CHINESE PORTKAIT MODELLER. 209 



piece I show o.n the accompanying engraving, not because I 

 place credence in the statement, but because it is interesting 

 to note that an example with such a memorandum attached 



to it is preserved at the works. I ought to mention that the 

 original spout has been replaced by one of metal. 



Mr. Bentley seems to have busied himself, as did also 

 Wedgwood, in seeking out all the talent which could be 

 rendered available for the purposes of the manufactory, and 

 in getting together, by loan or purchase, impressions of 

 intaglios, bas-reliefs, and other specimens of ancient art. 

 And in all this the partners were well and liberally seconded 

 by people of every rank, who appear to have been only too 

 glad to place at their disposal the treasures of their cabinets. 



In 1769, on the 4th of November, Bentley thus writes in 

 one of his interesting letters from London : 



""We have been so much taken up of late with fine articles and 

 fine things that I have not had a moment to spare, and am in debt 

 to everybody. We are every day finding out some ingenious man 

 or curious piece of workmanship, all which we endeavour to make 

 subservient to the improvement of our taste or the perfection of our 

 manufacture. I have not time to name the things that we have 

 seen ; but one great curiosity I cannot omit, with which we have 

 been highly entertained I mean a Chinese portrait modeller, lately 



P 



