The encaustic, or figured tiles, for pavements, are also a great speciality of Messrs. Maw’s works, and are, like those of other makers, produced in immense variety and in large quantities. They are made in two, three, four, or more colours combined, the colours used being buff or yellow, red, black, blue, chocolate, white, cream, fawn, green, &c., and of various sizes, the usual dimensions being 6 and 4¼ inches square. The patterns are, in many instances, taken from the best remaining ancient examples, and in others have been specially designed for Messrs. Maw by Sir Digby Wyatt, Owen Jones, and the best authorities of the day; and many of the pavements thus produced are matchless both in design, in general effect, and in beauty and brilliancy of colour. Messrs. Maw are not content with producing simple quarries, to be arranged in the usual varieties of ways, but they have introduced entire pavements, over which is spread one grand design covering its entire surface; many entire patterns occupying not the usual old numbers of 4, 9, 12, 16, or 24 tiles, but 144 and other numbers. These are peculiarly rich and effective, and particularly well adapted for halls, vestibules, corridors, &c. [Illustration: Fig. 702.] [Illustration: Fig. 703.] The marks used by Messrs. Maw are-- MAW & CO MAW & CO MAW & CO MAW & CO BENTHALL BROSELEY BENTHALL BROSELEY WORKS BROSELEY SALOP BROSELEY SALOP MAW & CO The enamelled hearth-pavements and wall-tiles are another great speciality of these works, and are of unsurpassable richness and beauty, as are also their majolica tiles and fire-place linings. These are produced in every possible variety, and are remarkable not only for the richness and delicacy of the colours which are used, and for their purely artistic and masterly combination, but for the excellence of both body and glaze, and the scrupulous accuracy of forms for fitting together. The same remark applies to the embossed and indented tiles, and also to those which are partially pierced for open work. They are all equally good, and bear evidence of that thorough appreciation of art which pervades all the productions of the Benthall works. The engravings (Figs. 702 and 703) show two of their majolica chimney-pieces. The first is of the finest majolica, with a fire-place lining of encaustic, or enamel, tiles, which would also be used for the hearth. The decorations are in high and bold relief, and being coloured with pure artistic taste, have a charming and very striking effect. It is 4 feet 8 inches in height, and 7 feet in width, and is, of course, furnished with a marble shelf at the top--which, however, is not shown in the illustration. [Illustration: Fig. 704.]