Year: 1887

page_text: [Communicated from abroad by MARVIN CHESTER STONE, of Washington, in the
District of Columbia, United States of America, Gentleman.]
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON F.C.S. M.I.M.E. of the Agency for Foreign
Patent Solicitors, 6 Lord Street, Liverpool in the County of Lancaster, and 323 High
Holborn, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, 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:-
This invention has reference to all classes of carthenware articles in which the
internal or body portion is of a porous or absorbent character, and consists in
introducing the fluid coloring matter into the body of the article by a process of
absorption beneath the glazing through which it is exposed to view.
In carrying the invention into effect the article glazed or finished in the ordinary
manner, is provided with an opening or openings through the glazing or enamelling
on the surface, and then brought in contact with a liquid coloring material of any
suitable character at said opening, whereby the coloring is permitted to pass through
said opening to the porous material within the glazing, and caused by capillary
attraction to completely permeate said interior, the color thus applied being exposed to
view, as before stated, through the transparent glazing by which it is confined and
protected.
After the application of the coloring the opening through which it was introduced
is preferably sealed by the application of an insoluble material of any appropriate
character. When, however, the articles are not to be subjected to moisture or to heat,
the sealing operation is unnecessary.
In treating the ordinary white glazed earthenware articles such as cominonly sold
in the market, a small opening is formed through the glazing on the under side or
elsewhere, preferably at a point not exposed to view, and the vessel is seated in a bath
or tray containing the coloring fluid. The fluid will pass through the opening into

page_text: the porous body beneath, and being taken up by the latter will gradually spread
through the same and impart thereto a permanent color.
By subjecting the article to the action of one color after another, or by providing
the articles with openings at different points and applying different colors thereto at
the respective points, the inventor is enabled to secure variegated, mottled or tinted
effects in great variety.
It is proposed to use aniline colors dissolved in water or other fluid solutions, dies
or materials of any appropriate character, the only requirement being that they shali
be sufficiently fluid to pass by absorption readily into the porous body of the material.
The result is a new product, an earthenware article, having a beautiful colored or
tinted appearance, and a glazed surface by which the colored portion is protected so
that the article may be freely washed without affecting its color or appearance.
The accompanying drawing represents a section through a tray in which are seated
articles undergoing treatment according to this invention.
A represents the tray; B the fluid coloring material, and C the articles to be
colored.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by my foreign
correspondent, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. The improvement in the art of coloring glazed articles of earthenware, consisting
in applying liquid coloring matter thereto through an opening in the glaze or enamel,
whereby the coloring matter is caused to permeate the interior of the body beneath
the glazing.
2. The improvement in the art of coloring glazed earthenware articles, consisting in
applying a fluid coloring material through an opening in the enamel or glazing to the
body portion beneath the glaze, and finally sealing the openings through which the
coloring is applied, substantially as described.