PORCELAIN AND FAIENCE.
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The column representing the hardness shows the weight required to produce a scratch with the point of a diamond. The " grain ” or degree of porosity is expressed by the weight of water which was absorbed by one hundred grammes of the ware. The prices were furnished by the manufacturers or their agents; and in the first column are for a dozen white plates, eight inches in’diameter (twenty-one centimetres) ; in the second column for the same number and size of decorated plates. The three divisions or qualities are based upon the degree of whiteness; the third all having more or less of a yellowish tinge.
PRUSSIA.
Royal Prussian Porcelain Factory, Berlin.
This famous establishment, which has been notably represented at all of the great exhibitions,* sustained its reputation at Vienna, by its display of vases and ornamental porcelains of various kinds, plastic work in biscuit, services, and ln decorative figures, etc. Plain white porcelain is also made.
The works were established in 1763, and are sustained c biefly f or the promotion of the industry, technically and artistically. In the year 1871, the production amounted to ^00,000 pieces, worth 160,000 thalers, from raw materials costing 11,050 thalers. The greater part of the product is f°r home consumption. Three hundred and three workmen are employed and two steam-engines of 40 horse-power.
. Royal Saxon Porcelain Works, producing what jf fomwn as Dresden porcelain, are established at Meissen, a mv miles above Dresden. The establishment was founded y Augustus II., the Elector of Saxony. Tschirnhaus and °ttcher, two alchemists in his service, commenced to make ex Periments about 1706 ; and the credit of making the hard Porcelain for the first time in Europe is accorded to Bottcher.
e made a red or jaspar-like ware, which could be cut and Polished by the lapidary, and a glazed, brownish red ware.
* Gold Medal at Paris, 1835; at Paris, 1867, Ilors du Concours.
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