216 THE WEDGWOODS. 



In 1773-4 the fourth description of ware which I have 

 enumerated in my last chapter was invented and introduced 

 by Wedgwood, and for the first time makes its appearance 

 in the " Catalogue," in the second edition, published in 

 1774, where it is thus described: 



"IV. A. fine white terra-cotta, of great beauty and delicacy, 

 proper for cameos, portraits, and bus-reliefs. 



This was the first appearance of what afterwards, as I 

 shall show, became, by constant attention and improvement, 

 the most beautiful of all Wedgwood's productions the 

 " Jasper ware." It will be perceived that at this date (1774) 

 it was simply spoken of as a " fine white terra-cotta," and 

 that it remained for later years to produce it with its splendid 

 blue and other coloured grounds, with raised white figures 

 and ornaments. 



The entry in this catalogue, it will thus be seen, fixes the 

 introduction of this splendid body to 1773-4. In the latest 

 catalogue (1787) this variety, which then had attained its 

 highest perfection, is described at greater length as 



" IV. JASPER a white porcelain Usque of exquisite beauty and 

 delicacy, possessing the general properties of the basaltes, together 

 with that of receiving colours through its whole substance, in a 

 manner which no other body, ancient or modern, has been known 

 to do. This renders it peculiarly fit for cameos, portaits, and all 

 subjects in bas-relief, as the ground may be made of any colour 

 throughout, without paint or enamel, and the raised figures of a 

 pure white." 



Of the productions in this ware Wedgwood thus wrote : 

 " As these are my latest, I hope they will be found to be my 

 most approved, works. Verbal descriptions could give but 

 an imperfect idea of the delicacy of the materials, the execu- 

 tion of the artist, or the general effect, and I must therefore 

 beg leave to refer those who wish for information in these 

 respects to a view of the articles themselves." 



Acting upon Wedgwood's excellent advice, although not 

 in strict chronological order, I " refer those " of my readers 



