[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 174.--A GROUP.]

HOLLAND

WEESP. The first manufactory for porcelain in Holland was at Weesp, near Amsterdam. It was established in 1764 by the Count Cronsfeldt-Diepenbroick, who had by some means obtained the secret of the composition of hard paste. After existing seven years, the factory was closed in 1771.

Notwithstanding the unsuccessful result from a commercial point of view, it was reopened by a Protestant minister, the Rev. De Moll, of Oude Loosdrecht, a.s.sociated with some capitalists of Amsterdam, but the next year it was removed to Loosdrecht. The decorations are very much of the Saxon character.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 175.--EWER. _With mark, W._]

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 176.--COFFEE-POT. _Mark, a cross and dots._]

OUDE LOOSDRECHT, situated between Utrecht and Amsterdam, was the next town where porcelain was successfully made. It sprang from the ashes of Weesp, and in 1772 became a company, with the Rev. De Moll at its head; after his death, in 1782, the concern pa.s.sed into the hands of his partners, J. Rendorp, A. Dedel, C. Van der Hoop, Gysbz, and J. Hope, and was by them removed, in 1784, to Oude Amstel. The ware is of fine quality, decorated in the Saxon style; specimens are frequently met with, having gilt borders and a light blue flower between green leaves.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 177.--VASE.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 178.--PANEL. _Mark, M : o L. in blue._ Width 12-3/4 in.]

AMSTERDAM. Fig. 179. Painted in lake _camaeu_ with birds and trees; the mark, lion, in blue.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 179.--A PAIR OF BOTTLES.]

OUDE AMSTEL. On the death of the Rev. De Moll in the year 1782, the manufactory of Loosdrecht was removed to Oude Amstel (Old Amstel), near Amsterdam, and carried on with redoubled zeal by the same company, directed by a German named Dauber, about 1784. It flourished under his direction for a few years, and produced a fine description of porcelain, but it gradually declined, in consequence of the large importations from England which inundated the country. In 1789 it came into the hands of J. Rendorp, C. Van der Hoop, and Gysbz, still remaining under Dauber's direction, but it was entirely demolished at the close of the 18th century.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 180.--TEAPOT AND SUCRIER.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 181.--SUCRIER.]

THE HAGUE. About the year 1775, a porcelain manufactory for both hard and soft paste was opened at The Hague, under the direction of a German named Leichner or Lynker. The works ceased in 1785 or 1786.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 182.--PLATE. _Of soft paste._]

Fig. 182 bears the mark of a stork in blue; diam. 9-1/2 in.

BELGIUM AND LUXEMBURG

BELGIUM

TOURNAI. Established in 1750 by Peterinck. For some time previous to 1815 the works were carried on by M. Maximilien de Bettignies, who, in consequence of the annexation of Tournai to Belgium, ceded it in that year to his brother Henri, and established another factory at St.

Amand-les-Eaux. Soft paste, which has been discontinued for many years in every other _fabrique_ in France, is still made at both places, and they consequently produce the closest imitations of old Sevres _pate tendre_.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 183.--CUP AND SAUCER. _With the early mark in gold._]

Fig. 184 is painted in blue; mark, crossed swords and three crosses; diam. 9-1/2 in.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 184.--PLATE.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 185.--SALT-CELLAR.]

Fig. 185 is painted with birds; mark, crossed swords and four crosses, in gold; height 4-3/8 in.

BRUSSELS. There was a manufactory of hard paste porcelain here towards the end of the 18th century.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 186.--MILK JUG. _Signed L. Crette._]

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 187.--TEAPOT.]

LUXEMBURG

A factory for hard paste porcelain was established at Sept Fontaines about 1806, by the brothers Boch. Both pottery and porcelain were made here, including plates, vases, figures, &c.

[Ill.u.s.tration: LUXEMBURG

FIG. 188.--TWO FIGURES OF "THE SEASONS." _With mark, B. L._]

RUSSIA

At St. Petersburg, an Imperial china manufactory was established in 1744, by the Empress Elizabeth Petrowna, with workmen from Meissen.

Catherine II. patronised the works, and in 1765 enlarged them considerably, under the direction of the minister, J. A. Olsoufieff, since which this _fabrique_ has held a distinguished place among European manufactories. The paste is hard and of a blueish cast, finely glazed, and it betrays its Dresden origin.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 189.--CUP AND SAUCER. _With the mark of the Emperor Paul._]

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 190.--VERRIeRE.]

MOSCOW, 1720. The potter Eggebrecht, who had undertaken a manufactory of delft at Dresden, by direction of Bottcher, had, after that was discontinued, left to go to Moscow, and, being acquainted with some of the processes for making porcelain, commenced manufacturing it at Moscow.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 191.--STATUETTE. _Mark, G in blue._ Height 8 in.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 192.--CUP AND SAUCER. _With view of Moscow. Mark, A.

Popoffe's initials._]

A porcelain manufactory was established at TWER, by an Englishman named Gardner, in 1787, and another by A. Popoff.

KORZEC, in Volhynia. About 1803, Merault, a chemist of the Sevres manufactory, went to direct the _fabrique_ at Korzec, taking with him a laboratory a.s.sistant named Petion. After carrying it on for a few years, Merault abandoned the direction, and returned to France.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 193.--_Pate dure CUP AND SAUCER. Painted with a portrait of a lady, en grisaille, with gilt borders. Mark, Eye within a triangle._]

BARANOWKA, in Volhynia. A small factory existed here at which the porcelain clay found in the neighbourhood was used.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 194.--MILK JUG. _Mark, the name of the town._]

SWEDEN

MARIEBERG. This manufactory produced porcelain (_soft paste_), as well as fayence. In quality as well as in decoration the porcelain is like that of Mennecy-Villeroy in France. The industry was established by Ehrenreich, under the patronage of Count Scheffer, Councillor of State, in 1750, and altogether ceased about 1780.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 195.--CUSTARD CUP AND COVER. _Mark, M.B. combined._ Height 3-1/4 in.]