Fig. 379.
Washington Works.—The business now carried on at this manufactory originated experimentally in King Street, Burslem, where the late Mr. William S. Kennedy, about the year 1838, commenced the production of palettes and other requisites for artists’ use. Shortly afterwards, removing to a pottery in Bourne’s Bank, he there added to his business the manufacture of door furniture, letters for signs, &c. With perseverance, Mr. Kennedy combated the difficulties which these novel articles presented; and while in conjunction with Mr. William Maddock, who remained with the firm for thirty-five years, he was successful in effecting great improvements in the various processes. About 1847, the manufacture was removed to its present locality, and has from time to time been enlarged. The marks W. S. KENNEDY and J. MACINTYRE have been very rarely used.
In 1852 Mr. Kennedy was joined in partnership by his brother-in-law, Mr. James Macintyre, who shortly afterwards became sole proprietor of the works. In 1863, Mr. Macintyre patented methods of producing oval, reeded, octagon, and other forms, by the lathe; and he was ever alert to devise and apply improvements in mechanism, &c. He succeeded in the production of a rich cream-coloured body, which, under the name of “Ivory China,” has held a high reputation, and will always be honourably associated with the “Washington” Works. In 1867 Mr. Macintyre produced backs for hair-brushes, hand-mirrors, &c., which were patented by Mr. J. J. Hicks, and in numerous other instances, especially for France, the “body” has been used as an ivory substitute. So far as can be ascertained, the successful application to door furniture of the earlier invention of the beautiful black, which is produced by dipping the brownish red bisque in a rich cobalt glaze, also originated at these works. This “jet,” produced in great perfection, has been applied in plain, and also with richly gilt and enamelled ornamentation, not only to door furniture, but more recently to inkstands and similar goods. Mr. Macintyre, who was a man of public spirit and great enterprise, was much beloved by his workpeople, and the annual festive gatherings in which he, his family and friends, met his employés, obtained a well-merited celebrity. He died in December, 1868, having a few years previously taken into partnership his confidential manager, Mr. Thomas Hulme, and his son-in-law, Mr. William Woodall. By these two gentlemen the business is still carried on under the old title of “James Macintyre and Co.”
Nile Street Works.—These works were built upon the site of an early pottery; this is evidenced by numbers of early fragments of pitchers, “porringers,” and other salt-glazed domestic vessels “of red and yellow clay marbled together,” being found during alterations of the premises in late years. Messrs. J. and R. Riley removed from here to the Hill Works, and were, I believe, succeeded by Mr. James Cormie, uncle of the late Mr. Thomas Pinder (who at one time was a partner in the firm of Mellor, Venables, and Co.), and great-uncle of the present sole proprietor of the works, Mr. Shadford Pinder, who trades under the style of “Pinder, Bourne, and Co.” China was at one time made here, but the productions have latterly been confined to printed, enamelled, and gilt earthenware, in which all the usual services are made; stoneware for telegraphic purposes; fine red ware for useful and ornamental goods; jet ware in a variety of articles; and sanitary goods. These they export largely both to the colonial and foreign markets. Messrs. Pinder, Bourne, and Co.’s ornamental goods, notably their “red ware,” or terra cotta, is of fine, hard, and durable quality, and much taste is evinced in some of the designs of its decoration. The vases, spill-cases, and other articles in this body, richly enamelled and gilt in arabesque and other patterns, are remarkably good. The jet ware is also of good quality. Among their specialities in this ware, and in fine earthenware, are flower vases, and jardinières; some of the latter being skilfully painted in birds, flowers, &c. Messrs. Pinder, Bourne, and Co. have patented improvements in ovens and in steam printing presses; but this latter, having excited the hostility of the workmen at the time of the riots in 1842, was abandoned. The firm received medals at the London and Paris Exhibitions of 1851, 1855, and 1867. The marks used are a circular garter, bearing the name of the pattern and the initials “P. B. & Co.” surmounted by a crown and encompassed with a wreath of laurel; and a triangular figure, with the words “Pinder, Bourne & Co., Nile St., Burslem.”
Fig. 380.
Newport Pottery.—These works were established at the close of last century by Mr. Walter Daniel, and about 1810 passed into the hands of Mr. John Davenport. The manufacture was afterwards carried on by Messrs. Cork and Edge, and is now continued by Messrs. Edge, Malkin, & Co., a firm which, with various alterations in partnership, dates back to the beginning of the present century. Messrs. Cork and Edge, in their ordinary earthenware, introduced many years ago a process of inlaying the patterns in the ground body, but of different colours. These were intended for the cheapest markets, but were produced in good taste. Three of these designs, two tea-pots and a ewer, shown at the Great Exhibition of 1851, are engraved on Figs. [381 to 383]. The productions of the firm at the present time are dinner ware; jet, enamelled, lustre, and other fancy goods; and all the ordinary wares for the home and foreign markets.