BOW PORCELAIN. England's first por celain factory was established, at Stratford-le Bow, in the outskirts of London at that time probably as early as 1730. From 1744 to 175 it would appear, from documentary evidence, that this ware was made from unaker (an im ported American clay) and glass. In 1750 the works were acquired by Weatherby & Crowther. Weatherby died 1762, and Crowther, though bankrupt, continued the works. The factory was called the Canton." The great popu larity of the new Derby ware (see DERBY) killed the Bow sales and caused financial ruin. William Dusebury, owner of the Derby works, purchased the Bow plant and transferred it to Derby in 1776. Running for over 30 years with prolific output (in 1760 300 persons, including 90 painters, were employed) yet authenticated pieces are very rare.
Decoration.—Early product followed, of course, the prevailing taste for Chinese style (blue-and-white). The decoration was under glaze. Raised white (blanc de Chine) flower motifs belong to this early period. Later, red, green, yellow and blue overglaze colors appear. The gold on early Bow was matt. Sprig deco ration was favored in the underglaze blue, and the (quail" or partridge pattern was frequent as a uchinese taste" motif. Some extant Bow pieces have transfer-print decoration, in both over and under-glaze decoration; some trans fers filled in by hand.
Chelsea copied Bow fre quently, therefore, some pieces are difficult to place as to provenance. Glaze and paste qualities help here. As Derby took Bow artisans and patterns, the same difficulty also follows the collectors here, from similarity of design and decoration. Bow ware was largely experimental, hence many pieces are defective — crazed or showing black spots in the glaze, from faulty firing. The Bow (ceiling-wax"
red has a tendency to powder off. Bow glaze shows age yellowish, even iridescence, at times, from decay.
body is heavy and sometimes thick; but many cups and saucers are of egg shell variety. The paste is hard with fracture.
on thick, sometimes appear below. Some authorities claim Bow ware has whiter surface than Chelsea; it is a lead glaze and transparent.
Table ware, salt cellars, sweet meat shells, vases, bowls, mugs, toys, well modeled figures (early figures are in the white); animals, knife handles, epergnes, chan delier ornaments, essence pots, etc.
First came triangle mark im pressed (Chelsea claims it also) ; then bow or bow and arrow, violin bow, dagger, anchor in red (like Chelsea) ; crescent with anchor and dagger (in blue) ; Mercury alchemistic sign. Worlcmen's signs: T. F. for Thomas Frye; To for Tebo; A for Askew,•etc.
Bibliography.—Bemrose, William, (Bow, Chelsea and Derby Porcelain' (London 1898) Burton, William, (London 1908); Mew, Egan,
Bow> (Lon don 1910); O'Neill, Dr. W. 0.