Trent Pottery, Eastwood.—This manufactory, situated by the side of the North Staffordshire Canal, at Eastwood, was established in 1867 by Messrs. Livesley & Davis, and on the retirement of Mr. Livesley the style was changed to J. H. & J. Davis (brothers). In 1875 Mr. J. Davis retired, and since then the concern has been carried on by its present proprietor, Mr. J. H. Davis, alone. Until latterly the productions were confined to white granite ware for the United States, but Mr. Davis now manufactures to a large extent dinner, toilet, and tea services, and other articles, both for the home and foreign markets. He is also an extensive maker of sanitary wares, lavatories, plug-basins, hoppers, etc.
James Dudson, Hope Street Works, established in 1800. In 1835 Mr. James Dudson entered upon the works, and they are still carried on by him. At one time he manufactured ornamental china figures, vases, and services. His finest productions are white and coloured (drab, blue, sage, &c.) stoneware jugs, tea and coffee pots, sugar-boxes, &c.; metal-mounted goods; flower-pots, candlesticks, &c. Among the registered designs for jugs, which have been modelled by the best artists, are the “Fern,” “Argyle,” “Barley,” “Vine-border,” “Pine-apple,” and “Wheatsheaf” patterns, which are produced in a variety of colours. In tea-pots the “Damascus,” “Fern,” and “Argyle” patterns are among the most popular. In mosaic ware Mr. Dudson makes a variety of articles in white, drab, blue, and other bodies inlaid with a variety of colours. In these are tea and coffee pots, sugar bowls, jugs, &c., of different shapes, the “Tanhart” and “Cambridge” being among the most successful. These goods are produced in large quantities. Mr. Dudson, who received “honourable mention” in the Exhibitions of 1851 and 1862, supplies both home and foreign markets.
505 to 508.
Victoria Works, St. James Street.—The productions of Messrs. Adams & Bromley, until 1873 carried on as John Adams & Co., are majolica and jasper wares of high class, both in quality and in design, and have given them an honourable name among the manufacturers of the district. Parian portrait busts (among which were those of the Poet Laureate, Lord Derby, and Mr. Gladstone) were formerly produced, and are remarkable for their truthfulness and artistic treatment. In jasper, besides vases and candlesticks, tea and other services, tea and coffee-pots, table-kettles, fruit bowls, jugs, and a variety of other decorative and useful articles, cameos and medallions, after Wedgwood, for inlaying and other ornamental purposes, are made to a large extent and of satisfactory quality. The jasper is in quality and in general character of ornamentation, as well as in colour, a very close imitation of the more modern Wedgwood ware, and the shapes of many of the articles evince good taste in design. In majolica, bread-trays, cheese-trays, candlesticks, flower-pots, vases, garden-seats, jardinières, figures, and a very large variety of useful and ornamental goods are produced. The quality of the majolica is far above the average, and many of the designs are artistic; the workmanship in all cases is skilful and good. Some of these productions, exhibited in 1871, are shown on Figs. 513 to 516. Since that period Messrs. Adams & Bromley have made rapid strides in the art, and have introduced many good patterns. Notably among these are a large flower-vase, some four feet in height, with a well-modelled Cupid supporting the bowl; a masterly flower-vase on mask feet, and surrounded by a wreath of oak-leaves; another large vase in which the handles are formed of Cupids; water-lily, and other well-conceived dessert pieces, &c. Green glazed dessert ware is also extensively made. The mark is the names ADAMS & Co., or ADAMS & BROMLEY, or A. & B.
