338 THE WEDGWOODS. 



exquisite enamels upon them after nature, which have been 

 repeatedly exhibited in the Royal Academy, are evidences of 

 the species and value of the enamel paintings that may 

 be produced upon these tablets." 



To CLASS EIGHTEEN belonged the magnificent vases, 

 tripods, and other ornaments, in jasper, with coloured grounds 

 and white bas-reliefs, of which I have so often spoken, and 

 of which a selection of examples has been engraved from 

 Mr. Hall's collection, and from that of Mr. Rathbone, &c. 

 Their prices Wedgwood stated to be " nearly the same as 

 those of the high-finished vases with encaustic painting/' 

 Of these vases an immense variety was produced, and 

 examples of different degrees of excellence and rarity are 

 to be found in every collection. 



The next class (NINETEEN) was devoted to " inkstands, 

 paint-chests, eye-cups, mortars, and chemical vessels," of 

 some of which I have already spoken. The most notable 

 ink-stand, described by Josiah Wedgwood as his own inven- 

 tion, is the plain one I have before alluded to, and of which 

 I give the following account from the Catalogue, and also 

 a copy of one of the descriptive papers drawn up in the 

 French language, by Wedgwood himself, and its accompany- 

 ing diagram, from the original paper in my own collection. 



" Different kinds of ink- vessels and inkstands " says the Cata- 

 logue, " have been made at this manufactory ; but the following is 

 presumed to be the best and most convenient that has ever yet 

 been brought into use. 



A A, the ink cistern, filled with ink up to P. 

 E, pen tubes, close at bottom. 



C, a small opening into the cistern, stopped with an air-tight 



plug. 



D, a conical tube, communicating at bottom with the cistern, 



and in which the ink rises only to E, being kept down while 

 the aperture C is stopped by the pressure of the atmosphere. 



" "When the cistern is to be filled, take out the plug C, and pour 

 in ink till it rises nearly to the top, D and E. The plug being 

 then returned into its place, the ink in the cavity D E may be 



