Im. PROVEMENTS IN THE PRODUCTION OF PORTRAITS OR LIKENESSES ON CERTAIN MATERIALS BY MEANS OF PHOTOGRAPHY
Year: 1865

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alfred Grainger, of Hall Place, Kennington, Estate
Agent, and Charles Mitchel Girdler, of Saville Row, Walworth Road,
Civil Engineer, both in the County of Surrey, for the Invention of "Im.
PROVEMENTS IN THE PRODUCTION OF PORTRAITS OR LIKENESSES ON CERTAIN
MATERIALS BY MEANS OF PHOTOGRAPHY,"
Sealed the 24th October 1865, and dated the 27th April 1865.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alfred Grainger and
Charles Mitchel Girdler at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents,
with their Petition, on the 27th April 1865.
We, ALFRED GRAINGER, of Hall Place, Kennington, Estate Agent, and
CHARLES MITCHEL GIRDLER, of Saville Row, Walworth Road, Civil Engineer,
both in the County of Surrey, do hereby declare the nature of the said Inven-
tion for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PRODUCTION OF PORTRAITS OR LIKENESSES ON
CERTAIN MATERIALS BY MEANS OF PHOTOGRAPHY," to be as follows:-
Our Invention relates to the production of photographic likenesses on
porcelain or ceramic ware, and consists in producing the photograph
or like-
ness of a person or thing on the ware itself instead of first taking it on paper
or other material, and then transferring it to the earthenware to be afterwards
burnt or glazed as heretofore. We prepare a plate or other article of the

page_text: size and shape required of porcelain or other ceramic material, which we
glaze with a transparent glaze and burn it on as usual; on this we take the
likeness by means of photography, we then paint or color the photograph
taken by hand or by other application of color, then glaze or enamel it again,
and burn and complete the article bearing such portrait or likeness. Instead
of coloring the photograph before glazing a second time it may be left
uncolored, and with the effects produced by photography only which is glazed
and burnt in as before mentioned. Borax or other suitable flux may be used
for the glazing, which is applied and rendered fluid by heat, as well understood
in glaxing ceramic wares.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Alfred Grainger and Charles Mitchel Girdler in the Great
Seal Patent Office on the 27th October 1865.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, ALFRED
GRAINGER, of Hall Place, Kennington, Estate Agent, and CHARLES MITCHEL
GIRDLER,Of Saville Row, Walworth Road, Civil Engineer, both in the County
of Surrey, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-seventh day of April, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five, in the twenty-eighth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto us, the
said Alfred Grainger and Charles Mitchel Girdler, Her special licence that
we, the said Alfred Grainger and Charles Mitchel Girdler, our executors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as we, the said Alfred Grainger
and Charles Mitchel Girdler, our 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 Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention
for IMPOVEMENTS IN THE PRODUCTION OF PORTRAITS OR LIKENESSES ON CERTAIN
MATERIALS BY MEANS OF PHOTOGRAPHY," upon the condition (amongst others)
that we, the said Alfred Grainger and Charles Mitchel Girdler, our executors or
administrators, by an instrument in writing under our, or their, or one of their
handsandseals, should particularlydescribe and ascertainthe nature of thesaid
Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the
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.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said Alfred Grainger and Charles Mitchel
Girdler, do hereby declare the nature of our said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement, that is to say):-
Our Invention relates to the production of photgraphic likenesses on
porcelain or other ceramic ware, and consists in producing the photograph or
likeness of a person or thing on to the ware itself, instead of taking repre-
sentations on paper or other material, and then transferring it to the earthen-
ware, to be afterwards burnt and glazed as heretofore. We prepare a plate or
other article of the size and shape required of porcelain, clay, or other ceramic
material, which we face with enamel and a transparent glaze in the ordinary
manner of glazing porcelain, and bake or burn it on as usual; on this plate
or surface we take the likeness by means of photography, that is to say,
prepare a negative, and then print or transfer it to the porcelain surface in the
mauner usual in the production of a positive photograph. We then paint or
color the photograph so taken by hand or by other application of metal colors
as usual in painting china ware, the beauty of which will of course depend in
We
a great measure on the more or less artistic application of the color.
now glaze the surface again and bake or burn it in a muffle or otherwise as
well understood in the porcelain manufacture, and thus complete the article
bearing such portrait or likeness. Instead of coloring the photograph before
glazing a second time it may be left uncolored, and with the effect produced
by photography alone, which is glazed and baked or burnt in as before men-
tioned. In some cases we omit the second glazing as for some purposes it may
be unnecessary and permits of the production of more delicate effects. Borax
orother flux suitable for the colors is used in glazing, which is applied and fixed
by a heat of about four hundred degrees, as well understood in glazing ceramic
wares. Portraits or representations of persons and things thus produced on
porcelain are exceedingly truthful, and in addition to obtaining a good and
truthful likeness of a fixed character, will be enduring, although exposed for a
great length of time to the influence of the weather, and will equally resist
damp in close situations, or the effects of attrition and rough usage. Besides
being a good medium for the portrayal of likenesses ingeneral by photography,
such photographic representations are admirably adapted when required to
resist the effects of time, such as under the foundation stones of public or
private buildings and otherwise. Instead of the plate or substance on which
the photograph, portrait, or likeness is produced, being entirely of ceramic
material, a surface thereof may be prepared on a plate of metal or other
material, on which the photographic representation may be taken, and which

page_text: in other respects is treated and prepared as herein-before described, the glazing
and baking rendering the representation enduring and applicable as herein-
before described with reference to plates or pieces entirely of ceramic
material.
In witness whereof, we, the said Alfred Grainger and Charles Mitchel
Girdler, have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Twenty-seventh
day of October, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred
and sixty-five.
Witness,
W. CLARK,
Patent Agent,
53, Chancery Lane,
London.
ALFRED GRAINGER.
(L.S.)
CHARLES M. GIRDLER. (L.S.)