Figs. 686 to 693.—Examples of Messrs. Maw’s Tiles.
The results of these experiments have been illustrated in an extensive series of specimens of the clays or plastic slates of Great Britain presented by Mr. Geo. Maw, F.S.A., to the Government Museum of Practical Geology, in Jermyn Street, and printed in the supplement to the catalogue by Sir H. De La Beche and Mr. Trenham Reeks. In 1857, after all these years of patient labours, the manufacture was commenced on a commercial scale, which for several years barely paid its expenses; but from that time to the present continual additions have been made to the works to meet the increasing demand for their productions. In 1871 supplementary works were commenced at the Tuckies, about two miles from the Benthall works, celebrated as the spot where the late Lord Dundonald carried on his experiments in the manufacture of coal-gas.
Fig. 694.
Messrs. Maw have from the first laid themselves out for applying the very highest art and architectural talents to their manufactures, and, in 1856, commissioned Mr. M. D. Wyatt to design a series of patterns of geometrical mosaic, which were issued as a small lithographed volume of fourteen pages. This little book, which first established their reputation as art manufacturers, was subsequently superseded by a much larger volume, published in 1867, including the designs of Digby Wyatt, George Goldie, J. P. Seddon, George E. Street, J. Burgess, and others, as well as the reproduction of all the best obtainable examples of ancient tiles, geometrical, and Roman mosaic, majolica, &c.
Fig. 695.
In 1851 Messrs. Maw began the manufacture of plain tiles, geometrical mosaic, and the ordinary encaustic tiles of two colours, to which their productions were for several years limited: but since 1857 their progress has been marked by the continual grafting on of specialities, the yearly production of new colours, and new phases of ceramic art applied to tiles. In 1861 they commenced the manufacture of very small tesseræ for the formation of pictorial mosaics, and produced for the Exhibition of 1862 their well-known mosaic of “The Seasons,” here engraved (Fig. 695), and which is now in the South Kensington Museum, from a design expressly made for them by Digby Wyatt. The result was so successful that Mr. Wyatt commissioned Messrs. Maw to execute a mosaic frieze for the inner quadrangle of the New India Office.
The production of coloured enamels for the surface decoration of majolica tiles next occupied their attention, and after years of experimenting, all the colours employed in the ancient tiles of Spain or Italy were successfully reproduced, as well as others which were unknown to the mediæval and Moorish manufacturers.
A stone chimney-piece, enriched with tiles executed for the International Exhibition of 1862, was their first attempt in the application of enamels and majolica in architectural work. Shortly afterwards the successful decoration of ceilings was carried out in the corridors of the India Office. And now the production of majolica tiles and enamelled terra cotta for all kinds of internal and external decoration forms an important branch of Messrs. Maw’s manufacture. Among the more important of their works in enamelled terra cotta may be mentioned the beautiful staircase executed for Sir D. Majoribanks, a portion of which was exhibited in the International Exhibition of 1871, and the chimney-pieces manufactured for the board-room of the South Kensington Museum, and the Museum of Science and Art, at Edinburgh. Messrs. Maw were the first in this country to produce the transparent celeste, or turquoise blue, employed in ancient Chinese enamels, specimens of which were exhibited in the Paris Exhibition of 1867.
Among their more recent productions may be mentioned tesseræ for mosaic work, decorated with rich enamels; embossed tiles; “sgrafito,” a ware the decoration of which is produced by the cutting away of superimposed layers of different coloured clays, after the fashion of cameo carving; “slip painting,” the production of a pattern by the painting of liquid clay on a ground of another colour, and the whole glazed over, after the first burning, with transparent coloured enamels; “pâte sur pâte,” tiles in which the design in high relief is superimposed on a ground of a different colour; mixed coloured glasses and enamels for the decoration of pottery, by which the most subtle and brilliant effects are produced; terra cotta and Parian plant-markers, forming an economical and indestructible substitute for the old wooden and iron name tallies. On these the names of trees and shrubs are written in a permanent black enamel and burnt in.
The special processes employed by Messrs. Maw have been made the subject of a number of patents, among which may be mentioned their mill machinery, used in the preparation of clay for the manufacture of tiles by Prosser’s process; the steam blunger, by which the rough clay is levigated, sifted, and refined ready for drying on the slip-kilns, without the intervention of manual labour; the manufacture of encaustic tiles out of pulverised nearly dry clay, and their patent press worked by steam power for the pressing of tiles, which is the only successful application of steam power to screw presses which has yet been attained.
The geometric and tesselated pavements produced by Messrs. Maw are of the most elegant, elaborate, and beautiful character, and the tesseræ and tiles of which they are composed are made with the utmost mechanical accuracy, and of the finest quality both in body, in colours, and in glaze. The patterns they have prepared are of exquisite beauty and of endless variety, and suitable for every possible purpose both for public and private buildings.
Fig. 696 to 699.
Figs. 700 to 701.
The encaustic, or figured tiles, for pavements, are also a great speciality of Messrs. Maw’s works, and are, like those of other makers, produced in immense variety and in large quantities. They are made in two, three, four, or more colours combined, the colours used being buff or yellow, red, black, blue, chocolate, white, cream, fawn, green, &c., and of various sizes, the usual dimensions being 6 and 4¼ inches square. The patterns are, in many instances, taken from the best remaining ancient examples, and in others have been specially designed for Messrs. Maw by Sir Digby Wyatt, Owen Jones, and the best authorities of the day; and many of the pavements thus produced are matchless both in design, in general effect, and in beauty and brilliancy of colour. Messrs. Maw are not content with producing simple quarries, to be arranged in the usual varieties of ways, but they have introduced entire pavements, over which is spread one grand design covering its entire surface; many entire patterns occupying not the usual old numbers of 4, 9, 12, 16, or 24 tiles, but 144 and other numbers. These are peculiarly rich and effective, and particularly well adapted for halls, vestibules, corridors, &c.
Fig. 702.
Fig. 703.
The marks used by Messrs. Maw are—
MAW & CO
BENTHALL
WORKS
BROSELEY
SALOP
MAW & CO
BROSELEY
MAW & CO
BENTHALL
BROSELEY
MAW & CO
BROSELEY
SALOP
MAW & CO
The enamelled hearth-pavements and wall-tiles are another great speciality of these works, and are of unsurpassable richness and beauty, as are also their majolica tiles and fire-place linings. These are produced in every possible variety, and are remarkable not only for the richness and delicacy of the colours which are used, and for their purely artistic and masterly combination, but for the excellence of both body and glaze, and the scrupulous accuracy of forms for fitting together. The same remark applies to the embossed and indented tiles, and also to those which are partially pierced for open work. They are all equally good, and bear evidence of that thorough appreciation of art which pervades all the productions of the Benthall works. The engravings (Figs. 702 and 703) show two of their majolica chimney-pieces. The first is of the finest majolica, with a fire-place lining of encaustic, or enamel, tiles, which would also be used for the hearth. The decorations are in high and bold relief, and being coloured with pure artistic taste, have a charming and very striking effect. It is 4 feet 8 inches in height, and 7 feet in width, and is, of course, furnished with a marble shelf at the top—which, however, is not shown in the illustration.
Fig. 704.
The next shows another of these chimney-pieces entirely complete; it is, like the other, of majolica. The ornaments are in bold relief, set off with an excellent arrangement of groundwork and colour; the hearth is formed of encaustic, or enamelled, or mosaic tiles; and the fender is of majolica.
Another branch of ceramics—that of “Art Pottery”—has recently been added to Messrs. Maw’s manufactory. This is the production of vases, &c., in majolica, a branch which they are eminently qualified to bring to perfection. In this branch vases, tazzas, and other articles, more or less decorated with raised or surface ornamentation, are produced. They are of excellent design, the body light but compact, and the decorations of remarkably good and artistic character.
Broseley.
The Broseley Tileries, at Broseley, are said to be the oldest brick and tile works in the district, and they have for more than a century been in the hands of the family of the present proprietor, Mrs. Penelope Jane Thorn. They are now under the management of Mr. H. M. Bathurst. The goods produced are encaustic and geometrical glazed and unglazed tiles, ornamental ridge tiles, roofing and pavement tiles of various kinds, sanitary pipes, &c.
Benthall Potteries.—These works, carried on by the “Benthall Pottery Company,” under the management of Mr. Allen, produce the ordinary yellow and other common wares.
Coalmoor.
At Coalmoor, near Horsehay, a pottery of common coarse ware formerly existed. The hovels are still standing, but converted to other purposes.