Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-05-09
MAKING FINE CHINA,
How the Work Is Done in Worcester,
England.

How the Work Is Done In Worcester,
England.
From the Boston Transcript.
Close beside Worcester cathedral are the
ugly workshops and tall chimneys of the
porcelain works. When We watch the
thrower molding on his magic wheel the
plastic clay we are filled with wonder at
his skill and ask ourselves whence came
the clay which takes so readily any form
the potter wills. The flint boulders found
upon the plains Of Brittany in France,
feldspar from Cornwall and Sweden, bones
from America. besides other things, all pay
tribute. These unlikely constituents are
caleb ed and then ground exceedingly fine
hours to six days 1t Is sight worth see
ing, those powerful mills racing round the
deep trough tmade out of stone from
Derbyshire) weighted with heavy blocks.
churnfng each material. for each is ground
separately, into thick white cream. When
finished. the liquids are strained through
nne hair sleeves. and all particles Of iron
Withdrawn by means Of magnets. The diff
ferent ingredients are then mixed together
In proper proportions and kneaded into the
required consistency, and then the clay is
ready for the thrower.
The art of molding clay has become
much more exact since the employment
OF plaster Of paris molds. After the
thrower, with the help of his wheels, has
roughly shaped the clay into what Is term
ed the Lining" 1t is taken Off the wheel,
and put into plaster Of paris cast. which,
In turn. Is placed upon the whiring wheel
and the lining is then deftly nodded to
the exact shape. AS plaster of paris alb
serbs moisture quickly the lining is soon
firm enough to be handled. 1t is then
turned like ordinary wood or metal and
has handles. which have been nodded in
plaster Of paris. fixed by the same clay
1t was always puzzle to our minds how
the h0n1lac ind mi, t;olx
on to the jugs and cups. but to bear the
weights Of the same cups and jugs when
full OF liquid. The porcelain is then ready
10 oe baked. For this 1t is packed in fire
supported on every side by powdered cal
cined flint. These seggars are made to fit
exactly one upon the other, although they
are Of different sizes and depths, and they
are arranged in columns side by side in the
oven. This oven is then bricked up and
eight fires are lighted and kept burning for
fcrty-eight hours. night and day. The
oven takes four days to cool and then the
contents are unpacked and are ready for q
variety of processes.
Most of the china is glazed, an operation
requiring care and skill. The articles are
bathed in the liquid glaze-a muddy look
ing broth-and the greater part of the
superfiuousr glaze shaken Off. But It is
impossible to free them perfectly: besides,
the fingers leave marks which have to be
removed after the glaze has been dried in
hot room. Women and girls are employ
ed for this work. The ivory glaze Is a deli
cate salmon pink before 1t is baked, the
white dark drab. After 1t is glazed, the
pottery. for the second time is packed in
scggars and baked.
After this the coored china is painted
and baked again. The gold is also baked
In. Few people know that the gilt On china
Is the purest gold that can be bought. 1t
Is ground with mercury and turpentine
into a black looking paint and applied
with a fine camePs hair pencil. Boys are
trained for this work from fourteen years
OF age, 1t being nearly impossible for older
people to acquire the accuracy of eye and
hand necessary. 1t is a great drawback
to the production OF artistic pottery that
the coloring Is totally different in the paint.
to the result after burning. For instance,
gold paint Is black before and dull gold
afterward: the brightness is produced by
polishing it with an agate. Other colors
are obtained from metallic oxides; iron
gives red. cobalt. blue. etc.