of the famous Berlin decree by Napoleon, Messrs. Tomlinson & Co. had done a very extensive and lucrative trade with Russia, for which country the finer and more expensive kinds of earthenware, including cream-colour, Egyptian black, and other kinds of fancy bodies, were made, both pressed, printed, enamelled, and gilt. The decree cut short the trade with the Continent; but shortly after this commercial blow, which was severely felt by the Yorkshire potters, the River Plate was opened by Sir Home Popham, a circumstance which was taken immediate advantage of by the Ferrybridge firm. “One of the partners immediately proceeded there, and succeeded in establishing a good market until the royal family emigrated to Brazil, when the same partner moved up to Rio de Janeiro, to which port a large business was for many years carried on.”
The wares principally made were the following:—cream and cane-coloured ware, in which services and most articles in general use were manufactured, either plain, pressed (i.e., with raised patterns), painted, or printed. Green glazed ware, in which dessert services and other articles were made, and which were of a lighter colour than what Wedgwood produced. Egyptian black ware, of the usual quality made at the period. Fine white earthenware, in which was produced all the usual kinds of goods in enamelling, blue printing, painting, &c. Artists of considerable ability were employed at the works, and I have seen examples which are of thoroughly good character, and will vie with some of the best contemporary productions of the Staffordshire potteries.
In the time of Messrs. Reed and Taylor china of a very fine quality was made, but the manufacture was not of long duration. Tea and coffee services, dessert services, scent bottles, and a variety of articles, were made of this body, and were remarkably good in form and in style of decoration. Examples of Ferrybridge china are now of extreme rarity.
Cameos, medallions, and other ornamental articles in the time of Ralph Wedgwood’s connection with the works, were made in imitation of those of Josiah Wedgwood, to which they were, however, very inferior both in body and finish.
The combined works at the present time (by which of course I mean the joint manufactory of the “Ferrybridge and Australian Potteries”) give employment to about five hundred hands, and do a large trade with Australia and other foreign markets. In white earthenware, which is the staple trade of the works, the ornamentation consists of a large variety of patterns in transfer printing, in common painting, in lustre or “tinsel,” and in sponged patterns. Enamelled and gilt goods, too, are made, and of qualities to suit the different markets for which they are intended. For the Egyptian markets, to which large quantities of goods are sent, lustred or tinselled patterns are adapted very extensively. In “jet ware,” dessert services, candlesticks, toilet trays, and other articles are made. In this ware, I believe I am right in saying that a large number of services have been made especially for the Chinese market. In Egyptian black the ordinary varieties of articles are made, as they are also in Rockingham ware. In “blue jasper” ware, i.e., a blue glazed ware, absurdly so called, many useful and ornamental articles are made, as they are also in a variety of other bodies.
The marks used at the Ferrybridge Pottery have been but few. So far as my knowledge goes, those which will be of interest to the collector are the following—
TOMLINSON & CO.
impressed in the bottom of the ware,
WEDGWOOD & CO.
impressed on cameos, made during the time of Ralph Wedgwood’s connection with the works.