416 A TOPOGRAPHICAL 



with the dust of lead ore inside and out; together with a variety, fre- 

 quently found, glazed with salt,* and bearing the initials WM. WR. 

 AR. surmounted by a crown, and others ornamented with medals 

 of Queen Anne, tolerably executed in basso-relievo. These 

 pieces appear to be composed of the clay found in the coal-pits in 

 and near Burslem, and then called Can-marl ; whilst others have 

 been found, formed of this clay and a mixture of white sand or 

 pounded gritstone, procured at Mole Cop, and well covered with a 

 salt glaze. This last is known by the name of CROUCH WARE, and 

 proves that the salt glaze had at that time been introduced. 



Another description of earthenware, dug up with the above, is 

 made of the same kind of clay, and painted all over with clays of 

 various colours ; orange, yellow, red, brown, dark grey, black, and 

 all the shades which a mixture of the native clays could produce. 

 From the dates and paintings upon these pieces, they may likewise 

 be referred to the reigns of William, and Anne. 



These clays, it appears, were the only materials then used in the 

 composition of the body, as well as in painting this ware ; if indeed 

 we except the black clay, which seems to be a mixture of the iron- 

 stone that abounds in the neighbourhood, with a trifling addition of 

 manganese. The glaze, to all appearance, is simply lead ore, or a 

 combination of lead ore with some of the whitest of the before-men- 

 tioned materials. 



At this early period, a great variety of useful and ornamental 

 articles, in large dishes, jugs, candlesticks, &c. were manufactured 

 at Burslem, which at this day are much admired for superiority of 

 workmanship. Specimens of these are preserved, with dates 

 thereon, down to the year 1707; and from the skill and great va- 

 riety of colours used in ornamenting them, it is evident that white 

 clays had not then been introduced, and were wholly unknown in 

 the Staffordshire Potteries. 



It was not long, however, before a purer clay from Dorsetshire 

 and Devonshire, was brought hither ; but this was used only for 

 washing or lining the insides, or ornamenting the outsides, of 

 ware, with flowers and figures of various kinds ; and these white 

 ornaments are sometimes found upon a red body, well glazed with 

 lead ore. 



This species of glaze, (according to Dr. Aikin) was first brought hither 

 about the year 1690, by the two Elers, brothers and foreigners, who established 

 a small pot-work at Bradley, and met with some success in the manufacture of 

 tea-pots, and a ware in imitation of the unglazed red china from the East. 



