In 1843 Messrs. Boote took out a patent for “Certain improvements in pottery and mosaic work.” These consist in producing “coloured designs on grounds of different colours, as black on white or white on black. First, the designs are made from a mould, as in figuring, and laid on the moulds for making the ware; the ground colour is then put on. Second, the design, cut in paper, parchment, &c., is laid in the moulds and the halves fastened together, the colour to form the ground is poured in, after which the paper, &c., are removed and other colour poured in to fill its place. Third, producing different coloured raised surfaces. The figures in low relief in the inside of the moulds are filled with a composition, the halves of the moulds fastened together, and the slip poured in to form a thin coating, which was then supplemented with an inner lining of a cheaper material to form a substratum, thus producing mosaic and other elaborate designs. In this process the excess of liquid is withdrawn when the necessary thickness is attained.
Fig. 375.
In 1857 Messrs Thomas Latham Boote and Richard Boote took out a patent for “Improvements in the manufacture of ornamental pottery, and articles made from clay and other like plastic materials.” “A thin piece of metal or other suitable substance, which forms the outline of the design, is fixed on the flattened clay intended to form the article then being made. The hollow parts are then filled up with the coloured clay or clays which are to form the design. The piece of metal is next removed, and the flattened clay with the design upon it is put in the mould to form the article. In some cases that part of the mould which is to correspond to the groundwork of the article to be manufactured is made to rise by springs or other means, suitable coloured clay is put into the hollow parts of the mould thus formed, and the clay to form the body is put in and the whole is pressed;” or the parts of the mould corresponding to the ornaments may be raised and the ground part filled in. We give three examples produced by one of those processes, Figs. [369 to 371]. The effect in many instances was very pleasing, and gave the appearance of relief, without, however, the pattern being at all raised. Parian was also formerly largely produced and of considerable excellence, both in vases, jugs, figures, both single and in groups, and other objects. One of the most effective groups is that of “Repentance, Faith, and Resignation,” modelled by Mr. Gillard. (Fig. [375].)
Figs. 376 and 377.
Among the Parian vases formerly produced at the Waterloo Works were some the body of which was buff and the raised flowers in white; thus producing a very pleasing and softened effect.
All these decorative classes of goods have been discontinued by Messrs. Boote, who now confine themselves to the production of the ordinary white graniteware for the American markets, and encaustic and other glazed and unglazed pavement tiles. For these latter the firm are patentees of a process for inlaying encaustic tiles with clay dust—a process which is also adopted for the manufacture of dishes and other articles in earthenware in what this firm called “Royal Patent Ironstone,” and by which, by means of one press alone, as many as 100 dozen plates or small dishes, could be made in a day.
The encaustic and other tiles made by that firm consist of encaustic, geometrical, and majolica tiles of great variety in pattern and of very effective combinations of colours.
The marks used by Messrs. Boote are, on their white granite ware, the impressed initials T & R B.; and the following, printed in black, viz.—