HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE. 423 



continued. Littlor sustained some heavy losses, and sold his 

 estate at Brownhills, in the parish of Burslem. Specimens of this 

 porcelain are preserved, which, in body, glaze, and enamel, may be 

 considered as excellent for that day. 



Aaron Wedgwood was a manufacturer of White Stone Ware, and 

 having married Littlor's sister, they united their experience, and 

 made repeated attempts to improve the salt glaze. The result of 

 these experiments was the addition of ingredients of easy fusi- 

 bility with certain proportions of ground zaffer and the flint and 

 clay of which the body of the ware was composed. In this com- 

 pound, when in a liquid state, the ware was dipped, by which it im- 

 bibed a thin coat or covering of the liquid ; and this, when exposed 

 to the fire in the usual method of glazing with salt, produced a fine 

 smooth glassy surface, quite free from the small inequalities which 

 are observable on all the pieces of ware glazed with salt alone. 

 Some excellent specimens of this improved species of glaze are pre- 

 served, which possess all the beauty of the finest lapis lazuli ; and 

 of others, from the admixture of a small proportion of manganese, 

 which have the appearance of the finest Oriental lapis lazuli. 

 These articles were further ornamented by enamelling, gilding, &c. 



The following curious instruments or indentures, will be found 

 interesting, as pointing out the importance which was formerly 

 attached to an initiation into the art of manufacturing earthen- 

 ware, and the price of labour when these agreements were executed. 



" This Indenture, made the three and twentieth day of August, 

 in the fifth year of the reign of our Soveraign Lord King George 

 the Second over Great Brittaine, &c. Anno Dni. 1731, Between 

 Ralph Wood, of Burslem, in the county of Stafford, miller, and 

 Aaron Wood his son, of the one part, and D r - Thomas Wedgwood, 

 of Burslem afores d - potter, of the other part, Wittnesseth that the 

 s d - Aaron Wood, of his own free will and consent, and to and with 

 the direction and appointm 1 - of his s d - father, Hath put himselfe, 

 and doth hereby put and bind himselfe apprentice unto the s d - D r< 

 Thomas Wedgwood, the art, trade, mystery, and occupation of a 

 potter to learn, that is to say, turning in the lath, handling, and 

 trimming (throwing on the wheele being out of this indenture ex- 

 cepted), and with him the s d - D r - Thomas Wedgwood to worke from 

 the eleventh day of November next, being Martinmas day, for dur- 

 ing and until the full end and terme of seven years from thence 

 next ensuing and following, and fully to be compleat and ended, 

 during all which time and terme of seven years the s d - Aaron Wood, 



3 H 



