136 Josiah Wedgwood CHAP. 



at Etruria were ready for occupation on the 13th of 

 June 1769. The other buildings, called the Useful 

 Works that is, for the manufacture of ware for com- 

 mercial purposes were only in progress. The canal in 

 front of the buildings was far advanced. The mansion 

 intended for the accommodation of Wedgwood and his 

 family was also in progress, but by no means ready for 

 occupation. 



It was a great day for Etruria. Mrs. Wedgwood, 

 with her two children, and other friends, had come over 

 from Burslem to see the beginning of the works. 

 Wedgwood and Bentley were the first operators. 

 Wedgwood threw off his coat and hat, turned up his 

 shirt -sleeves, and putting on a workman's apron, 

 sat down at the thrower's board, whilst Bentley 

 turned the wheel, making the disc to revolve, while 

 Wedgwood modelled the six three -handled vases in 

 black basalt. After this had been done, there was an 

 adjournment to the turners' room, where Wedgwood 

 pared down the inequalities by the lathe, after which 

 they were ready for firing. Then followed a luncheon 

 and a banquet to drink success to the new undertaking. 

 The vases were described by Wedgwood as " the first 

 fruits of Etruria." After being burnt, they were sent 

 to London to be painted in encaustic colours by one of 

 Wedgwood's artists. The subject was, " Hercules and his 

 Companions in the Gardens of the Hesperides," taken 

 from one of the Etruscan antiquities belonging to Sir 

 William Hamilton. 



