v Wedgwood begins Business far Himself 45 



turning into gold, and they were not likely to hinder 

 what was obviously to their advantage as well as his 

 own. Thus order and discipline at length prevailed in 

 the management of the works. 



At the period when Wedgwood began business for 

 himself, the workmanship of the potters was in a very 

 low condition as to style. The machinery used con- 

 sisted mainly of the potter's wheel and the common 

 turning lathe ; while the chief tools used were little 

 better than a few cutting-knives. Wedgwood, with his 

 nicety . of feeling, and his determination to do every 

 piece of work in the best possible manner, introduced 

 many new tools and appliances. He instructed his 

 men individually in their use, and sought to form them, 

 as it were, after his own model. He taught them the 

 use of the new tools, and personally superintended 

 everything, from the clay on the wheel to the final 

 firing and decoration of the ware. His workmen had 

 been brought up on the old lines, making rude pottery, 

 with insufficient appliances. Compare the refinement 

 of materials, the delicate accuracy of form, and the soft 

 texture of one of Wedgwood's Queen's ware pieces, 

 with the rough pansion-mug wares generally in vogue 

 when he commenced his operations, and it will at once 

 be apparent that vast strides had been made amongst 

 his workpeople while passing from the old style to 

 the new. 



One of Wedgwood's greatest difficulties was in con- 

 structing his firing kilns. Eepeated failures were most 



