Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume XIII.djvu/809

 POTTERY AND PORCELAIN being decidedly superior to that of Sevres, its I chief rival. From Saxony the art of han 785 FIG V 12. Candelabra of Dresden China. paste porcelain spread rapidly through Eu- rope, in spite of all efforts to preserve the se- cret. A workman named Stolzel escaped, and by his aid a factory was established in Vienna about 1720. Ringler, a Vienna workman, went to Hochst, where potteries had long existed, and by his aid porcelain was here made in 1740. From Hochst the art was widely scat- tered. Ringler when intoxicated was robbed of his secret by his fellow workmen, who sold it in all parts of Europe. The work of Hochst is celebrated, especially for artistic figurines. Bengraf, a Hochst workman, introduced the art at Fiirstenberg. Wegely at Berlin obtained his knowledge from Hochst, and commenced making hard paste in 1751. This factory sub- sequently became royal property, Frederick the Great supplying it as before stated from Sax- ony with workmen, models, and materials. It has ranked among the first factories in the world down to the present time, having re- cently made great advances and produced works which surpass its ancient fabrics. Ringler left Hochst and established a factory at Ludwigs- burg in 1758, which produced work of the best quality. About 1759 a chemist named Mache- leid in Thuringia made an independent discov- ery of the art of making hard paste porcelain, and factories were established at Volkstadt, Rudolstadt, Wallendorf, Grossbreitenbach, and Limbach. In Hungary, at Herend, a factory was established in the last century, which has produced remarkable imitations of oriental fabrics The art also early spread from Meis- sen to Russia and Sweden. Hochst workmen conveyed it to Switzerland, where Zurich had a factory about 1760, and Nyon another some what later. In 1745 a factory was founded at Vmcennes, near Paris, for the making of soft paste porcelain; in 1756 the factory was re- moved to Sevres; in 1758 Louis XV. became part proprietor, and in 1760 sole owner In 1765 specimens of hard paste porcelain were made, and from 1769 to 1804 it was made in common with soft paste. From 1804 to 1847 only hard paste was made ; since that time both kinds have been produced. The great reputation of the Sevres factory is the result ot the dedication of the highest artistic talent to the composition, form, and decoration of porcelain. The list of artists employed is ex- tensive, and their works in every variety of FIG. 13. Sevres Vase with Cover. lecoration are of exceeding beauty. At Doc- s the porcelain manufactory of the marquis of rinori, which in 1873 employed 550 men. ^he first porcelain made in England was prob- hly at Stratford-le-Bow, about 1740-'43. The Sow factory made both soft and hard paste, 'he latter is said to have been made of clay which an American carried to England for be purpose of introducing it in the pot- eries ; it was stated that it carne from lands the Cherokee country. The Chelsea fac- ory was established about 1745, and its best eriod was from 1750 to 1765. In 1769 it ras bought out by Duesbury, proprietor of le Derby factory, which he had founded in 751, and to which he united the Chelsea forks. The wares of both factories were of he highest character both before and after
 * ia in Italy, near Sesto, 5 m. from Florence,