An example occurs in the Liverpool Museum.
Stafford Street Works.—This manufactory was originally occupied by Messrs. Reuben Johnson & Co., who produced the ordinary classes of earthenware and stoneware. From them it passed to Messrs. Thomas Furnival, jun. & Co., and “Furnival & Clark,” by whom it was continued until 1851, when it was taken by the present firm, which at that time was Livesley, Powell, & Co. In 1865 Mr. Livesley went out of the concern, when the firm changed its name to “Powell & Bishop,” by which it continues to the present time. Messrs. Powell & Bishop own two other manufactories, the “Church Works” for white granite, and the “Waterloo Works” for china (both of which see), but the Stafford Street Works are their principal ones, or head-quarters. At these works earthenware alone is produced, but this is of the finest quality and in every style of decoration, both for the home, French, Australian (principally Adelaide and Sydney), and other markets. The body is extremely hard, compact, and durable, and whether in pure white or of a creamy tint is clear in colour, and the glaze of faultless quality. The decoration of the dinner services, which is a speciality of these works, ranges from the plain white and printed goods up to the most elaborately and gorgeously enamelled, painted, gilt, and jewelled varieties, and in each of these stages the decorations, whether simple or complicated, are characterized by the purest taste and the most artistic feeling. Messrs. Powell & Bishop are the sole workers of, and possess the exclusive right to and in, a patented process of printing in gold and colours, originally purchased by their firm from some Austrians, by whom it was invented. This important process has been vastly improved by the present firm and brought to bear in a variety of ways upon their manufactures. By this invention a background of dead gold is produced of surpassing beauty and loveliness, and of such solidity and evenness as is perfectly impossible to be obtained by hand-gilding even by the most skilled artist. In this, Messrs. Powell & Bishop have produced services of a novel and faultlessly beautiful character, the designs of which are taken from, and are of equal gracefulness, richness, and beauty with, mediæval MS. illuminations. In toilet services a number of effective and well-conceived designs are produced in every style in transfer printing, lustred, enamelled, painted, and gilt varieties, and the shapes of the ewers are, in some instances, of unusually good designs. Jugs are another speciality of this firm, and they are produced in almost endless variety; many of the arabesque patterns are of great richness and beauty, and are characterized by graceful finish in the enamelling. The same remark will apply to the table flower-pots, which are all that can be desired in form, pattern, and arrangement of colours. Tea and dessert services in great variety are also made in the finest earthenware, and of considerable variety in design. A speciality in tea ware is a charming little teapot, modelled from the one used by the poet Addison. It is of the form at that time so fashionable, and made in so many styles by Lakin and Poole, Adams, and others of the famous old potters. The reproducing of this shape was a wise thought of Messrs. Powell & Bishop, and the way in which it is issued—excellently enamelled and richly gilt—is in every way satisfactory. Messrs. Powell & Bishop have recently reproduced in all its softness and delicacy of tint, and evenness of surface, the famous old ivory or cream-coloured ware of Josiah Wedgwood, and known as “Queen’s Ware.” In this, dinner, tea, dessert, and toilet services of the newest shapes and designs are made, and are among the most marked successes of the time. In this ivory ware, ornamental goods—vases, beakers, &c.—of a more or less highly decorated character are also successfully produced. The firm received medals from the London International Exhibition in 1862; from the Amsterdam Exhibition of 1869; and from the Paris Maritime Exhibition of 1875; “le Diplôme d’excellence” and a certificate at the 1871 Exhibition. They were also large exhibitors at the Philadelphia Exhibition of 1876.
The marks used by the firm have been simply the words
impressed in the ware; and the initials P & B, in addition to the name of the pattern, printed on the surface. The trade mark lately adopted by the firm is the Caduceus, surmounted by the letters P. & B.; this is now impressed on the body or printed on the surface of all their best goods.
The Church Works, in High Street (for the history of which see page [301], “Wilson”) are old established, and passed from Mr. Ridgway, to their present owners, Messrs. Powell & Bishop. The previous proprietors produced the usual classes of earthenware. The present firm confine their operations at these works to “white granite” ware for the United States and Canadian markets, which they produce of excellent quality and in every variety of style, both plain, embossed, and otherwise decorated. (See “Stafford Street.”)
Waterloo Works.—These works were recently erected close to their large mill on the canal side near Nelson Place for the manufacture of china, by Messrs. Powell & Bishop, in place of one formerly occupied by them but removed for town improvements. At this manufactory china of the finest quality is made in the white; the whole of the decoration being accomplished at their principal works in Stafford Street (which see). In china the firm produces all the usual services and miscellaneous articles, in every variety of decoration. In dessert services Messrs. Powell & Bishop rank deservedly high, not only for the faultless quality of the body and glaze and for the beauty of their designs, but for the perfect artistic feeling and the exquisite finish which characterize their best productions; in these, and in tea services—to which, the above remarks with equal force apply—they have, in some instances, introduced with excellent effect a species of decoration which may be said to give the appearance to the various articles of being inlaid with ormolu. The effect, in connection with admirable grounds and delicately beautiful paintings, is rich and pleasing. Messrs. Powell & Bishop also introduce with great success their patent process of printing in gold and colours (see page [329]) upon dessert and tea services; the effect upon the fine china body is very pleasing—the colours softened and subdued, and the gilding remarkable for its fulness, brilliance, and precision. In tea and breakfast and déjeuner services they have introduced many of the most chaste and elegant patterns produced by any house, and they take rank among the very highest and best in quality, and exhibit the highest phases of manipulative and artistic skill. The same remarks will apply to the table jugs—some of which have for a ground the rich deep Derby or Sèvres blue—the candlesticks, and the rest of the articles produced by this celebrated firm.