Figs. 307 to 323.
London Road (and Eastwood Vale).—The works of Mr. William Henry Goss were commenced in 1858 for the production of Parian, ivory-porcelain, terra cotta, &c., and their progress from that time as pure art-productions has been very marked. The most famous of the specialities of Mr. Goss’s manufacture are porcelain floral jewellery and dress ornaments, in which brooches, hair-pins, scent-diffusers, crosses, and other beautiful articles are made; jewelled porcelain, in which vases, scent-bottles, tazzæ and other ornaments are produced; and vessels to be filled with perfumes, including illuminated scent-vases, pomade-boxes, rice-powder jars, pastil and scented ribbon burners, &c., these latter being made largely for the great Paris and London perfumehouses. The process of modelling jewelled porcelain, just alluded to, which is of extreme richness and beauty, is the invention of Mr. Goss, who, many years ago observing that the enamel jewels on the old Sèvres porcelain frequently dropped, or were rubbed, off, turned his attention to the subject. The process adopted at Sèvres was as follows: a gold foil was stamped into circles, ovals, and other required forms for the reception of the enamels, which were then pencilled on, and fired before applying them to the article they were intended to decorate. After being vitrified into imitations of uncut rubies, emeralds, &c., they were stuck on to the surface of the porcelain with a flux, and again fired. The adhesion was by this process often incomplete, and thus it frequently occurred that part of the design became rubbed away. The process invented by Mr. Goss for this mosaic jewellery, is, to indent the designs for the intended jewelled decoration in the dry or moist clay before baking, and in these to insert the jewels, which are all previously cut, and thus attain an increased brilliancy. Being inserted into the hollow or recess prepared for them, they are made secure. The process is an extremely delicate but very ingenious and beautiful one, and the effect produced is richer and finer than is attained by any other processes. Real pearls are often also introduced by Mr. Goss with good effect. For this and other purposes Mr. Goss has taken out a patent “for improvements in manufacturing articles of jewellery, dress ornaments, dress fastenings, smoke-shades for lamps and gas-burners, and the handles of cups and other vessels of ceramic materials”—an invention peculiarly applicable to the “manufacture of brooches, earrings, the heads of scarf-pins, hair-pins, and shawl-pins, the trinkets called charms, bracelets, necklaces, stud and ring fittings,” and a vast number of other articles. The floral brooches, crosses, &c., are of great beauty, and in delicacy of modelling remind one of the famous Bristol and Derby floral plaques. Some are produced in pure white bisqué, others are tinted in the natural colours of the flowers represented, and others are in ivory-porcelain prepared by a patented process.
In Parian, for which Mr. Goss ranks deservedly high, busts, statuary, vases, tazzas, scent-jars, bread-platters, and many other ornamental goods, are made. Notably among these are admirable busts of Charles Swain and of myself, the author of this work; this forms the frontispiece to the first volume. This fine work of Art was modelled expressly for the purpose in 1875, and is pronounced by those capable of judging to be a fine and highly successful example of Ceramic Art. These are modelled by Mr. W. W. Gallimore, under the personal and artistic supervision of Mr. Goss. They, as are all the busts which emanate from this combined source, are of the highest style of Art in point of pose and poetic treatment, and of the most careful character in manipulative workmanship. As portrait-busts they rank far above the average, and are, indeed, perfect reproductions of the living originals. It is not often that this can be said of portrait-busts, but it has been a particular study of Mr. Goss, and of his coadjutor, Mr. Gallimore, and they have succeeded admirably.[44] Of Mr. Gallimore it may be well to say a word or two. He at one time was engaged as a modeller at the Belleek Works in Ireland, and while there, by the bursting of a gun, lost his right arm. His modelling has, therefore, ever since then, been entirely done by his left hand, and, strange as it may seem, is far better than when he had both.
Figs. 324 to 330.
One of Mr. Goss’s specialities is ivory porcelain, and this he produces of the full soft mellow tone which characterizes the finest ivory, while, from the nature of the body he has by constant experiments and study succeeded in producing, it is far more lasting and durable, and capable of more decoration, than the ivory itself. It possesses all the delicate beauty of the ivory, with, as just stated, more durability, and, unlike it, is unchangeable. In this material one of Mr. Goss’s most successful productions is a pierced scent-bottle of the pilgrim-bottle or puzzle-jug form. Its centre is double pierced in a very elaborate pattern, and judiciously heightened with lines of gold.
In terra cotta, which is of peculiarly fine quality and rich colour, water-bottles and all the usual articles are made, a speciality being the fern-leaves with which they are decorated. All kinds of enamel colours and lustres are made at these works. The name W. H. GOSS is sometimes stamped in the ware, and on the other higher class goods the crest, a falcon rising, ducally gorged, is used.