238

EXPOSITION AT VIENNA.

of porcelain, majolica, enamelled terra-cotta, vitreous stone­ware and tine earthenware.

The principal branches of manufacture at the present time arc tine porcelain and stoneware, for services of all-kinds; also tine earthenware, parian for useful and ornamental objects, terra-cotta, and tlie novelty "ivory porcelain. The decorations include all the usual styles for useful wares, paintings of flowers, birds, landscapes, figures, etc., etc. The ornamental works consist of enamels on royal blue ground, Raphaelesque embossments, majolica, painting of all kinds on vases, etc., majolica and the ivory porcelain. This last is a new article having the color and lustre of ivory, and it is especially well adapted to the imitation of the remark­able objects in ivory for which Japanese artists are unrivalled. These objects, so successfully imitated by the works, consist generally of vases formed of sections of the tusk of the elephant, of jugs, bottles, flasks, etc., and of tablets, all embossed or carved in relief, or deeply incised and variously decorated in colored laquers, and with bronze and gold. 1° these reproductions of Japanese forms and decorations, the Worcester artists have been remarkably successful. They are not servile imitations, but the true spirit of Japanese decorative art appears to have been acquired and to be well understood. In this ware there are at least three points of merit: first, composition of the body, its successful imitation of the softness of ivory harmonizing completely the material with its carved appearance; second, the perfection of the forms; and third, the mastery of the spirit and the cSlor of the decoration. Plaques made in this way would be agree­able additions in the decoration of cabinets and furniture, ° r wherever ivory tablets would be appropriate. The material gives a new and pleasing basis for graphic decoration iu any style.

The manufacture of fine porcelain was commenced at Worcester in the year 1751, and the first royal patent was given in 1789. The undertaking originated chiefly through the exertions of Dr. J. Wall, a physician with chemical skill and artistic tastes. As early as the year 1763, the productions of the establishment were highly esteemed. Dr. Wall, at an early date, applied the process of transferring printed cle-