Swansea and Nantgarw Porcelains [electronic resource] : A Scientific Reappraisal /
Edwards, Howell G.M.author.
This book describes a holistic study of the porcelain manufactured at Nantgarw and Swansea in the first quarter of the 19th Century, using both scientific analytical data and historical provenancing. This porcelain is acclaimed as some of the finest and most translucent porcelain ever produced. These two porcelain factories are linked through the artistic and creative activities of the enigmatic William Billingsley and had a strictly limited production over only three or four years during the period 1812-1820. The earliest chemical analysis of these porcelains were undertaken almost 100 years ago and are compared with the results of more recent analyses The chemical composition of these porcelains, their artistic decoration and the struggle to maintain quality production is reviewed. Scientific explanations are proposed for the characteristic Swansea duck-egg porcelain translucency and for the Nantgarw iridescence. The book is well illustrated throughout and affords a good basis for the further in-depth study of Swansea and Nantgarw porcelains.
Includes bibliographical references at the end of each chapters and index.
Foreword -- Preface -- Prologue: The Origins of Porcelain -- 1 Introduction and Present-Day Scenario -- 2 Porcelain Manufacture in South Wales in the 19th Century. 3 Historical Research Issues -- 4 A Chronological Summary of the Billingsley Family and Their Contribution to Porcelain Manufacture and Decoration -- 5 Burnishing and Gilding -- 6 Commercial Exploitation -- 7 Service Types and the Importance of Nomenclature in Their Attribution -- 8 Armorial Porcelains -- 9 Documentary Porcelain and Historical Provenancing -- 10 The Production of Porcelain Services -- 11 The Scientific Analysis of Porcelain -- 12 Named Artists -- 13 Classification of Factory Output -- 14 Nantgarw Porcelain: Named Services -- 15 Swansea Porcelain: Named Services -- 16 Miscellaneous Named Services -- 17 Conclusions -- 18 The Discovery of a Long-Lost Nantgarw Dinner-Dessert Service -- 19 The Attribution of Unknown Porcelain to Swansea and Nantgarw: A Protocol -- 20 Statement Made by Henry Morris to Colonel Grant Davidson in 1850 -- 21 William Billingsley - An Epilogue -- Appendix 1 Notes on the Experimental Production of Swansea Porcelain -- Appendix 2 Transcript of an Interview given by Henry Morris -- Appendix 3 Some Scientific Thoughts on Swansea and Nantgarw Porcelains -- Appendix 4. The Pendock-Barry Service: A Re-Appraisal -- Appendix 5. Detailed Comparison Between the Derby Lord Ongley Service and its Nantgarw Precursors -- Appendix 6. Nantgarw Porcelain – Measurements and Sizes -- Appendix 7. Swansea Script Marks and their Attribution to William Billingsley’s Decoration -- Glossary of Terms Used in this Book.
This book describes a holistic study of the porcelain manufactured at Nantgarw and Swansea in the first quarter of the 19th Century, using both scientific analytical data and historical provenancing. This porcelain is acclaimed as some of the finest and most translucent porcelain ever produced. These two porcelain factories are linked through the artistic and creative activities of the enigmatic William Billingsley and had a strictly limited production over only three or four years during the period 1812-1820. The earliest chemical analysis of these porcelains were undertaken almost 100 years ago and are compared with the results of more recent analyses The chemical composition of these porcelains, their artistic decoration and the struggle to maintain quality production is reviewed. Scientific explanations are proposed for the characteristic Swansea duck-egg porcelain translucency and for the Nantgarw iridescence. The book is well illustrated throughout and affords a good basis for the further in-depth study of Swansea and Nantgarw porcelains.
Ceramics.
Glass.
Composites (Materials).
Composite materials.
Cultural heritage.
Analytical chemistry.
Chemistry—History.
Fine arts.
Spectroscopy.
Microscopy.
Ceramics, Glass, Composites, Natural Materials.
Cultural Heritage.
Analytical Chemistry.
History of Chemistry.
Fine Arts.
Spectroscopy and Microscopy.