Glebe Street Works, and Wharf Street Works.—These two manufactories belong to Messrs. Robinson and Leadbeater, and are entirely confined to the production of Parian goods, of which they are among the largest and most extensive producers, both for the home markets and for exportation. The Glebe Street Works were commenced in 1850, by a clever Italian figure-modeller named Giovanni Meli, who produced clever groups and single figures, till 1865, when he sold the entire business, with its plant, moulds, and machinery, to Messrs. Robinson and Leadbeater, and returned to Italy with the full intention of there commencing a terra cotta manufactory. This he relinquished, after a short trial, mainly through the lack of a suitable native clay or marl for the making of his saggers. Giovanni Meli then went to Chicago, where he succeeded in his wishes, and established a manufactory of the kind he had attempted in Italy, and there he continues to the present time. The Wharf Street Works were commenced in 1858 by Mr. Leveson Hill, after whose death, which occurred shortly afterwards, they were carried on by his executors until 1870, when they were sold to Messrs. Robinson and Leadbeater, who thus became proprietors of both concerns. By them the works have been considerably enlarged, and as their business operations are rapidly extending, they bid fair to rank among the largest in the district.
The operations of the firm are entirely confined to Parian, and in this they produce statuary groups and figures in large variety; statuettes and busts, both classical, portrait, and imaginative; vases of endless form, variety, and size; centre-pieces and comports of elegant design; flower-stands; brackets and pedestals; bouquet-holders trinket-caskets; cream-ewers; jugs, and a considerable variety of fancy articles.
By giving their constant and undivided attention to this one branch of ceramic art (Parian), Messrs. Robinson and Leadbeater have succeeded in so improving it both in fineness and purity of body and in tone of colour, as to render their productions of far higher than average merit. They have studied excellence of body, originality of design, and cleverness of workmanship, as before that of marketable cheapness, and in this they have done wisely. In material, they rank with the best productions of many competing firms, while in fineness of surface and careful manipulation they are scarcely excelled.
Among the designs produced by this firm are many of more than average merit, and they are issued, in some instances, of large size.—“Clytie,” a clever reproduction, is a bust of about twenty-two inches in height, whilst several others (Gladstone, Disraeli, Cobden, Tennyson, Dickens, and other modern celebrities) are of various heights. Among their principal groups are “Innocence Protected,” “Penelope,” “The Power of Love,” “Cupid Betrayed,” “Cupid Captive,” “Golden Age,” “Rock of Ages,” “Guardian Angel,” “The Immaculate Conception,” “Christ and St. John,” and “Virgin and Child;” and in single figures are many well designed and faultlessly produced. These are all good, and the same remark will apply to the remainder of the figures and busts. The centre-pieces, comports, and flower-holders, are characterized by the same good taste in design and the same excellence in finish; their variety is great, and many of them have a freshness and originality in conception that is very encouraging. Messrs. Robinson and Leadbeater are very successful in their original portrait busts, many of which they have produced, both for private purposes and for sale. Among the latter, the busts of Abraham Lincoln, Charles Sumner, and Governor Andrew, have had a very extensive sale in the United States, to which market, indeed, the greater part of their general statuary and other goods is sent. An excellent portrait statuette of Queen Victoria may also be reckoned among their successful productions. In addition to the States and the home markets, the firm export largely to Canada, the Colonies, and Germany. They use no mark.
Copeland Street.—Messrs. Billington & Co. manufacture the commonest descriptions of china in all the usual services.
Bridge Works.—Formerly worked by Messrs. Davenport & Co., W. Adams & Co., Minton, Hollins & Co., Jones & Co., and Grose & Son, this manufactory is now carried on by Hancock & Whittingham for the production of the usual useful classes of earthenware.
Walker & Carter.—The manufactory now carried on by this firm belonged formerly to Wolf, and next to his son-in-law Hamilton, and later was worked by Z. Boyle & Co., W. Adams & Co., and Minton, Hollins & Co. The present firm manufacture the ordinary classes of earthenware.