It would be impossible to enter into a detailed account of all the various marks that distinguish the Derby china; but I may observe, as regards the last given (in a square form), that it appears on a plate of Oriental pattern, the crown and letter "D" painted in red. The square is not always surmounted by the crown. The capital "D" in italic lettering surmounting the written name "Derby" is the early mark used before 1769, and is found on very old china. The "N" is an incised mark and is probably an indication that the porcelain was produced in the old works in Nottingham Road; and when in 1769 the Chelsea works were united to those of Derby, the union was indicated by the anchor of Chelsea crossing an italic capital of the letter "D." Derby figures are generally very roughly marked with three round blotches underneath them and the number scratched on the clay.
The Liverpool Works.
To Mr. Richard Chaffers—contemporary of Josiah Wedgwood—we owe the introduction of porcelain ware into the pottery factory in Liverpool in 1769. Of him, the latter said, "Mr. Chaffers beats us in all his colours." After ten years' work, having caught a fever from his manager Podmore, he died.
Philip Christian became the leading potter after that, and he produced large china vases equal to Oriental work and of great perfection. His china is marked "Christian" in capital letters.
John Pennington was specially celebrated for beautiful punch-bowls and for a very fine blue, for the recipe for making which he refused 1,000 guineas from a Staffordshire house. His business began in 1760 and lasted for thirty years. His mark was "P" "p" or his name in capital letters. He had been apprenticed to Josiah Wedgwood, thence he went to Worcester as foreman and chief artist to Flight & Barr, before he conducted the works at Liverpool.
Pennington carried on the china manufacture in Liverpool from 1760 to 1790. And, prior to him, I may name the factory of W. Reid & Co., of Castle Street, Liverpool, whose principal manufactures were in all descriptions of blue and white said to have been as good as any produced elsewhere in England.
Chaffers was drawing soap-rock from Mullion (Cornwall) in 1756 in preparation for the manufacture, even before Cookworthy of Plymouth had produced his hard-paste porcelain.
Besides the Penningtons and Philip Christian, Barnes, Abbey, Mort, Case and Simpson are all names celebrated in the Liverpool factory and in the neighbourhood.