Improvements in the Encaustic Method or Process of Decorating Tiles, Placques, and other Articles of Earthenware, China, and Stone Ware.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Aug., 1891-Accepted, 26th Sept., 1891
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Encaustic Method or Process of Decorating
Tiles, Placques, and other Articles of Earthenware, China, and
Stone Ware.
I JAMES SHERWIN of Vine Street Hanley in the County of Stafford Manufacturer
do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement :-
Hitherto colored designs have been produced on encaustic tiles and similar articles
by moulding, in the body of the tile, cavities surrounded by raised barrier partitions;
and these cavities varying in shape according to the design, have been filled in with
various colors poured into them from small kettles or vessels. When these colors
have become sufficiently set and hard, the surplus over and above the proper level
is scraped off and the tile is then smooth and ready for baking or firing and glazing
in the usual way.
It is evident that by forming these cavities to receive the colors which are
poured therein in a "slop" or "slip" state, the said cavities must be coarse and
heavy in design, the partitions or barriers which separate them must be broad and
heavy, and no very fine effect can be produced; also it is evident that rounded or
inclined surfaces cannot be treated in this way as the colors would run from the
cavities and become mixed. No shading can be attempted as the colors are all in
solid blocks filling the cavities.
The object of my invention is to produce more artistic effects than have been
possible by the above method of manufacturing encaustic tiles and similar articles
and also to devise an encaustic method of decorating curved and other surfaces which
could not be treated by the present process.
According to my invention I etch, cut or incise the design in plaster or other
suitable material and I then take a cast or electro thereof, and this cast or electro
is the mould from which the article is made, and by which I am enabled to produce
thereon a pattern with outline and very finely "hatched" shade lines indented or
impressed therein.
Such lines incisions or indentations must be sufficiently fine to be capable of being
filled in by a brush charged with color as hereinafter described.
The mould may be made of plaster brass or any other suitable material and the
tile or other article is formed by the ordinary methods of pressing plastic or dust
tiles or other articles of earthenware china or stone ware.
The article having been thus made and impressed with the design is decorated or
colored whilst in the clay state in the following manner.
I fill in the indentations or lines of the design with clay of a suitable color or colors
by painting the same into the incisions or indented lines by means of a brush charged
with the said color or colors.
When the whole design has been overlaid with color or colors suitable thereto,
the latter are allowed to become set and hard and the surplus color is then carefully
scraped or otherwise removed from the surface of the article, exposing the design
at the proper level thereon.
It is preferable to overlay the whole design with the colored clay or clays in order
to ensure that every incision or indented line shall be properly filled to the surface,
and also to cheapen the cost of painting.
It will be seen that curved or inclined surfaces can be decorated by this improved
process, as well as level surfaces or tiles, and this is one of the great advantages
of my invention.
The article having been thus decorated with a color or colors of clay, is then

page_text: "fired" or baked in the ordinary way and the design can then be added to by the
application of suitable underglaze colors which will greatly enhance and
vary the
effect. I am thus able to produce very beautiful and perfect designs far superior to
any attainable by the old encaustic process.
The article is then glazed in the usual way.
If preferred over-glaze colors can be applied thereto instead of or as well as the
underglaze colors.
It will be observed that by my improved process very fine designs such as line
drawings or etchings on copper may be re-produced, and that no wide space or
barrier is required between two different shades or colors of clay used for filling in
such designs.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The improved encaustic method or process of decorating tiles, placques and
other articles of earthenware, china and stoneware by first moulding therein designs
formed (from an etched block) by lines incisions and cavities capable of being
filled in by a brush and then filling in the same with colored clay or
clays by painting and afterwards firing or baking and glazing the decorated
article.
2. The improved encaustic method or process of decorating the articles above
named by first moulding thereon designs formed (from an etched block) by lines
incisions and cavities capable of being filled in by a brush, filling in the same
with colored clay or clays by painting and then "firing" or baking the articles and
finally applying thereto ordinary underglaze or overglaze colors or both and
glazing the same either before or after such final application of color as the case
may require.
Dated this 19th day of August 1891.
GEO. DAVIES & SON,
4, St. Ann's Square, Manchester, Agents for the Applicant.