AN IMPROVED METHOD OF ORNAMENTING THE SURFACES OF TILES."
Year: 1865

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Venables, of Newcastle-under-Lyne, in the
County of Staffordshire, Potter, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED
METHOD OF ORNAMENTING THE SURFACES OF TILES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Venables at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
18th September 1865.
I, HENRY VENABLES, of Newcastle-under-Lyne, in the County of Stafford-
shire, Potter, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "AN
IMPROVED METHOD OF ORNAMENTING THE SURFACES OF TILES," to be as follows:-
My said Invention consists of a method of ornamenting the surfaces of tiles.
The moulds for the pattern or ornament on the plate or plates are not cut
completely through but only partially, and are cut the depth and width
according to the size of ornament or pattern which may be required. In the
moulds thus formed plastic clay mixed with any colour required is pressed,
such color being one of those capable of bearing the action of the fire in a
pottery kiln, or which when burnt will produce the intended colour. The
clay is then removed from the mould and forms the pattern or ornament
intended to be produced. Turpentine is used in the said moulds to prevent
the adhesion of the clay.
The ornament or pattern thus produced is laid upon and fixed and made to
adhere by moisture to the surface of a bat or sheet of clay of the required

page_text: form, and coloured as may be desired, it being in a plastic state and of nearly
the same consistency as the ornament or pattern so affixed as above described,
the bat or sheet of clay being somewhat more dry than the said ornament or
pattern. The ornament or pattern will be at this stage of the process in relief
upon the surface of the said bat or sheet of plastic clay. The side of the said
bat or sheet of clay on which the said ornament or pattern is affixed as above
described is then immersed or dipped in a solution or mixture of plastic clay
called "slip." The said side of the bat or sheet of clay is immersed or
dipped and redipped until the surface of the slip or bat is about level with
the original surface of the pattern. The said bat or sheet of clay so covered is
then dried in a hothouse until it becomes sufficiently hard, and then the overlying
surface of the slip is scraped or cut away until the pattern or ornament is
disclosed, and the said bat or sheet of clay together with the ornament or
pattern thus disclosed present a smooth and level surface.
The said bat or sheet of clay, with the ornament or pattern on it as above
described, is then cut to any particular size and shape in the ordinary way;
after it has been so cut it is then baked or burnt in a pottery kiln, and when
sufficiently baked it is polished or made smooth in the ordinary manner. If it
be desired the slip may be scraped or cut below the level of the ornament or
pattern, so as to leave the latter in relief.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Henry Venables in the Great Seal Patent Office ou the
13th March 1866.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, HENRY
VENABLES, of Newcastle-under-Lyne, in the County of Staffordshire, Potter,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Eighteenth day of September, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five, in the twenty-ninth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give aud grant unto
me, the said Henry Venables, Her special license that I, the said Henry:
Venables, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I,
the said Henry Venables, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should
at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times
thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make,
use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and

page_text: Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "AN IMPROVED
METHOD OF ORNAMENTING THE SURFACES OF TILES," upon the condition (amongst
other things) that I, the said Henry Venables, by any instrument in writing
under my hand and seal, particularly describe and ascertain the nature of
the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be perfórnied,
and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six
calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Henry Venables, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, that is to say :-
The moulds for the pattern or ornament on the plate or plates are not cut
completely through but only partially, and are cut the depth and width
according to the size of ornament or pattern which may be required. In the
moulds thus formed plastic clay mixed with any color required is pressed, such
color being one of those capable of bearing the action of the fire in a pottery
kiln, or which when burnt will produce the intended color. The clay is then
removed from the mould and forms the pattern or ornament intended to be
produced. Turpentine is used in the said moulds to prevent the adhesion of
the clay.
The ornament or pattern thus produced is laid upon and fixed and made
to adhere by moisture to the surface of a bat or sheet of clay of the required
form, and colored as may be desired, it being in a plastic state and of nearly
the same consistency as the ornament or pattern so affixed as above described,
the bat or sheet of clay being somewhat more dry than the said ornament or
pattern. The ornament or pattern will be at this stage of the process in relief
upon the surface of the said bat or sheet of plastic clay. The side of the said
bat or sheet of clay on which the said ornament or pattern is affixed as above
described is then immersed or dipped in a solution or mixture of plastic clay
called slip." The said side of the bat or sheet of clay is immersed or
dipped and redipped until the surface of the slip or bat is about level with
the original surface of the pattern. The said bat or sheet of clay so covered
is then dried in a hothouse until it becomes sufficiently hard, and then the
overlying surface of the slip is scraped away until the pattern or ornament is
disclosed, and the said bat or sheet of clay together with the ornament or
pattern thus disclosed presents a smooth and level surface.
The said bat or sheet of clay, with the ornament or pattern on it as above
described, is then cut to any particular size and shape in the ordinary way;

page_text: If
after it has been so cut it is then baked or burnt in a pottery kiln, and when
sufficiently baked it is polished or made smooth in the ordinary manner.
it be desired the slip may be scraped below the level of the ornament or
pattern, so as to leave the latter in relief.
I claim the manufacture of ornamented tiles by repeated immersion of a
moulded surface in slip, and the subsequent scraping down thereof, substantially
as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Venables, have hereto set my
hand and seal, this Tenth day of March, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-six.
HENRY VENABLES. (L.s.)