The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1870-05-02

u1aCLOTy III i russia AS We nave III
Arkansas and IN New Mexico de-
pcsits of fine porcelain clay, fur
nished by decomposing felspar, and
as at present most Of our fine earth
enwaTe is imported, information on
these topics may possibly have eco
nomical or commercial value.
Forty-two years had elapsed since
I had visited Europe, and I gladly
availed myself of the opportunity to
renew agreeable "reminiscences by re-
naming several days with my class
mate and much valued friend, M
Eugene Boch, Of the firm of Villeroy
& Boeh, manufacturers of fine earth
envare, and of so called Parian
ware" in every form, to delight the
eye Of the artist or charm the lover
of fine arts.
METTLAoH PRUSSIA PORCELAIN MAN
UFAoToRY.
The firm of Villeroy & Boob owns
four manufacturing ablishments in
Germany. viz: at Mettlach, Vaux de
Vosges, Luxembourg and Dresden /;
two in Belgium, viz: Ceramis and
Tourney, and half of one 10 France,
much the largest of ell. called Sarge
mines; besides a branch establish
ment in connection with M. William
Fellenberg (son of the great Swiss
educator, Emanuel Won Fellenberg),
at Mertzig, six miles from Mettlach,
In Rhenish Prussia, where chiefly
tiles from the commonest to the finest,
are made, not only for roofs aud
floors, but for arches and bridges, be-
sides the smoothest and hardest ma
chine made bricks for expensive
houses.
The establishment at Mettlach,
which, through the hospitality and
kindness of my friend, we had an OPP
portunity of examining very fully,
during several days, employs eight
hundred and fifty hands regularly.
One huadred and sixty additional me-
chanics and labOrers are now extend
ing the buildings and warehouses in
order to communicate directly with
the Mettlach Il. Il. station or depot,
by which the goods are shipped in
all directions, but especially to Ger
many, Switzerland and Italy. The
whole moves like clockwork under
tho energetic supervision of the man
aging proprietor, Mr.. Boch, and his
highly educated sons, aided here by
twelve superintendent, while In their
larger establishment IN France as
high as forty such have to be en-
ployed. For greater accuracy than
could be otherwise attained, beauti-
fully Autographed engravings are
sent by mail to correspondents and
each regular purchaser has a separate
ledger and order book. Farther to pre-
vent mistakes, the various parts, nee.
essary to constitute the whole of a
Mosaic or fresco work are, readily
distinguished, even after each piece
has been wrapped in paper, by the
different colors of the wrappers.
Omitting many interesting details,
we will now follow the manufacture
from its commencement.
PARIAN WARE.
For the beautiful articles of this
material, Swedish felspar is import
ed and mixed latter being thorough
ly ground by machinery between
quartz blocks, fixed on revolving
arms, and a pavement of twenty inch
deep granite blocks) with kaolin clay
from France. Instead of being
moulded in plastic condition, the
materials are mixed with sufficient
water to run like thick cream into
gypsum moulds, but for some compli
Gated statuettes, separate castings of
parts are afterwards united by compe-
tent artists. Thus a group modelled
to persouate one of Washington r.
Wings legends, and entitled Court
ship in Sleepy Hollow. consists orig
inally of 100 separate pieces, after
wards all carefully united to form the
entire group In which those Jennings
cannot be distinguished.
Some of these statuettes were much |
admired at the last Paris Exhibition, |
and | was pleased to find that most of |
this ware was sent to this country, |
being ordered by firm In New York. |
One with the motto underneath, |
f" Wounded to the rear, one more |
shot" is well executed. as also the |
head of our lamented Lincoln, in
miniature size.
MOSAIC AND IMITATION FREsCo TILES.
In great portions of the continent
of Europe, large rooms are frequently |
laid with finely painted and highly
glazed porcelain tiles in various geo.
metrical figures. In addition to these
we found this enterprising firm at
Mettlach executing an order for Mu.
Mich, designed to initiate in tiles with
out any disagreeable glaze, some of the
richest fresco paintings. Large col
ored drawings had been sent as mod
els, which Mr.. Boch's excellent ar
lists had fully initiated in the various
pieces for inlaying on the wall. These.
when completed, fitted SO admirably
that, at "a very short distance, no joints
were perceptible, and festoons, heads,
&c, seemed to come out in bold re-
lief. Mr.. Boch thinks there is q great
future in this department..
Some coarse tiles are made, also,
without a glaze, and with a bevel, so
that when laid In a court yard or sta
Bile they are not slippery. and to my
emitted sparks of fire
when the horses shoes struck them.
exhibiting no signs of wear, although
hey had been in DIR. Boch's stable
Yard for years. Such tiles are made
by COMPRISING the dry materials with
powerful hydraulic machines.
Tiles USED FOR ARCHES AND BRIDGES.
Although aware that the Germans,
English and French used tiles ex- !
for roofing h0ngea T had