Chapter I: Preface

Five years have now elapsed since the publication of my volume, "Chats on English China," and in the interval a great number of readers have written to me suggesting that I should write a companion volume dealing with old English earthenware. It is my hope that this complementary volume will prove of equal value to that large class of collectors who desire to know more about their hobby but are fearful to pursue the subject further without special guidance.

It is a matter for congratulation in these days, when so many books have only a short life for one season, to know that, owing to the enterprise of my publisher in making the "Chats" Series for collectors so widely known, the volume dealing with old English China still retains its vitality, and holds its place as a popular guide to collecting with profit.

As far as is possible in the limits of this volume, the subject of old English earthenware has been dealt with in order to show how peculiarly national the productions of the potter have been. The collection of old English earthenware, in the main, is still within the reach of those who have slender purses. English china during the last decade has reached prohibitive prices, and there is every likelihood that old English earthenware will in the near future become of unprecedented value.

I have carefully refrained from confining my treatment of the subject to rare museum examples which are unlikely to come under the hand of the average collector. It is necessary to have the ideal in view, but it must be borne in mind that such specimens must always be ideal to the larger number of collectors. I have, therefore, without belittling the old potters' art, given considerable attention to the golden mean in the realm of old earthenware to be collected.

The two volumes--"Chats on English China," which mainly consists of an outline history of English china, with hints as to its collection, and the present volume, "Chats on English Earthenware," with a faithful _résumé_ of the work of the old English potters--together form a record of what has been done by the potter in England, and are intended to be practical working handbooks for the collector of old English china and English earthenware.

The illustrations in this volume have been carefully chosen to illustrate the letterpress, and to enable readers to identify specimens that may come under their observation.

_Lists of Prices_ accompany the various sections whenever it has been thought that they may be of practical value. I am indebted for the accuracy of these prices to that useful and authoritative quarterly publication, "Auction Sale Prices," which is a supplement to the _Connoisseur_, and forms the standard record in the collectors' world of the prices realised at auction.

A _Bibliography_ of works on the subject has been given, in order that those who may wish to delve deeper may consult special volumes dealing in detail with special sub-heads of old earthenware.

I must here record my thanks for the generous aid I have received from possessors of fine examples who have willingly placed their treasures at my disposal, and by so doing have enabled me to present them as illustrations in this volume. To Colonel and Mrs. Dickson I am especially indebted for many specimens from their interesting collection. Miss Feilden has been good enough to select some typical examples from her fine collection of old earthenware of exceptional interest, and they are here reproduced by her courtesy, and to Mr. Richard Wilson I owe my gratitude for kindly allowing illustrations of some examples of Leeds cream-ware from his remarkable collection. Mr. Robert Bruce Wallis, with fine enthusiasm, has spared no trouble to enable me to present some of his rare examples, and Mrs. Herman Liebstein has kindly supplied some fine pieces from her collection. Mr. W. G. Honey has also kindly contributed several excellent illustrations of specimens in his collection.

The illustrations of specimens in the Victoria and Albert Museum are reproduced by permission of the Board of Education, and similar permission has been accorded me by the authorities of the British Museum to illustrate some of the rare examples in that collection. By a like courtesy I am enabled to give an illustration of an exceptional piece of marked Wincanton Delft, and some other examples from the collection at the Royal Scottish Museum, Edinburgh.

Messrs. Josiah Wedgwood and Sons, of Etruria have afforded me the pleasure of illustrating some fine specimens in their museum, including examples of the celebrated service made for the Empress Catherine II. of Russia. I am especially indebted to their courtesy in giving me facilities for the reproduction of a fine series of photographs showing the various stages in the manufacture of earthenware, which illustrations should be of practical advantage to the student and of no little interest to the general collector. It should be mentioned that these illustrations have been specially selected to represent the stages through which a piece of old earthenware passed in the hands of the Staffordshire potters.

In regard to the illustrations of the rare examples of Leeds and other pieces decorated at Lowestoft, and for the latest details known of this class of ware, I have to acknowledge the particular kindness of Mr. Merrington Smith, fine art expert of Lowestoft, who is known in connection with the excavations conducted a few years ago on the site of the old Lowestoft china factory, and whose detailed research regarding that factory has dissipated many erroneous theories and thrown so much light on its history and achievements.

To Mr. Rudd, fine art dealer of Southampton, I am indebted for a considerable fund of information relating to some of the exceptional examples of old English earthenware which have passed through his hands, and I am under a similar obligation to Mr. S. G. Fenton, who has contributed some fine pieces as illustrations to this volume.

Mr. James Davies, of Chester, has given me access to his collection, and has added some fine examples which are here included as illustrations. Mr. F. W. Phillips, of Hitchin, has from his fine collection made a generous selection of noteworthy specimens.

Mr. A. Duncan, of Penarth, has included photographs of some especially fine Swansea ware.

By the kindness of Mr. Hubert Gould, I am reproducing some typical examples of transfer-printed jugs from his collection of old earthenware.

To other friends who have generously forborne with my inquiries, and lent me their practical aid in various directions in assisting me to prosecute my researches in attempting to arrive at definite conclusions in regard to points not hitherto determined, I tender my warm appreciation of their kindness.

I may say, in conclusion, that a good photographer is a treasure, and no trouble has been spared by Mr. A. E. Smith, the well-known art photographer, to render difficult subjects pictorially attractive in conditions exceptionally detrimental to his art.

ARTHUR HAYDEN.

_March, 1909._

CONTENTS

PAGE
PREFACE 9

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS 17

BIBLIOGRAPHY 23

GLOSSARY OF TERMS USED 27

CHAPTER
I. HOW TO COLLECT: A CHAPTER FOR BEGINNERS 33

II. EARLY WARE 83

III. ENGLISH DELFT 101

IV. STONEWARE 133

V. EARLY STAFFORDSHIRE WARE--THOMAS WHIELDON;
HIS CONTEMPORARIES AND SUCCESSORS 159

VI. SALT-GLAZED WARE, STAFFORDSHIRE 195

VII. JOSIAH WEDGWOOD 221

VIII. THE SCHOOL OF WEDGWOOD 257

IX. LEEDS AND OTHER FACTORIES 287

X. TRANSFER-PRINTED WARE 317

XI. STAFFORDSHIRE FIGURES 353

XII. SWANSEA AND OTHER FACTORIES 395

XIII. LUSTRE WARE 423

XIV. LATE STAFFORDSHIRE WARE 443

INDEX 485

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

FRONTISPIECE.

Staffordshire Group, _Vicar and Moses_. Modelled by
Ralph Wood about 1750. Marked R. WOOD, BURSLEM.
_At British Museum._

PAGE
CHAPTER I.--HOW TO COLLECT.

Exterior of Works, Etruria 37
A Corner of Old Etruria Works 41
Mill for Grinding Raw Materials 45
The Thrower (showing the Potter's Wheel) 49
The Oven 53
The Dipping House 57
The Enamel Kiln 61

CHAPTER II.--EARLY WARE.

Mediæval Tiles 85
Toft Dish, dated 1671; Posset Pot, dated 1685 89
Earthenware Jug (late 17th century) 93

CHAPTER III.--ENGLISH DELFT.

Lambeth Delft Jar (with Arms of Apothecaries' Company) 103
Lambeth Delft "Sack" Bottle, dated 1652 107
Bristol Delft Plate, representing Balloon Ascent 107
Lambeth Delft Candlestick, dated 1648 111
Old Dutch Brass Candlestick 111
Bristol Delft Plate and Bowl 115
Bristol Delft Dish, dated 1740 119
Title-page and Illustration, from volume dated 1638 123
Wincanton Delft Dish 127

CHAPTER IV.--STONEWARE.

Stoneware Jugs, Bellarmine and other forms 135
Dwight Bust of _James II._, and Figures of _Children
Reading_ 139
Elers Coffee Pot, Mug, and Teapot 143
Astbury Teapots 149
Fulham Stoneware Mug (dated 1725) and Jug 153

CHAPTER V.--EARLY STAFFORDSHIRE WARE.

Whieldon Ware Cauliflower Teapot 161
Tortoiseshell Ware Plate 161
Tortoiseshell Ware Teapot and Bowl and Cover 167
Group of Astbury Ware 171
Agate Cat and Salt-glazed Bear Jug 171
Whieldon Tortoiseshell Animals 175
Whieldon Group. _St. George and the Dragon_ 175
Whieldon Toby Jugs 179
Groups of Early Staffordshire Jugs 183
Early Staffordshire Jugs 189

CHAPTER VI.--SALT-GLAZED WARE, STAFFORDSHIRE.

Salt-glazed Teapots. Heart-shaped (Lovers') and Camel 197
Group of Salt-glazed Ware 201
Salt-glazed Teapot enamelled in colours 205
Salt-glazed Vase and Punch Bowl enamelled in colours 209
Salt-glazed Jug enamelled in colours 213

CHAPTER VII.--JOSIAH WEDGWOOD.

Cream Ware Dessert Basket and Centre-piece 225
Catherine II. of Russia Service--Cream Ware Plates 233
Busts of _Rousseau_ and _Voltaire_ 233
Black Basalt Teapot and Jasper Ware Tea Set 241
Jasper Vase--"The Apotheosis of Virgil" 245

CHAPTER VIII.--THE SCHOOL OF WEDGWOOD.
Turner Jasper Vase--"Diana in her Chariot" 261
Adams Blue and White Jasper Vase 261
Turner Stoneware Teapot and Jug 267
Black Basalt Teapots by Birch and by E. Mayer 271
Stoneware Jugs by Spode and by Davenport 277
Black Basalt Teapot (early 19th century) 277

CHAPTER IX.--LEEDS AND OTHER FACTORIES.

Leeds Cream Ware Centre-pieces 291
Leeds Cream Ware Group. _Basket, Candlesticks, &c._ 295
Mug and Jug. Leeds Cream Ware, decorated at Lowestoft 299
Leeds Cream Ware Plate and Mug 303
Staffordshire Jug, decorated at Lowestoft 303
Rockingham Teapot 307
Castleford Jug--Black Basalt 307

CHAPTER X.--TRANSFER-PRINTED WARE.

Salt-glazed Plate--"Hercules and the Waggoner" 319
Transfer-printed Jug--"Diana in her Chariot" 319
Transfer-printed Jugs--"Duke of York" and "Success
to Trade" 323
Group of Chinese Blue and White Porcelain Plates 327
Spode Under-glaze Blue-printed Plate and Jug 331
Turner Dish with Blue-printed "Willow pattern" 331
Spode Blue-printed Ware, "Tower" pattern 335
Blue-printed Dishes by Rogers and Adams 341
Blue-printed Dishes--one with Claude landscape 345

CHAPTER XI.--STAFFORDSHIRE FIGURES.

Salt-glaze Figure and Figure of _Cock_ marked R. WOOD 351
_Diana_ and Group, _Birth of Venus_ 355
Group of Staffordshire Figures (NEALE & CO.) 355
_Eloquence_, or _St. Paul Preaching at Athens_ 359
Group _Bacchus_ and _Ariadne_, and Figures of _Venus_ and
_Adonis_ 363
Busts of _Bonaparte_ and _Alexander of Russia_ 367
Figures of _Falstaff_ 371
Staffordshire Figure decorated by Absalon, Yarmouth 375
Staffordshire Figures of Musicians (various) 379
Group of Toby Jugs 383
_Cupid_ and Figures of _Flower Boys_ 387
Figures of _Fishwife_ and _Mother Goose_ 391

CHAPTER XII.--SWANSEA AND OTHER FACTORIES.

Swansea Plates and Swansea Bulb-pots 397
Cambrian Vase, painted by Pardoe 401
Swansea Jug, painted by Evans 401
Swansea Transfer-printed Ware, Group of 405
Dillwyn's Etruscan Ware, _Vase_ and _Tazza_ 405
Portland Vase in Red Ware (Isleworth) 409
Liverpool Plate and Finely Painted Mug 409
Brown Stoneware Jugs (Isleworth) 413

CHAPTER XIII.--LUSTRE WARE.

Lustre Goblets and Gold Lustre Mugs 425
Silver Lustre Figures by Wood and Caldwell 431
Silver Lustre Jugs 431
Copper Lustre Mug and Group of Copper Lustre Ware 437