60 THE WEDGWOODS. 



the plain examples. Of this ware I possess some excellent 

 specimens, and others will be found in various collections. 

 The ware was impressed from metal moulds, some of which, 

 of extreme interest, are preserved in the Hanley Museum. 



In 1720 the discovery of the use of flint was made by 

 Astbury, as will be shown in a future chapter, and to this 

 introduction may be dated many of the improvements which 

 afterwards took place. Soon after this period the "sun- 

 pans," or tanks, in which the clay was allowed to lie until it 

 became fit for use, were superseded by "slip-kilns," in 

 which the clays were prepared. 



In 1724 a patent was taken out by Redrich and Jones for 

 " a new art or method, as well for staining, veining, 

 spotting, clouding, damasking, or otherwise imitating the 

 various kinds of marble, porphiry, and other rich stones, and 

 tortoiseshell, on wood, stone, and earthenware, and all and 

 every such goods, wares, utensils, and things as are made, 

 cut, or fashioned thereout, as for the making, marbling, 

 veining, spotting, staining, clouding, and damasking any 

 linen, silks, canvas, paper, and leather." 



In 1726, and again in 1732, patents were taken out for 

 methods of grinding flints, &c., which were of much im- 

 portance. The first of these, by Thomas Benson, is described 



