SERVICE MADE FOR BURKE. 



245 



art existing at the present day, is the tea-service of which 

 the cup and saucer engraved below forms a part, the cup 

 and saucer now being in my own collection. This example is 

 also highly important as showing the perfection to which the 

 manufacture of porcelain had been brought at the time of 

 the transfer of the works from Cookworthy to Champion 

 the service having been made in 1774-5, within a very few 

 months after the establishment of the works in Bristol. It 



was made to the order of Edmund Burke, while the contested 

 election for Bristol was going on, as a present to Mr. and 

 Mrs. Smith, who were his warm friends and zealous sup- 

 porters, and whose guest, he was. The decorations are of 

 the most chaste and elaborate design, and of the most deli- 

 cate workmanship, and the pieces profusely and massively 

 gilt in both dead and burnished gold. 



Another notable and beautiful feature of the Bristol works 

 was the production of plaques, bouquets of flowers, wreaths, 

 and armorial bearings, in biscuit. Of these, two examples, 

 belonging to Mr. Lucas and Mr. Bailer, are shown on the 

 following page, as is also a large vase. 



Despite the energy of himself, the skill of his workmen, 

 and the beauty of the ware produced at his manufactory, 

 Richard Champion's hopes of permanently establishing an 

 art in Bristol, which should not only be an honourable and 



