He conceived that he could produce a paste or body so fine, compact, and homogeneous, as to be finished without a glaze, and, at the same time, be susceptible of receiving color in purity and perfection throughout this body. This he succeeded in doing, and this is what is now known over all the world as Wedgwood's jasper, or onyx. This is the ware upon which he afterward applied the cameo ornaments in white upon a ground or body of various tints--blues, sage-green, and purple. At first the color permeated the whole paste; afterward it was applied on the surface only by means of a "dip." This was begun about the year 1776, and went onward till the end of his life. It is of interest for us to know how the beautiful cameo ornaments used on this ware were obtained. The enthusiasm and the sense of honor which inspired Wedgwood gave him access soon to the best people and the best collections in England. In the collections of Sir William Hamilton, and others, were the exquisite intaglios found in the antique art-work of Egypt, Greece, and Rome. Wedgwood took most careful and delicate impressions of these, and from these his careful and delicate cameos were formed. Not only did he draw thus from the ancients, he also enlisted the best designers and workmen wherever he could find them, and among these the most distinguished was the sculptor Flaxman. It may interest the rising sculptor to know that Flaxman's price for designs made for Wedgwood was a half-guinea each. At this time he was a young man struggling into recognition; and he was glad of the opportunity, as well as of the money, which Wedgwood gave him. His designs all bear unmistakable indications of Greek inspiration, and he has been called an "English Greek." Miss Meteyard, in her "Life of Wedgwood," quotes a number of the bills paid to Flaxman. One in 1775 runs thus: "A pair of vases, one with a satyr, the other with a triton-handle, three guineas; bass-reliefs of the Muses and Apollo, Hercules and the lion, Hercules and the boar, Hercules and Cerberus, Bacchus and Ariadne, Jupiter, Juno, Minerva, Justice and Hope--for each of these he received ten shillings and sixpence; table of the four seasons, two pounds and two shillings," etc. Flaxman modeled, too, a goodly number of busts of distinguished persons. Models and designs were also procured from artists in Italy, many of which were made under the supervision of Flaxman while he was studying and working there. Of this jasper was made a great variety of objects, besides vases and tea-services. Of the last we engrave portions of one in possession of Mr. Wales, of Boston, which is as near perfection as any work of this kind can be (Fig. 92). [Illustration: FIG. 92.--_Old Wedgwood._] This jasper-ware was used in many ways, as the following list will indicate. It shows something of the variety of art-work made by Wedgwood: 1. Cameos and intaglios. 2. Bass-reliefs, medallions, and tablets.