“He was ever at the works, before any one else in the morning, and frequently at five o’clock. In the depth of winter, or however inclement the weather, at all seasons of the year, nothing hindered his early commencement of the duties of the day. Lucifer-matches were unknown in those days, and he, therefore, usually brought a tinder-box in his pocket—the old flint and steel affair. He thus procured a light and made himself a fire. Then he would proceed to examine the stock in the warehouses, that he might be enabled to order what was necessary to replenish it, and thus keep the printers and others constantly at work. He also devoted a certain portion of his time to the mixing-room, in order to keep up the supply of bodies, glazes, &c. Then he would proceed to the counting-house, where I,” says Mr. Stringer, “was an assistant-cashier under his special superintendence. To convey an idea of his peculiar nicety and accuracy in this department of his labours, I may relate the fact that, on a certain Saturday evening, after examining my cash account, Mr. Herbert told me that I was one halfpenny short in my balance. He was aware of my usual accuracy, and was surprised even at this trifling mistake. I opened my cash-box for further examination, when, to my good fortune, I discovered the missing halfpenny within it standing on its edge. This rectified the supposed mistake, and afforded us both a hearty laugh.”

In 1817, Thomas and Herbert Minton were admitted into partnership with their father, the firm being “Thomas Minton and Sons.” In 1821, the elder brother, Thomas Webb Minton, quitted the works, for the purpose of studying for the Church, and he was ordained in 1825, taking his first curacy at Chesterfield, and afterwards at St. Cuthberts, Darlington, and other places. He died in 1870, at Darlington, where he was incumbent of the Church of the Holy Trinity. In 1828 the partnership was dissolved, although Mr. Herbert Minton continued to devote his energies to the development of the concern. On his father’s death, in 1836, he again took up the business, and shortly afterwards took into partnership Mr. John Boyle, under the style of “Minton and Boyle.” In 1841, Mr. Boyle withdrew from the firm, and, about 1842, became a partner with Mr. Wedgwood; and in 1845, Mr. Michael Hollins, nephew to Mrs. Minton, joined the firm under the style of “Herbert Minton and Co.” In 1849 a nephew of Mr. Minton’s, Mr. Colin Minton Campbell, now M.P. for North Staffordshire, joined the firm under the same style. In 1858, Herbert Minton died, and Messrs. Hollins and Campbell continued the manufactory. The present head of the firm is Mr. Colin Minton Campbell, M.P.; the trading style being simply “Mintons.”

Fig. 215.

Up to 1798, white, cream-coloured, and blue printed wares only were made at these works. In that year, semi-transparent porcelain was made, and continued until 1811, when it was abandoned, and earthenware only again produced. In 1821 it was again produced, and soon afterwards china was commenced and has been a staple branch to the present day. In 1825 some of the more skilled workmen from the Derby works found employment with Mr. Minton, and brought their skill to bear on his productions. “Among these were Steele, Bancroft, and Hancock, as painters in fruit and flowers.” In 1836 Mr. Herbert Minton, as will be shown, first conceived the idea of making encaustic paving tiles. Mr. John Simpson held the position of principal enamel painter of figures and the highest class decorations, from about 1837 to 1847, when he removed to London to take charge of the porcelain painting at Marlborough House. Mr. Samuel Bourne, of Norton-in-the-Moors, Staffordshire, who had been apprenticed to Messrs. Wood and Caldwell, to learn the art of enamel-painting, and who had attained by his industry and talents a high reputation, entered the service of Mr. Minton, in 1828, as chief designer and artist, and continued to render the firm occasional services until 1860, when the infirmities of increasing years necessitated his retirement.

Fig. 216.

In 1849 M. Arnoux, son of a celebrated manufacturer of hard porcelain at Toulouse, visited Stoke, bringing with him an introduction from Mr. Evans, of Birmingham; when it was arranged that M. Arnoux should superintend and carry out the patent which, in 1839, Mr. Minton, in conjunction with Dr. Wilton George Turner, had taken out. This was for “an improved porcelain,” “made from Kaolin or Cornish clay, made into cream and passed through sieves; Dorsetshire or similar clay treated in like manner; and pure feldspar, all in certain proportions and mixed with great care.” In this, the bisque was produced by submitting it to a less heat than usual before glazing, and then, when dipped, subjecting it “to a greater degree of heat than is usual for the mere purpose of glazing, and effecting the glazing at the same time.” The glazes were also of peculiar composition. Beyond various experiments, this was not carried out until 1849, when this hard paste porcelain for chemical purposes was brought to such perfection, that it was pronounced to be better than that of Meissen or Berlin. There was, however, so much risk in firing this ware, in consequence of the difficulty of procuring a sagger capable of withstanding the necessary heat, that the manufacture was abandoned, and M. Arnoux turned his attention to the artistic decoration of the ordinary manufacture, and to his continual zeal and ability, combined with the enterprise which has always distinguished the firm, England is indebted for the highest honours in this branch of their national industries.

M. Emile Jeannest was engaged as sculptor, and in 1854 he left and took an appointment with Messrs. Elkington, in whose service he died.

M. Carrier de Belleuse succeeded M. Jeannest, and remained some years, when he returned to Paris, and attained so high an eminence as a sculptor that he has been placed on the Commission for the Sèvres Manufactory.