Figs. 471 to 473.—1851. Exhibits of Messrs. Meigh, Old Hall Works.
In Parian, vases, groups, busts, figures, and other ornamental articles are produced; the body is of good quality, and the modelling and finish of faultless excellence.
The marks of these works are the following:
Figs. 474 to 478.
In 1851 medals were awarded to Mr. C. Meigh, of these works, who has also received medals from the Society of Arts.
Figs. [465 to 468] are stoneware jugs, one of which bears a young bacchanal imbibing the juice of the grape, and Fig. [470] a candlestick adapted from a celebrated wine cup, the work of Cellini. Figs. [471, 472, 473] exhibit three admirable pieces, a clock case, a vase, and a drinking cup or tankard, all in statuary porcelain and of the finest possible style of art. The works are very extensive, including mills for grinding all descriptions of materials used in the manufacture of pottery, and are capable of supplying a large demand. The markets principally supplied are the home, French, German, Indian, American, Australian, and colonial.
Broad Street Works.—These works are interesting as being the place where the celebrated “Mason’s Patent Ironstone China,” as well as the “Ironstone China” of the old firm of Hicks, Meigh, and Johnson, in addition to most varieties of useful earthenware, are made. Mr. Charles James Mason, the inventor of this famous “Mason’s Ironstone China,” was a potter of great taste and skill at Lane Delph (now Middle Fenton), and in 1813 took out a patent for his process. The manufacture was at that time carried on under the styles of “G. M. and C. J. Mason” and “C. J. Mason & Co.” The partners were Charles James Mason and his brother George Miles Mason (father of Mason the artist) who in 1832 unsuccessfully contested the then new district borough of Stoke-upon-Trent, his successful competitors being Josiah Wedgwood and John Davenport, both, like himself, manufacturers in the district. After a time Mr. G. Mason retired from the concern, and it was then continued by the patentee alone. The concern, however, for want of capital and from other causes, gradually dwindled down, until at length, in 1851, Mr. Francis Morley purchased the patent, the moulds, copper-plates (on which an immense amount of money had been expended), and entire business, from Mr. Mason, and removed the whole to his manufactory. Mr. Morley, who married a daughter of Mr. W. Ridgway, and was a partner in the firm of Morley, Wear & Co., succeeded to the old-established concern of Hicks, Meigh, & Johnson, which he carried on for a time under the style of “Ridgway & Co.” Afterwards Mr. Morley continued the business as F. Morley & Co. This manufactory was one of the oldest in the Potteries. It was in existence in the early part of the last century (probably established about 1720), and afterwards belonged to John Baddeley (in 1750 R. and J. Baddeley), an eminent potter, who died in 1772. Here, it is said, printing in oil was first practised. Messrs. Hicks, Meigh, & Johnson were among the most successful of the manufacturers in the district, and produced, among other wares, a remarkably good quality of ironstone china. Besides this, they were large manufacturers of earthenware of the ordinary and finer kinds, and of china. They and Mason were the only makers of ironstone china; and when Mr. Morley, who purchased their business, became also the owner of Mason’s process and of his moulds, plates, &c., he became the only manufacturer of ironstone ware. Having united the two manufactories, he removed Mason’s concern to his own works, where he entered with spirit into the manufacture, and soon established a lucrative business in “Mason’s wares.” In 1856 a first-class medal for this ware was awarded at the French Exhibition.
Mr. Morley retired from trade in 1859, having sold the entire business, moulds, copper-plates, &c., to the present owners, Messrs. Geo. L. Ashworth and Taylor Ashworth (brothers), who continue, to the fullest extent, the manufacture of the “Patent Ironstone China,” which they and their predecessor named the “Real Ironstone China” (of which patented articles they are the only makers) on their marks, and produce all Mason’s best patterns in services, vases, &c., made from his original models. They also manufacture Meigh’s ironstone, from his old moulds, &c. This manufacture has been very largely developed by Mr. Taylor Ashworth (who studied the processes under Mr. Morley, and is the resident acting partner), to whom the art is indebted for many improvements. This gentleman, who married the grand-daughter of Mr. Meigh, obtained by that alliance a vast deal of valuable information about the working of the stoneware; and it is a somewhat singular and pleasant circumstance to record, that after a lapse of half a century, or more, the manufacture may, through that marriage, be said again to be brought into the old family. Messrs. Ashworth, besides these great features of their trade, make table, toilet, dessert, and other services, and ornamental goods of the best quality, in every description of general earthenware. These they produce in immense quantities, both for home and foreign markets, about one-third of the whole being exported. The ordinary classes are principally exported to Russia, India, &c., and the more rich and costly to Havanna, Spain, and other countries. Sanitary wares are also produced, as well as insulators for our own and for foreign governments. The “Ironstone China,” from its extreme hardness and durability (for it is not easy to break even a plate) is specially adapted, in its simpler styles of decoration, for services used by large steamship companies, hotels, clubs, colleges, and other places where hard usage has to be undergone; while in its more elaborate and rich styles—and it is capable of the very highest degree of finish—it is eminently fitted for families of the higher ranks. No climate affects this ware. The usual style of decoration for dinner services is imitation of Oriental patterns—Japanese and Indian flowers, &c.—and the colours and gilding are rich in the extreme. In vases and jugs the handles are usually dragons and other grotesque animals. The Indian vases are of perfect form, of exquisite design, rich in their colours, and massive in gilding. They are priceless Art-treasures, and examples of Ashworth’s make deserve to be in every “home of taste.”