The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1874-01-15
Anatomy of Melancholy.
From the Scientific American.1
The Manufacture of EarthenWare.

The potters art has long furnished
Great Britain and other European coun-
tries with the most important branches
OF commerce. 1t was first introduced
into England by two foreigners at a place
called Bradawoods, which is now Long
port. situated about two miles from Burs-
lem, Staffordslfire These two men com
menced in Il small way and kept them
selves very secluded The ware which
they made was Of quality very inferior to
that Of the present day; the business was
only in its infancy. and the only mode of
glazing the ware was by simply throwing
salt Into the saggars or vessels in which
the crockery was baked. 1t :, as reserved
for the famous and ever noted Josiah
Wedgewood to be the pioneer in INTRO
ducing new glaZes and bodies, and to inn
prove and bring to perfection the manu-
facture OF earthenware. This was during
the commencement of the eighteenth
century. He it was who laid the founda-
tion OF the famous Staffordshre potteries,
which now extend some ten or twelve
miles in length and two or three miles in
width. The district contains the towns
of Tunstall, Burslpm, Longport Dalehall,
Hanley, Stoke upon Trent, Fenton. and
Longton. The potteries are right amidst
the clays that are used in the manutac-
abundance in Derbyshire, which is the
next county, but the most important and
valuable clay is found in Cornwall 1t is
called china clay, and is purely white.
This clay is not found anywhere else in
the United Kingdom Another valuable
acquisition to the potteries is the valuable
coal beds which abound in North Stat
fordshire, and furnish very important
material i'll the manufacture of earthen-
ware.
The clay is generally weathered for one
or two years before being used. that is, it
is exposed to the effects OF the atmosphere,
to make it OF better color and more
pliahle. After which. certain quantities
of each kind are weighed out. put in
large vats, and wor ed together until
they are thoroughly mixed, and become of
the consistency of thick milk Other
ingredients are then mixed with these
clays. they are china clay, felspar, and
few other materials to give body and
cOnsistence to the ware. After the whole
has been ground and mixed up togeth +,
it is put i'll large press Ca new invention
which has been patented) and by means
Of heat, the materials become more solid,
are pressed into la. ge blocks and are
ready to be used. An earthenware man.
ufaclory is arranged in such manner
that each branch is kept separate to itself.
In making a water pitcher for instance,
the body of the pitcher is made in two
equal parts, and the handle is made sep
arately. The presser, as he is called,
takes sufficient clay for the molds he is
going to use; the mold is made of plaster
of Paris When both halves of the mold
are filled, he puts them together. and
straps them tightly he then finishes the
-, IL DFf = bo ~ I,, - L.,
means of wet sponge to fill up the seams
He then takes off the strap, and places
the mold with its contents in small
room which is kept at a high tempera-
ture. This is done to harden the clay,
and evaporate the water Alter being in
few hours, the clay appears white, and
the mold is taken out and opened. The
pitcher is then finished off and the
handle is put on. This being done, it is
ready for what is called the biscuit
oven, where it undergoes its first ba king
A similar process is gone through in max
ing dishes, cups and saucers, and other
articles, except that the molds are of
different shape. The ovens, or kilns, as
they are called, are built OF brick and are
of u conical shape, something like sugar
loaf
After the ware is finished, it is placed
III Wudb ar t1dlIcu SstSSdTS, NtSSSlS IhidS
OF clay and baked before using; sand is
sprinkled in these saggars and round the
ware to prevent the whole from sticking
together. When placed in the oven, it is
exposed to very severe heat for forty
eight hours; the fires are then allowed to
90 down and the ware to cool gradually
The oven and the wares are still very
warm; and the men employed to take
the pottery from the oven have to wear
| flannel over their hands and bodies to
protect themselves from being scorched.
| They cannot remain many minutes at a
| time in the oven. The ware is then car
ried to what is called the biscuit ware
! house, where it is sorted over by women
and girls. In this state, it is called bis
cult and is of porous nature The posi-
ton of fireman Of the biscuit oven is a
very important post, and it requires a
man OF great experience and skill II
the ware be not fired or baked up to n
certain point, it is very apt to craze, Il
phrase used amongst manufacturers to
! imply that it is liable to have those small
cracks upon it which are sometimes seen
upon earthenware or crockery. Alter
being sorted over, it is prepared to 90
through II second firing.
The printing is done upon the biscuit