[CHINA MARKS.]
ENGLISH PORCELAIN.
PART IV.
Salopian Works, Caughley.
The Salopian Porcelain Works were founded by Thomas Turner, of Caughley Place, who had been employed in the Worcester factory, and becoming manager of the pottery works at Caughley, near Broseley, in 1772. To him are attributed the famous “willow pattern,” the “Nankin” and the “blue dragon,” and the production of the beautiful and distinguishing dark blue colour; Thomas Minton, of Stoke, assisted in the completion of the “Nankin,” being an articled engraver at Caughley. Of Turner the Messrs. John Rose bought the factory in 1799, and in 1814-15 it was broken up. This was a grievous loss, as the porcelain produced there was remarkable for the brilliancy of its glaze, the fineness of its substance, and the beauty of its blue colour. The name “Salopian” indicates its origin, but several other marks of very elaborate designs were employed, being a series of Arabic numerals, as here given, although some slight varieties are noticeable in the different illustrations published.
Coalport and Colebrook Dale.
John Rose, an apprentice of Thomas Turner, of Caughley, Salop, was also the founder of the Coalport and Colebrook Dale, Shropshire, manufactories, and after a time, having purchased the Caughley plant, he united the latter with Coalport, Swansea and Nantgarw factories; the paste of Coalport was a combination, and “felspar porcelain” was produced. Turner’s “willow” and “blue dragon” designs were again resuscitated to a great extent, and various sprig patterns, copied from Chelsea, Dresden and Sèvres porcelain, as well as bearing their marks. Besides these latter, the names and initial letters of the original factories are found on the early examples, and the more recent bear the marks next here following.
