Champion's Wares
Special Services Mugs and Cabinet Pieces Tea and Coffee Pots Cups and Saucers Sauceboats Printed Wares Plaques	About 1773 Champion changed the direction of production from the rococo to the neo-classical.  Meissen became a strong influence, resulting in much floral festoon decoration (very similar decoration can be found on some Derby pieces).  One of the parliamentary services, made for the patent extension application, was a direct copy of Meissen.  Sevres also became an influence, but only to a limited degree.
	Domestic Wares. Under-glaze blue painting disappears.  Green, a problem color in the earlier days (probably up to 1772), is now used extensively.  Gilding is of the highest quality, being applied on top of a vermilion size, and does not easily wear off.  Michael Edkin's ledger contains a formula for a vermillion size used for gilding paper, which may have provided the inspiration for porcelain. There are a few transfer printed pieces, but they are hardly outstanding.  Some pieces have very simple decoration, without gilding.  These are referred to as "Cottage Bristol" and were probably produced in the last three years of the factory. Cups and saucers conform to four main forms; the plain curved outline; the ogee (referred to as Ming); the fluted; and the straight-sided (after Sevres).  There are several styles of handle, the most common being the scroll type copied from Meissen.  There were several types of tea pots and jugs.  Desert plates have a double foot-rim, which solved the firing problem.  In common with other English porcelain makers, of the period, there are few dinner plates.  Mugs and sauceboats are rarer than during the Cookworthy period. A feature were the special services, usually made for friends.  The ones identified by MacKenna in 1947 are: Burke, Smith, "Chough", Leinster, Edwards, Smyth, Parliament (two - one a copy of Meissen and the other in the Herculaneum style - a cup and saucer from the latter is in the British museum), Nelson, Butts, Gainsborough (connection to the family is only tentative and duplicate pieces have been recorded), Colston, Brice, Cowles, Mark Harford, and Joseph Harford.  Since then others have been discovered: Ludlow (MacKenna 1975), Herbert, Pitt, Clive, Smith, Stephens, J A C and Fry.  The Herbert service is recorded, but unnamed, in the Trapnell collection (170-181).  I am unaware where the name comes from. There may be more than one of this service.  The Pitt service, which is simply decorated with an orange and gilt band, was made for Thomas Pitt (it is mentioned in the Bristol Bicentenary catalogue).  The John and Anne Stephens service was a present from William Stephens, the porcelain painter.  The "J A C" service is identified by the monogram, it is not known for whom it was made.  The Fry service is also mentioned in the Bristol Bicentenary catalogue, it would seem that it may have only been in the family during the 19th century.  Services are usually unmarked.
	Decorative Wares. Figures are mounted on simple rock-work bases, rather than the rococo of the earlier period.  The rustic seasons are a fine example.  Many fine vases were made, many of them are hexagonal.  The most individual of Champion's products were the biscuit plaques, some having armorial bearings.