CHAPTER XL 



WEDGWOOD AND BENTLEY. OPENING OF THE ETRURIA WORKS. 

 FIRST PRODUCTIONS OF THE WORKS THROWN BY JOSIAH 

 WEDGWOOD WHILE BENTLEY TURNED THE WHEEL. ETRUS- 

 CAN, OR ENCAUSTIC VASES. ESTABLISHES WORKS AT CHEL- 

 SEA. WORKMEN ENGAGED THERE. FIRST TEAPOT MADE 



AT ETRURIA. CHINESE PORTRAIT MODELLER. AUDIENCE 



OF THE KING AND QUEEN. CATHERINE THE GREAT OF 

 RUSSIA. SERVICE FOR THE GRENOUILLIERE PALACE. 



THOMAS BENTLEY' s SECOND MARRIAGE. THE STAMFORD 



AND CROMPTON FAMILIES. WEDGWOOD AND BENTLEY'S 



FIRST CATALOGUE. BLACK AND WHITE MEDALLIONS. 



INTRODUCTION OF " JASPER WARE." DECLARATION OF 

 NOBLE PRINCIPLES. THE WEDGWOOD INKSTAND. EYE 

 CUPS AND CLOSET PANS. LETTER FROM JOSIAH WEDG- 

 WOOD TO HIS COUSIN THOMAS. 



IN 1769 the works at Etruria were opened, and on the 13th 

 of June in that year the first productions of the manufactory 

 were thrown. On that day might have been seen gathered 

 together in one of the rooms of the " Black Works " such a 

 group of persons as would have made a painter's heart glad 

 such as would have been a fit subject for the painter of 

 the orrery and the air-pump * to have revelled in, and such 

 as I hope yet to see treated by a " master hand." Here sat 

 the great Josiah Wedgwood great in fame, great in reputa- 

 tion, great in worldly goods, but greater far in mind and 

 intellect, and in nobleness of character at the potter's 

 bench, his bare arms encircling the ball of pliant clay, while 

 his busy fingers and practised eye formed it into classic 

 shape ; and there stood his partner, Thomas Bentley, at the 

 potter's wheel, which he turned with a care suited to the 

 auspicious occasion and to the requirements of his great 

 * Wright, of Derby. 



