xiv Portraits, Medallions, Artistic Work 159 



of Candelabra. He contrived many of these inventions 

 in order to provide employment for his artists, on the de- 

 clining demand for the Etruscan vases. The public, he 

 said, were becoming surfeited. He was satisfied, however, 

 as a large demand continued to exist for his useful ware. 



On the 31st of May he wrote to Bentley of what he 

 called St. Amputation Day. He must have been mis- 

 taken, as his leg was amputated on the eighth of the 

 month. Some of his ornamental ware failed. " I con- 

 dole with you (Bentley) on the return of your Elephant, 

 and will send you no more of such cumbrous animals. 

 For, as the lady said, I fear we made a Bull when we 

 first made an Elephant. I have given over the thought 

 of making any other colour but Queen's ware. The 

 White ware would be much dearer, and, I apprehend, not 

 much better liked. The Queen's ware, while it continues 

 to sell, gives quite as much business as I can manage." 



Notwithstanding the failure of the Ornamental 

 ware, Wedgwood wrote to Bentley on the 2nd August 

 1770 : "In Ireland there seems to be a violent Vase 

 Mania breaking out. We must take a room in Dublin, 

 and conquer the Irish by our Vases. The Duke of 

 Leinster is in raptures with a pair of our Vases given to 

 him by the Duke of Kichmond." " We are making two 

 or three Eockingham Vases. They are enormous things 

 a yard high, and will be thirty-one inches when fired. 

 Pray for our success, for they are perilous goods, and 

 have many chances against them. But they are a 

 Sacrifice to Fame, and we must not look back." 



