Figs. 543 and 544.—First Vases made at Etruria.

Thomas Bentley, who was the son of Thomas Bentley of Scropton, in Derbyshire, was born there on the 1st of January, 1730, and was brought up at Manchester. From thence he removed to Liverpool, where, in conjunction with Mr. Boardman, he commenced business as Manchester warehouseman, they living together in Paradise Street.[53] On joining Wedgwood, Thomas Bentley of course left Liverpool, and devoted himself to the business in London. In 1769 the Etruria works were opened, and on the 13th of June in that year its first productions were thrown—Thomas Bentley turning the wheel, while the “great” Josiah Wedgwood himself “threw” the pieces. These were three vases of Etruscan form, and they afterwards passed through all the processes of the potter’s art, and were painted in Etruscan style, with suitable inscriptions. These historical and priceless vases are in the possession of Mr. Francis Wedgwood, of Barlaston. Two of these are shown above (Figs. [543, 544]), engraved from careful drawings made by myself from the vases at Barlaston. They bear the words

June xiii mdcclxix
One of the first Day’s Productions
at
Etruria in Staffordshire
by
Wedgwood and Bentley
Artes Etruriæ renascunter

Figs. 545 and 546.—Flaxman’s Bas-reliefs in Jasper Ware.

Each of these vases is labelled in Wedgwood’s own handwriting, “Part of Plate 129, vol. i., of Hamilton’s Antiq. Hercules and his Companions in the Garden of the Hesperides,” showing both the subject and where obtained. In 1770 Wedgwood and Bentley established works at Chelsea for the decoration of these “encaustic vases” and for other purposes. Of the names of some of the painters at that time (October, 1770) employed in this Chelsea establishment I am enabled to give evidence in the following document in my own possession:—

Cash paid at Chelsea for Wages. On
J. W.’s
Acct.		 On
W. & B.’s
Acct.
1770. £ s. d. £ s. d.
Oct. 6. John Lawrence, 6 days. 0 5 3 0 5 3
Timothy Roberts, 6 days. 0 12 0
 „  5. James Bakewell, 6 days. 0 16 0
Thos. Blomeley’s Bill. 1 0 5
Thos. Hutchings, 6 days. 1 6 0
William Roberts, 4 days. 0 4 4
Nathl. Cooper, 6 days. 0 16 0
William Shuter’s Bill. 0 8 0
Thomas Simcock, 6 days. 0 16 0
Ralph Willcocks, 6 days.
Mrs.  ditto 6 days.
John Winstanley, 6 days. 0 13 0
 „  6. Thomas Barrett, 5 days. 0 7 0
Thomas Green, 6 days.
Miss Edwards, 6 days.
Miss Parkes, 6 days.
Mr. Rhodes.
Ditto for Joe.
Ditto for Will.
Ditto for Unwin.

The partnership of Wedgwood and Bentley had reference only to the ornamented, not to the useful ware; and in this account, although the workmen were employed on both branches, the wages were divided into headings:—“On J. W.’s Acct.” (distinguished as Josiah Wedgwood’s account), and “On W. & B.’s Acct.” (Wedgwood and Bentley’s account). Thus, John Lawrence, for the week ending October 6th, is paid for six days’ Work, at 1s. 9d. a day, of which 5s. 3d. is charged to “J. W.,” and the other 5s. 3d. to “W. & B.” The Chelsea painting establishment continued for some time, and down nearly to the close of last century painting and enamelling were done for the firm in London.

In 1772 Bentley (who, in 1754, had married Hannah Oates of Sheffield, who did not live long) married, at All Saints’ Church, Derby, his second wife, Mary Stamford, of that town. In the year following, the partners issued their first catalogue of goods, which was entitled—