China Gilding: 353 



very minute, but, when the whole mass is included, compre- 

 hends a great amount. 



The gilding of these toys and trinkets is in part executed by 

 the makers of them ; but a very large part of such goods is 

 formed by one class, and afterwards sent to another branch of 

 trade called gilders, who execute only that part of the work. 

 Among those who gild their own goods,it was found, in individual 

 instances, that several had used from six to ten ounces of gold 

 weekly ; that others, and those the most numerous body, used 

 from three to four ounces weekly. With those who gild the 

 goods of other people, the consumption of gold is much larger : 

 in one case, it was found to have been from twenty to thirty 

 ounces, and in some others from fifteen to twenty ounces. It 

 was impracticable to visit and obtain accurate returns from a 

 number of tradesmen, amounting, in the two classes here treated 

 of, to more than 150 in Birmingham only, besides some in Lon- 

 don. It was deemed sufficient to see some of the most respect- 

 able and intelligent, and, from their accounts, to frame the most 

 probable average of the whole. In this way, and considering, 

 that, especially in London, a large portion of silver goods is 

 gilded, either internally or wholly, we have been induced to 

 calculate the weekly consumption of gold in the gilding of the 

 description here noticed, at 600 ounces weekly, or 31,200 ounces 

 annually. 



The plating of gold, which will be further noticed in the 

 subject of jewelleries, under consideration, is supposed, by those 

 well acquainted with the trade, to employ about fifty ounces of 

 fine gold weekly, or 2600 ounces yearly. 



The use of gold in the potteries has very much increased of 

 late years, as must be obvious to any person of observation who 

 notices how profusely it is applied to tea, to table, and orna- 

 mental china. From the great number of manufacturers of 

 that commodity, and from their not being very much concen. 

 trated, for, though they abound most in Staffordshire and 

 Shropshire, there are large establishments at Worcester, Derby, 

 in Yorkshire, and other parts of the kingdom, it has been diffi- 

 cult to make such particular inquiries as have been directed to 

 other branches of trade. From the imperfect view we have* 

 been enabled to take, and from the opinion we have obtained^ 



JANUARY MARCH 1832. A a 



