30

EXPOSITION  AT  VIENNA.

of  porcelain,  majolica,  enamelled  terra-cotta,  vitreous  stoneware
  and  fine  earthenware.
The  principal  branches  of  manufacture  at  the  present  time
are  fine  porcelain  and  s  tone  wäre,  for  Services  of  all  kinds;
also  fine  earthenware,  parian  for  useful  and  ornamental
objects,  terra-cotta,  and  the  novelty  "  ivory  porcelain.”  The
decorations  include  all  the  usual  styles  for  useful  wares,
paintiugs  of  flowers,  birds,  landscapes,  figures,  etc.,  etc.
The  ornamental  works  consist  of  enamels  on  royal  blue
ground,  Raphaelesque  embossments,  majolica,  painting  of  all
kinds  oh  vases,  etc.,  majolica  and  the  ivory  porcelain.  Tliis
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.  In
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  wäre  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;  seeond,  the  perfection  of  the
forms;  and  third,  the  mastery  of  the  spirit  and  the  color  of
the  decoration.  Plaques  made  in  this  way  would  be  agreeable
  additions  in  the  decoration  of  cabinets  and  furniture,  or
wherever  ivory  tablets  would  be  appropriate.  The  material
.  gives  a  new  and  pleasing  basis  for  graphic  decoration  in  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  uudertaking  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  priuted  de-