Glasgow Pottery.—These works were established in 1842, by Messrs. J. & M. P. Bell & Co., in Stafford Street, Glasgow, for the manufacture of white and printed earthenware, and soon rose to the first rank among the potteries of Scotland. Particular attention was from the first paid not only to the excellence of body of the ware, but to improvement in form and in style of decoration. In these particulars they were eminently successful, and in 1851 received honourable mention at the Great Exhibition. Later on the manufacture of china was commenced, and later still the fine white and pearl granite wares, and white and decorated sanitary wares. The works are of great extent, and produce all the usual varieties of goods in dinner, breakfast, tea, toilet, dessert, and other services, as well as all the usual classes of articles, and in every variety of style, from the plain white or cream colour to the most richly enamelled and gilt patterns. The earthenware services are of more than average excellence of quality, and the china, both body and glaze, of superior class. Some of the dessert plates issued by Messrs. Bell, with hand-painted groups of flowers and perforated or open-work rims, are equal to most English makes; while some of the tea services are of tall classic form and of excellent taste in colour and decoration. In parian Messrs. Bell & Co. produce some admirable vases with figures in relief, and other ornamental goods; the quality is far above the average. The old marks used by the Glasgow Pottery are the following: Fig. [782], an eagle holding a roll, on which is inscribed the name of the pattern, and, underneath, the initials of the firm, J. & M. P. B. & Co.; Fig. [783], the Warwick vase and the name, J. & M. P. BELL & Co. The later marks are (Fig. [784]), a garter bearing the initials of the firm, J. & M. P. B. & Co., surrounding the trade mark of a bell; the name of the pattern below. These are all printed on the ware, while another, impressed in the body, is a bell with the initials J. B. (Fig. [785]). Another is a bell only (Fig. [786]).
Figs. 782 to 786.
Some of Messrs. Bell & Co.’s exhibits are shown in the engravings Figs. [766 to 781].
North British Pottery.—These works on Dobbies Loan, produce the ordinary qualities of earthenware goods.
Saracen Pottery.—The Saracen Pottery was established in 1875 by Messrs. Bayley, Murray, and Brammer, at Possilpark. The firm manufacture Rockingham, cane-coloured, Egyptian black, jet, and mazarene blue wares on an extensive scale, mostly, in tea-pots, jugs, and other useful domestic articles, both for the home and foreign markets. The mark used is the initials of the firm and name of the works
B M & Co
SARACEN POTTERY.