Edwards.—Warner Edwards had, last century, works in Albion Street, where he not only manufactured various kinds of ware, but made enamel colours for other houses. He died in 1753, and the premises were afterwards occupied by Messrs. J. & W. Ridgway. Mr. Thomas Daniel, an eminent potter, was his apprentice. During his last illness Warner Edwards handed his book of recipes to this Thomas Daniel, who was father of Spode’s clever enameller, Henry Daniel, who afterwards, in conjunction with his son Richard, was a successful manufacturer at Stoke and Hanley. It is worthy of remark that Edwards was a maker of enamel colours full twenty years before Wedgwood took out his patent for them in 1769.
Voyez.—This clever workman, a modeller, was employed by Wedgwood about 1768, and “off and on” afterwards, but was a dishonourable and erratic character. He produced many clever imitations of Wedgwood and Bentley’s wares, and is said to have even stamped them with their name, which he forged, and sold the goods as their work. Occasionally his name, J. VOYEZ, is found impressed in the body of the ware.
Palmer.—John Palmer, of Bagnall, about 1680, was a salt-glaze potter, and was the one to whom the discovery of the use of salt was first told (see vol. i., page [94]). His son or grandson, Henry Palmer, was also a potter at Hanley (at the Church Works, in High Street, which he probably built), and was a successful imitator of Wedgwood’s productions. His Egyptian black, or basalt ware, and his jasper ware, are of great excellence and beauty and very closely resemble those of Wedgwood. He was noted for his piracy of these goods, and surreptitiously obtained Wedgwood’s new designs as they came out. His piracy was, however, after a time, carried too far, and an injunction was served upon him to restrain his making Etruscan painted vases in contravention of Wedgwood’s patent. This ended in a compromise: Palmer purchasing a share in the patent right. Intaglios and seals were also, about 1772–3, closely copied by Palmer, much to the annoyance and loss of Wedgwood and Bentley. In 1778 Mr. Palmer failed. Neale, who is said to have been a partner with Palmer so far as his London business was concerned, having arranged matters, the business at Hanley was carried on under the style of “Neale & Palmer” and “Neale & Co.” The mark of Mr. Palmer was in the same style as that of Wedgwood and Bentley—a circle with the name in raised letters (Fig. [455]). Some examples bear the name, stamped, “H. Palmer, Hanley, Staffordshire.” Palmer and Neale are said to have married two sisters, the daughters of Thomas Heath, of Lane Delph; and Mr. Pratt, of Fenton, a third daughter.
Fig. 455.
Neale.—Neale, the successor of Palmer, continued the business at Hanley, and produced many remarkably good and artistic articles in basalt, in jasper, and in other wares, and became, if possible, even a more close and clever imitator of Wedgwood’s wares than his predecessor had been. In 1780 he appears to have had two partners, and to have carried on the business under the style of “Neale, Maidment, and Bailey,” and, later, as “Neale & Bailey” and “Neale and Wilson.” Usually, however, the firm was simply “Neale & Co.” Neale’s productions are much esteemed for the excellence of the body, the cleverness of design, and the sharpness of their execution. His cream-coloured earthenware, too, is of very good and fine quality. He was succeeded, I believe, by his partner Wilson. The marks used by Neale, so far as I have met with them, are “Neale & Co.,” sometimes in large and at others in small sized letters, impressed in the ware; NEALE & CO. in italic capital letters, also impressed; NEALE & CO. in Roman capital letters, also impressed; and “Neale & Wilson.” Another mark was, like Palmer’s, adopted, in form, from Wedgwood & Bentley. It is a circle, bearing the name in raised letters.
