Figs. 381 to 383.
Newport Works.—Established in 1866 by Malkin, Edge, & Co. for the manufacture of encaustic and other tiles. The tiles are made from dust (by the process of Messrs. Boulton and Worthington), by which process the various colours are fixed in the tile, immediately and without pressure, in the following manner. “On a level block of iron, surrounded by an outer casing which is movable, is placed a sheet of brass with the pattern cut out of the same, and into the different spaces are put the various coloured clays, in dust, required. A raised counterpart of the design is then gently pressed upon these dusts, and the brass sheet, or plate, is removed. The outer casing before referred to is then raised according to the thickness required, and the space is filled up with dust to form the body of the tile. A screw, worked by a wheel, is then lowered upon the outer casing and block, which forces the out-casing back again to its former position around the level block, as far as the dust will allow. The tile is then taken out of the outer casing, and is completely finished, with the exception of being fired. This screw pressure produces in a few moments a remarkably solid substance.” Messrs. Malkin, Edge, & Co. produce an extensive variety of patterns, both in encaustic, wall, and other tiles. The designs are good and effective, and the colours rich, clear, and well defined.
Figs. 384 and 385.
Figs. 386 and 387.
Dale Hall.—The extensive works at Dale Hall (or Dale Hole, as it used to be written), founded in 1790, originally belonged to Mr Joseph Stubbs, a very successful manufacturer, who, having retired from business, died in 1836. He was succeeded by Messrs. Thomas, John, and Joshua Mayer, who afterwards traded “as Mayer Brothers and Elliot,” and from them, successively through the firms of “Liddle, Elliot, & Co.,” and “Bates, Elliot & Co.,” to the present owners and occupiers, Messrs. Bates, Walker, and Co.; Mr. Elliot having retired, and Mr. Walker, stepson to Mr. Bates, being taken into partnership. By the earlier firms, ordinary earthenware was produced, but under Messrs. Mayer, who came from Stoke to Dale Hall,[50] rapid strides were made in art manufactures, and many important improvements effected. They were exceedingly clever potters, especially Mr. Jos. Mayer, who died prematurely through excessive study and application to his art. They introduced many important improvements in the manufacture and decoration, especially in the beautiful polychromatic bisque printing which is continued by their successors and other firms. Besides ordinary earthenware, this firm produced stoneware of a highly vitreous quality; Parian of an improved body; a fine caneware, in which some remarkably good jugs (notably the “oak” pattern) were made; and other wares. In the stoneware, besides many well-modelled jugs and other articles, they made tea-urns, which they were the first to introduce, of excellent design and admirable finish. Two of these, made in 1851 (Figs. [384 and 385]) I here engrave. The peculiar body of the stoneware of which they were made was capable of withstanding the variations of temperature to which vessels of this kind, usually formed of metal, are liable. These were not made to any extent by Messrs. Mayer, but are now being reproduced by Messrs. Bates, Walker, & Co. with great success; they are highly ornate in appearance, and will doubtless come much into use. Messrs. Mayer also produced some admirable designs in vases, decorated with a profusion of exquisitely modelled raised flowers. Two of these are shown on Figs. [386 and 387], and a jug in the following figure. The dinner plates, dishes, &c., of Messrs. Mayer, were characterized by an excellent “fit” in nesting, by lightness of body, and by neatness of finish in decoration. In 1851 they received a medal for their exhibits, and again in the New York Exhibition of 1853 and the Paris Exhibition of 1855 medals were awarded.