DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.1398#0209
PLATE 168.
KAFFAELLESQUE PORCELAIN,
BY MESSRS. PHILLIPS & BISKS, WORCESTER.
A LTHOUGH we appreciate to its full extent the ability shown in the reproductions of
-^*- former styles of ceramic art, such as the Italian Majolica, Old Sevres, and others, we
hail with peculiar pleasure all attempts at originality, and every new development of the manu-
facture, as calculated to lead to a purely English style, and to afford fresh scope for the artistic
talent of our designers, modellers, and painters. At the time we are writing, we have been
unable to obtain the official report of Class 85,—"Pottery and Porcelain;" but in the list of
Jury awards for that class, we find this firm received a medal " for decorative porcelain," which
seems to us a very inadequate notice of the remarkable productions of the firm, distinguished,
as they were, for great variety and originality of design in Rafiaellesque porcelain; very fine
painting, after the manner of the Renaissance Limoges style and after nature; coloured fictile
ivory, and delicately-painted porcelain.
To Mr. R. W. Binns, F.S.A., the indefatigable and well-informed partner and manager of
this firm, is no doubt due much of the progress seen in its works, and by him also has been
written the best review of all the contributions exhibited in this class, which was published in
the November number of the "Practical Mechanic's Journal," 1862. The manufacture of the
so-called "Rafiaellesque porcelain" was originated by Mr. Binns about two years since; it was
first publicly exhibited in the present Exhibition, and as it is so lately introduced, and as the
pieces shown were greatly hurried on account of more pressing commissions, especially the
Queen's service, which we have illustrated in Plate 299, we may reasonably expect that it will yet
be greatly improved.
Besides the subjects which we have selected, the greater number of which were modelled by
Mr. Kremer and Mr. Hadley, were to be seen a variety of smaller objects, characterized by much
originality and fancy in design, and by careful, delicate execution. The largest piece produced
was a small pilaster in the Renaissance style, with coloured arabesques on a white ground : its
dimensions were 3 feet 6 inches by five inches in width, and it was valued at ten guineas; a price
which seems capable of allowing the style to be introduced for purposes of internal decoration.
Some of the parian statuettes by Messrs. Phillips & Binns were of great merit, and we were
paa'ticularly struck with the reduced copy of Durham's statue of Robert Stephenson, the great engineer.
The parian fictile ivory, and oxydized silver, gold, and bronze ware, were also very interesting, as
showing the capabilities of the art. The processes required in producing this ware demand frequent
firings and great care. The enamel paintings, for which this firm has obtained the highest reputation,
were unsurpassed by any in the Exhibition. Mr. Binns was the first manufacturer in this
country to introduce the style of the Limoges enamels en grisaille of the Renaissance period;
being led thereto by the suggestions and remarks of the late Sir E. Lechmere, when on a visit
to the works in the year 1853. How rapidly, and with what success, Mr. Binns brought this
style forward, may be judged from the fact that at the Paris International Exhibition, 1855,
Mr. Bott, a student of one of the G-overnment Schools of Art, obtained the first prize medal for
enamel-painting, executed by Messrs. Phillips & Binns. The style of art adopted by the
firm is not a mere revival and imitation of the works, however fine they must be allowed
to be, of L. Limousin, P. Reymond, the Oourtois, and the Penicauds; but a free rendering
of original subjects, and copies of the severer schools of Plaxman, Ary Scheffer, and other
modern artists: the plaque painted en grisaille, after Ary Scheffer's " Francesca di Rimini,"
may be cited as one of the finest examples of enamel-painting in the Exhibition. The
coloured porcelain manufactured by this firm was distinguished by great beauty of decoration.
The small vases, tazzas, &c, ornamented with medallions containing coloured portraits on
a gold ground, the body of each piece being of a very delicate turquoise blue, bleu de roi,
and sometimes simply white, were peculiarly pleasing and attractive, both as regards form and
colour. We noticed also, as being of great artistic merit, a very pretty service, painted with the
favourite flowers of the Princess Alice, a marriage present from the Honourable Emily Cathcart
to the Princess of Hesse; and among other porcelain, ornamented with various paintings, a copy
after Landseer's "Forge," and some game by the late Mr. Bradley. In the letter-press accompany-
ing Plate 299 will be found a notice of the Queen's dessert service, and a brief history of this old-
established Worcester house.
KAFFAELLESQUE PORCELAIN,
BY MESSRS. PHILLIPS & BISKS, WORCESTER.
A LTHOUGH we appreciate to its full extent the ability shown in the reproductions of
-^*- former styles of ceramic art, such as the Italian Majolica, Old Sevres, and others, we
hail with peculiar pleasure all attempts at originality, and every new development of the manu-
facture, as calculated to lead to a purely English style, and to afford fresh scope for the artistic
talent of our designers, modellers, and painters. At the time we are writing, we have been
unable to obtain the official report of Class 85,—"Pottery and Porcelain;" but in the list of
Jury awards for that class, we find this firm received a medal " for decorative porcelain," which
seems to us a very inadequate notice of the remarkable productions of the firm, distinguished,
as they were, for great variety and originality of design in Rafiaellesque porcelain; very fine
painting, after the manner of the Renaissance Limoges style and after nature; coloured fictile
ivory, and delicately-painted porcelain.
To Mr. R. W. Binns, F.S.A., the indefatigable and well-informed partner and manager of
this firm, is no doubt due much of the progress seen in its works, and by him also has been
written the best review of all the contributions exhibited in this class, which was published in
the November number of the "Practical Mechanic's Journal," 1862. The manufacture of the
so-called "Rafiaellesque porcelain" was originated by Mr. Binns about two years since; it was
first publicly exhibited in the present Exhibition, and as it is so lately introduced, and as the
pieces shown were greatly hurried on account of more pressing commissions, especially the
Queen's service, which we have illustrated in Plate 299, we may reasonably expect that it will yet
be greatly improved.
Besides the subjects which we have selected, the greater number of which were modelled by
Mr. Kremer and Mr. Hadley, were to be seen a variety of smaller objects, characterized by much
originality and fancy in design, and by careful, delicate execution. The largest piece produced
was a small pilaster in the Renaissance style, with coloured arabesques on a white ground : its
dimensions were 3 feet 6 inches by five inches in width, and it was valued at ten guineas; a price
which seems capable of allowing the style to be introduced for purposes of internal decoration.
Some of the parian statuettes by Messrs. Phillips & Binns were of great merit, and we were
paa'ticularly struck with the reduced copy of Durham's statue of Robert Stephenson, the great engineer.
The parian fictile ivory, and oxydized silver, gold, and bronze ware, were also very interesting, as
showing the capabilities of the art. The processes required in producing this ware demand frequent
firings and great care. The enamel paintings, for which this firm has obtained the highest reputation,
were unsurpassed by any in the Exhibition. Mr. Binns was the first manufacturer in this
country to introduce the style of the Limoges enamels en grisaille of the Renaissance period;
being led thereto by the suggestions and remarks of the late Sir E. Lechmere, when on a visit
to the works in the year 1853. How rapidly, and with what success, Mr. Binns brought this
style forward, may be judged from the fact that at the Paris International Exhibition, 1855,
Mr. Bott, a student of one of the G-overnment Schools of Art, obtained the first prize medal for
enamel-painting, executed by Messrs. Phillips & Binns. The style of art adopted by the
firm is not a mere revival and imitation of the works, however fine they must be allowed
to be, of L. Limousin, P. Reymond, the Oourtois, and the Penicauds; but a free rendering
of original subjects, and copies of the severer schools of Plaxman, Ary Scheffer, and other
modern artists: the plaque painted en grisaille, after Ary Scheffer's " Francesca di Rimini,"
may be cited as one of the finest examples of enamel-painting in the Exhibition. The
coloured porcelain manufactured by this firm was distinguished by great beauty of decoration.
The small vases, tazzas, &c, ornamented with medallions containing coloured portraits on
a gold ground, the body of each piece being of a very delicate turquoise blue, bleu de roi,
and sometimes simply white, were peculiarly pleasing and attractive, both as regards form and
colour. We noticed also, as being of great artistic merit, a very pretty service, painted with the
favourite flowers of the Princess Alice, a marriage present from the Honourable Emily Cathcart
to the Princess of Hesse; and among other porcelain, ornamented with various paintings, a copy
after Landseer's "Forge," and some game by the late Mr. Bradley. In the letter-press accompany-
ing Plate 299 will be found a notice of the Queen's dessert service, and a brief history of this old-
established Worcester house.