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RERAMIC STUDIO 
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Meigh & Johnson. The new firm was called for a while Ridg- 
way & Co., then F. Morley & Co. In 1858, a first medal was 
accorded them at the Paris Exposition for their real ironstone 
china. In 1859 Mr. Morley retired, having sold the entire 
business to George L. & Taylor Ashworth, who kept produc- 
ing Mason's best patterns. The Ashworth firm is in existence 
to-day and uses the same old Mason moulds, and the modern 
ware can be seen at the store of Edward Boote, 25 West 
Broadway, New York. 
Old ironstone china is quite commonly found, but a good 
deal of discrimination is necessary and the best ware, made by 
Mason himself, is rare, and being as a rule extremely beauti- 
ful in decoration, would be much sought by collectors, if it was 
better known. The mark used by Mason on these fine speci- 
mens of heavy, opaque porcelain 
was the crown as given in the 
accompanying cut, with Mason's 
name above and under it a rect- 
angle with the words, " Patent 
Ironstone China." This mark is 
the mark of pieces in our illus- 
tration No. 1. The two plates 
decorated with the same design are treated in different 
schemes of color. In one, the central vase is green, other 
ornaments and border red, dark blue, buff and gold, while in 
the other plate the central vase is red, and the border more 
soberly treated with red, buff, green and a very dark blue, 
almost black. 
Pitchers and j ugs seem to be less rare than plates, although 
far from being common. We know of a dealer who has a 
regular order for these pitchers at fairly good prices and has 
been able to secure only three in three years. They are gen- 
erally decorated with printed designs of complicated Indian 
foliage and grotesque animals, in very brilliant colors, reds, 
black and greens on buff or other color grounds, the red being 
a unique and beautiful vermillion or coral red. These jugs 
were called by Mason Bandana ware, and according to Jewitt 
some specimens are found with the mark " Mason's Bandana 
ware " on a circular garter enclosing the words " Patentee of 
the Patent Ironstone China," and a crown. 
Other marks are "Mason's Patent Ironstone China" im- 
pressed. This mark is found on the plate in the middle of 
illustration No. 2, and may be a mark of Mason's time, but 
judging from this plate and a few other specimens which came 
to our notice, it was used on a different body, and neither in 
color nor design can compare with pieces marked with the 
crown. 
After the patent passed out of Mason's hands into Mor- 
ley's, the mark generally used was a combination of impressed 
and printed marks, the words " Patent Ironstone China " or 
more generally " Real Ironstone China" being impressed, and 
the printed mark being the Royal Arms of England, with 
supporters, crest, mottoes, etc., and under it the words " Iron- 
stone China." The two small plates in illustration No. 2 are 
good specimens of this Morley ware, made from 185 1 to 1859. 
They are heavy like the best Mason china and finely decorated 
in brilliant red and dark blue. 
The later marks are on a garter, the words " Real Iron- 
stone China " enclosing the Royal Arms and the name G. L. 
Ashworth & Bros., Henley. Another Ashworth mark is the 
old Mason crown and rectangle with the addition under it of 
the word " Ashworths." As the modern firm has reproduced 
most of Mason's best pieces and has sometimes used the 
old Mason crown, collectors must be careful to distinguish be- 
tween the real Mason ware and the Ashworth reproductions. 
A genuine old Mason jug in good condition is a good 
thing to have and to keep, as it is extremely decorative, and 
is quite a rarity. 
We have received a letter from Mr. Percy Adams, the 
Staffordshire potter, and hope that some of our subscribers 
will be able to help him in his search for old Adams' speci- 
mens, and answer the part of his letter which we here quote : 
Will any collector who may have specimens of eighteenth 
century English Jasper ware (either in the blue or black 
ground with white relief), black basalt, fine stone ware, etc., 
also printed ware with the name Adams impressed, kindly 
send particulars of same for a biography which is being 
written on the early Adams' potteries, to Percy Adams, Wol- 
stanton, Staffordshire, England, as early as possible? 
PEWTER POT INSCRIPTIONS FOR EARTHENWARE 
Two things all honest men do fear : 
A scolding wife and ill-brewed beer. 
Drink fayre, don't swayre ; 
God save ye Kinge ! 
He who quaffs my good ale here 
Will long defer his final bier. 
If you daily drink your fill 
There'll be no need to make a will. 
He who drinks and runs away 
Will live to drink another day. 
Straight is the line of duty, 
Curved is the line of beauty ; 
Follow the straight line, thou shalt see 
The curved line ever follow thee. 
Be merry while you can to-day, 
There may be no to-morrow ; 
No man so sad who cannot find, 
In ale a balm for sorrow. 
While beer brings gladness, don't forget 
That water only makes you wet ! 
Since man is dust it would appear 
'Twere wise to " water" him with beer. 
It's a long tankard that cannot be refilled. 
Never put off till to-morrow what you can drink to day. 
Drink beer and forget your sorrow ; 
If the thought comes back, drink more to-morrow. 
While your money lasts you are welcome here ; 
When it's gone there's no more beer. 
Dust makes thirst; and, man being dust, 
Day and night drink he must. 
