New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-04-26

which u was manufactured The inventor OF the
ware continues to manufacture H. and has one OF
the most famous Belleek potteries in England.
In 1852 ex Congressman j. Hart Brewer OF lreh-
ton conceived the idea OF manufacturing Beheek
I'm this country and he established plant In Tren
ton and began the experiment. bringing skilled
workmen from England The result was the Gre
alton of demand for American Belleek. ana the
establishment OF haf-dozen potteries that produce
the ware. The American Belleek Is considereu 10
be equal TO the imported article.
In the beginning Of the experiments the original
fabric was a simple foundation. but II has been I'M
proved 10 such a degree that II stands unrivaled
as modern triumph Of the potters skill IN mahlpu-
/ lating the simple, but refractory. materials from
which Il is made The extreme lightness and deli
cacy OF these wonderful productions Is understood
when II IS known that dozen cups and saucers'
making twenty four pieces. weigh exactly sixteen
I Ounces avolrdupots.
The most striking pieces OF this superb product
are the large OF exquisite modelling ana dell
/ cate workmanship. These pieces are made OF the
cam. ,onp,ratye degree OF lrhtncss the smaller
| ohiocts and are SO designed that they present a
broad clear field for the richly elaborate decora-
tons in enamels gold relief and chasing. The
choicest and most costly specimens OF Beleek are
10 be found in the houses OF the most prominent
dealers In the larger cities of tho United states
where they never fail 10 attract the attention and
admiration Of the most refined and critical OF Amer-
can buyers
Some Of the most beautiful and costly are carved
but the work is necessarily slow, because OF the
brittle nature OF the material. and the liabilV Oh
the workman to send his chisel through the wall
ar strike IL a blow that will crumbe IT,
! Bclleck Is characterized by It's transucency ana
It's delicacy 1t Il OF a creamy hue generally Out
often shades 10 a gray.sh cast. and carries win IL
a beautiful lustrous glaze The greater part OF the
war. is turned out OF moulds and the process OF us
making from start TO finish Is extremely interest
ing The material used Is feldspar and clay. which
are first placed In kiln and heated until they be-
como friabe, when they are removed and placed IN a
circular trough tube In which roll TWO heaVy
stone wheels. under which the material Is ground to
n powder When the grinding process Is nnisheu
water IL mixed with the powder, and the liquid Is
carefully strained 10 remove from 1t all sediment.
1t is thickened according to the class OF goods 10 De
made and then. with a mould and jug OF this
liquid the potter Is ready 10 produce anything
from n plain saucer TO elaborate vase. The
moulds are made OF plaster. and when the liquid Is
turned into them the walls take on a coating, the
thickness OF which is regulated by TIE length OF
auired thickness has been obtained the liquid is
turned out OF the moulds into the Jug ..., -.
The mould Is allowed TO stand an hour, when tle
coating inside hardens that the workmen may re-
move It and place 1t IN IN a@scrs FROM TIC
ssser is ass Ssons asn praees % Of baking
S %Gm is necessary for the wormen exercise
extreme in packing the Belleek casts because
are placed In what is known as II biscuit klin-a
large circular rcverbcratory furnace Win tnre,,
chambers one above the other. and five fires around
tho outside. Heat is applied gradually me nisn
temperature Is maintained for seventeen or eighteen
hours when the kiln IL opened and allowed 10 cooi
gradually for three or four days, AT the rnu ot
| which time the saggers are removed ana their con-
tents taken out. secured and dipped IN a solu,i9h
Tor glazing repacked In the saggers ana placed IN
The glas kiln where they are subjected to Intense
heat for twcnty-four hours. TT :. +,
When the ware comes from the glast KIN IL Is
ready for decoration which work Is done by artists
| who have been especially trained FOR H. Inc
decorations are burned in In what Is known as the
decorating kim and sometimes the ware ~ gwen a
second treat In the giaSt kiln. IL requires ABOUT
one week from the time OF the grinding OF the
| fellspar and clay before the manufactured article
IL ready for the market. u ,,,
| There are on exhibition in Trenton six Jardinieres
OF exceedingly beautiful design that were carved
| with a chisel by Miss Kate Sears. a Kansas girl
who first conceived the idea OF hand carving the
| delicate ware. Miss Sears was engaged on the
jardnieres for a year.
The business OF designing and decorating the ware
Is extremely profitable. Decorators frequently re-
! ceive as high as S75 week for their work.
| The bestknown designer and decorator ever In
| this country was Harry Sanders. an Englishman,
who was a pupil OF the famous Salons. Specimens
of his work are shown In the accompanying Nus
'