388 THE WEDGWOODS. 



charm of super-excellence about them which those made in 

 the days of the first Josiah possess ; but it must be conceded 

 by collectors that a great deal of that charm consists solely 

 in the knowledge that they are the productions of his own 

 time, and in the established f&ct that nothing produced since 

 then can equal them in finish, or in softness and beauty of 

 surface. Taken as productions of the present time alone , 

 it is pleasant to feel that Messrs. Wedgwood's jasper and 

 other ornamental goods stand as far in advance of their 

 competitors as those of the great Josiah did in advance of 

 those of his own time. 



I have already stated that Messrs. Wedgwood still produce 

 their "jasper," their " basaltes," their " red," their " cream- 

 coloured," and, indeed, all the other wares for which the 

 works in the olden times were so famous. The jasper goods 

 are' still as they have ever been since the first production 

 of that marvellous body their principal feature the great 

 speciality of their works. In this, since the days of Turner, 

 they have never even been approached, 'and their goods 

 still maintain their old and high reputation. All the 

 famous works of the olden time from the Portland Vase 

 down through all the chaste and beautiful varieties of 

 vases, plaques, medallions, services, &c. are still made in 

 all their beauty, with the addition of many new and ever- 

 varying designs and combinations. 



The jasper is produced in dark and in light blue of various 

 shades (with, of course, the raised figures and ornaments 

 in white), in sage-green, in pink, and other tints. It is 

 also produced both in "solid jasper" that is, the solid 

 coloured body throughout and in "jasper dip," which is the 

 white jasper body with the colour laid on the surface. The 

 " solid jasper" was reintroduced in 1856. 



Another speciality of the ornamental productions of the 

 Etruria Works of the present day for it is but of recent 

 introduction is that of " majolica," which is produced of ex- 

 treme beauty and of high artistic excellence, as well in dessert 

 and other services as in pieces of a more strictly and solely 



