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Cookworthy's Wares |
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It has been traditional to divide the items produced into Plymouth and Bristol. This is incorrect, a better split would be between Cookworthy and Champion. Many pieces previously thought be be Plymouth were made at Bristol during 1770-73. Differences between Plymouth and early Bristol tend to lie in quality, not shape or decorative style. |
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Domestic Wares. Cookworthy had problems with flat wares, since they collapsed in the kiln. Plates were not made and saucers are rare. Much of the decoration was in under-glaze blue, often in imitation of Chinese designs. Sometimes over-glaze red was added (a technique known as clobbering). Enameling was often of birds, either exotic or natural. Gilding was poor, it has little affinity with the hard body, and tends to come off. No polychrome or gilding can pre-date Soquoi's arrival in January 1769. He was also to develop a satisfactory blue pigment, which means that any earlier under-glaze blue will be poor. Cups and saucers are of simple design, with D section handles. Mugs are numerous. They can be either bulbous or straight-sided, some are large. Sauceboats were also popular, often with rococo scroll-work. Tea and coffee pots are of orthodox design, some with fluted sides. A speciality were moulded shell dishes; of single, triple and multi-shell designs. They usually have ornate bases containing flowers. |
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Decorative Wares. Some figures were plain, but most are decorated. The latter have rococo bases and are some of the best examples of English 18th century porcelain. Cookworthy may have purchased the Longton Hall moulds in 1760 (MacKenna), which were used for some figures. Simon Spero has recently stated (English Ceramic Circle Transactions 18 part 2) that the Longton Hall figures are actually Vauxhall, and that some of the Plymouth figures are copied from Vauxhall rather than Longton Hall. This makes sense in view of the connection between Cookworthy and Crisp at Bovey Tracy (Crisp was previously the proprietor of Vauxhall). In March 1768 Thomas Pitt was asked to get some plaster models, in London, of couchant lions and sphinxs. Cookworthy certainly used these for some of his early figures. Series include the Topers, the Seasons, the Rustic Seasons, the Elements and the Continents. Both seasons exist in large and small sizes. Champion was responsible for some figures, a letter dated 27th February 1772, was sent a London modeler (possibly John Bacon). The Elements and the Classical Seasons were the result. John Bacon had been at Vauxhall, but his work there was not very good. A number of hexagonal vases were made, often derived from Bow or Worcester designs. |
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