On a few pieces the name occurs thus WEDGWOOD D BENT On those ornamental goods (vases, medallions, &c.), in the production of which Thomas Bentley had an interest-for it will be remembered I have already stated that the partnership between himself and Josiah Wedgwood extended to the "ornamented" branch only, and had nothing whatever to do with the "useful"-the general mark used was the circular one here shown. In this the letters are raised, not sunk, as in the other marks. Another used at this time was as follows and another WEDGWOOD & BENTLEY Wedgwood both of which are, of course, impressed marks. With regard to these marks of "Wedgwood and Bentley," it may be well to remind collectors that whatever pieces may come into their hands bearing these names must have been made in the twelve years between 1768 and 1780. Besides these marks, a variety of smaller ones—letters, flowers, figures, and numbers, both impressed and in colours, are to be seen on the different varieties of wares. These, it will be easily understood, are simply workmen's marks, or marks denoting period, &c., and which, being private marks, concern only, and are of interest only, to the proprietors themselves. And now, while speaking of marks, a few words may opportunely be introduced on a matter which is somewhat puzzling to collectors, and about which they will doubtless be glad to receive enlightenment. It is this: in many collections pieces of one kind or other will be found bearing the mark WEDGWOOD & Co., and others with the mark of WEDGEWOOD, sometimes impressed, and sometimes in colour. The latter, it will be observed, has a central E, which the real name of Wedgwood does not possess. These I have heard variously appropriated by collectors to Wedgwood and Bentley, to Wedgwood and Byerley, and to a dozen other supposed periods and people. I am enabled to state that these pieces, many of them highly creditable and excellent productions, were not made by the Etruria Wedgwoods at all, but that the latter (the "Wedgewood," and sometimes the "Wedgwood") were the manufacture of Messrs. William Smith, and others, of Stockton, against whom Messrs. Wedgwood applied for and obtained an injunction restraining them from using the name of "Wedgwood, or "Wedgewood." The following official notification will well explain this matter, and prove of considerable interest to collectors: "Vice-Chancellor of England's Court, "Lincoln's Inn, 8th August, 1848. "IN CHANCERY. "Wedgwood and others against Smith and others. "Mr. BETHELL on behalf of the Plaintiffs, Francis Wedgwood and Robert Brown (who carry on the business of Potters, at Etruria, in the Staffordshire Potteries, under the Firm of 'Josiah Wedgwood and Sons'), moved for an Injunction against the defendants, William Smith, John Walley, George Skinner, and Henry Cowap (who also carry on the business of Potters, at Stockton, in the County of Durham, under the Firm of 'William Smith and Company'), to restrain them and every of them, their Agents, Workmen, or Servants, from stamping, or engraving, or marking, or in any way putting or placing on the ware manufactured by them, the Defendants, the name Wedgwood' or 'Wedgewood,' and from in any manner imitating or counterfeiting such name on the Ware manufactured by the Defendants since the month of December, 1816, or CC hereafter to be manufactured by the Defendants, with the name 'Wedgwood' or 'Wedgewood' stamped, engraved, or otherwise marked or placed thereon. "Mr. Bethell stated that the trade mark 'Wedgwood' had been used by the family of the Wedgwoods for centuries; he would not, however, go further into the matter at present, because Mr. Parker appeared for the Defendants; and it might become necessary-with whom, and himself, it had been arranged by consent on Mr. Parker's application on behalf of the Defendants, for time to answer the Plaintiffs' Affidavits-that the Motion should stand over until the Second Seal in Michaelmas Term next; and that in the meantime the Defendants should be restrained as above stated; except that for the words, since the month of December, 1846,' the words, since the month of July, 1847,' should be substituted. “Mr. J. Parker said he appeared for the Defendants, and consented without prejudice; and on his application for time to answer the Plaintiffs' Affidavits, the Court made an order accordingly. "On the 9th day of November, being the Second Seal in Michaelmas term, 1848, Mr. E. Younge, as counsel for the above-named Plaintiffs, moved for, and obtained, a perpetual Injunction against the Defendants in the terms of Mr. Bethell's Motion, substituting for the words, since the month of December, 1846,' the words, 'since the month of July, 1847;' the Defendants consenting to pay to the Plaintiffs their costs. "Solicitor for the Plaintiffs, "SAMUEL KING, “Furnival's Inn, Middlesex." CHAPTER XXII. ETRURIA WORKS.-PRODUCTIONS OF THE PRESENT DAY.-SOLID JASPER AND JASPER DP. - MAJOLICA.-MR. MINTON.M. EMILE LESSORE.-PARIAN.-INLAID WARE.-QUEEN'S WARE. PEARL BODY.. ROCKINGHAM WARE.-POROUS -VIEWS OF THE WARE.-RED WARE. BLUE PRINTING. MADE BY WATT.-THE VILLAGE OF ETRURIA.-THE VILLAGE HAVING now spoken pretty fully of the productions of the Etruria Works, and of their great founder, and remarked upon their characteristics in the earlier periods of their career, as well as in those of a later date, it remains only to bring my narrative down to the present time, by saying a few words on the different classes of goods manufactured by the Messrs. Wedgwood at the time I write, and of some of the specialities of their various productions. As in the "olden times" of the great Josiah, so it is now at Etruria. The self-same moulds are used; the self-same principles are acted upon and carried out; the same mixture of bodies and glazes, with but (in some instances) trifling modifications, are in daily use; the same system is employed, and the same varieties of goods are manufactured, as was the case in his days; and, consequently, the vases, the medallions, the services, and all the other goods which he made, seventy, eighty, or ninety years ago, may be, and are, daily reproduced for customers of the present time. It is true that the ornamental goods of the present day have not quite that charm of super-excellence about them which those made in the days of the first Josiah possess ; but it must be conceded by collectors that a great deal of that charm consists solely in the knowledge that they are the productions of his own time, and in the established fact that nothing produced since then can equal them in finish, or in softness and beauty of surface. Taken as productions of the present time alone, it is pleasant to feel that Messrs. Wedgwood's jasper and other ornamental goods stand as far in advance of their competitors as those of the great Josiah did in advance of those of his own time. I have already stated that Messrs. Wedgwood still produce their “jasper,” their "basaltes," their “red,” their “creamcoloured," and, indeed, all the other wares for which the works in the olden times were so famous. The jasper goods are still-as they have ever been since the first production of that marvellous body-their principal feature-the great speciality of their works. In this, since the days of Turner, they have never even been approached, and their goods still maintain their old and high reputation. All the famous works of the olden time-from the Portland Vase down through all the chaste and beautiful varieties of vases, plaques, medallions, services, &c.-are still made in all their beauty, with the addition of many new and evervarying designs and combinations. The jasper is produced in dark and in light blue of various shades (with, of course, the raised figures and ornaments in white), in sage-green, in pink, and other tints. It is also produced both in "solid jasper"—that is, the solid coloured body throughout-and in "jasper dip," which is the white jasper body with the colour laid on the surface. The "solid jasper" was reintroduced in 1856. Another speciality of the ornamental productions of the Etruria Works of the present day-for it is but of recent introduction—is that of "majolica," which is produced of extreme beauty and of high artistic excellence, as well in dessert and other services as in pieces of a more strictly and solely |