POECELAIN AND FAIENCE.
41
Lusteed Ware.
Brianchon I. Aine, Paris. This exhibitor confined his
display to a variety of specimens of ornamental objects, cov-
ered with a very brilliant pearly or nacreous glaze, semi-
metallic in appearance, and to the eye of a chemist, evidently
due to the partial reduction of oxides in the glaze to a metal-
lic state. There is a great variety of tints, from pearly
white to a rose pink; and some of the objects, such as
shells, where the iridescent surface is peculiarly fitting, are
very pleasing to the eye.
This is a modification of an ancient art, which was long
kept a secret. Its revival in France is due to M. Brianchon,
who has succeeded admirably, making his pieces with more
certaiuty and brilliancy than the old masters of the secret
could attain. The early invention is attributed to the cele-
brated maestro, Georgio Andreoli, whose lustred wares are
so highly prized by collectors. The purple or silver-lustred
wäre of Statfordshire is similar. The process was intro-
duced there in Wedgwood’s time, but has never made
great progress. M. Brianchon’s process consists in makiijg
enamels of nitrate of bismuth, iron, uranium, nickel or,
cobalt, and adding a reducing agent, such as resin or essen
tial oils. Objects of this nature have also been made at
the Royal Porcelain Works, Worcester, and by the Beleek
Company in Ireland.
This exhibitor received a Merit Medal.
Sevres Manufactory.
There was no formal exhibition of Sevres products, but
the celebrated porcelains of this noted establishment were
not unrepresented. Amongst other pieces and collections
the dessert Service of Sevres päte tendre should be noticed.
It dates from the year 1765, and is a beautiful turquoise
blue in color. It was exhibited by Prince Nicolas Repine,
of Kiev, Russia.
The scientific as well as the artistic development of the
ceramic art, owes much to the laborious investigations and
experiments pursued, for a long series of years at this estab-
lishmeut, under the direction of such savans as Brongniart,
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