There has been nothing new to report recently in our quest for pots until now, but today we have been successful at auction. We have been able to add three pieces from some more unusual factories - Vauxhall, Chelsea and Longton Hall. Each of the items has some damage, but as they are unusual we might not have been able to afford them had they been in perfect condition!
The Vauxhall teabowl is decorated with a chinoiserie design, in Imari colours, featuring birds and flora, whilst the Longton Hall and Chelsea coffee cups have polychrome floral patterns. We shall have to be patient, though, because we shall collect them next time we travel north rather than entrusting them to the post. Next up should be a sale at our local auction, so that problem will not arise there.
I recently met a local potter here in Cornwall and I am looking forward to learning more from him about the potting process. It was interesting to hear him talk of the hazards of firing and the fine tuning of glazes and pigment needed to obtain a desired effect. We are more used to seeing the wide variation in the output of the many eighteenth century factories, frantically competing with one another to emulate chinese porcelain and using a host of different ingredients and methods in the process. He will probably be able to tell us a great deal about the manufacture of our pieces from their individual properties. Fascinating stuff to potaholics like us!
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