_Dale Hall._--The extensive works at Dale Hall (or Dale Hole, as it used to be written), founded in 1790, originally belonged to Mr Joseph Stubbs, a very successful manufacturer, who, having retired from business, died in 1836. He was succeeded by Messrs. Thomas, John, and Joshua Mayer, who afterwards traded “as Mayer Brothers and Elliot,” and from them, successively through the firms of “Liddle, Elliot, & Co.,” and “Bates, Elliot & Co.,” to the present owners and occupiers, Messrs. Bates, Walker, and Co.; Mr. Elliot having retired, and Mr. Walker, stepson to Mr. Bates, being taken into partnership. By the earlier firms, ordinary earthenware was produced, but under Messrs. Mayer, who came from Stoke to Dale Hall,[50] rapid strides were made in art manufactures, and many important improvements effected. They were exceedingly clever potters, especially Mr. Jos. Mayer, who died prematurely through excessive study and application to his art. They introduced many important improvements in the manufacture and decoration, especially in the beautiful polychromatic bisque printing which is continued by their successors and other firms. Besides ordinary earthenware, this firm produced stoneware of a highly vitreous quality; Parian of an improved body; a fine caneware, in which some remarkably good jugs (notably the “oak” pattern) were made; and other wares. In the stoneware, besides many well-modelled jugs and other articles, they made tea-urns, which they were the first to introduce, of excellent design and admirable finish. Two of these, made in 1851 (Figs. 384 and 385) I here engrave. The peculiar body of the stoneware of which they were made was capable of withstanding the variations of temperature to which vessels of this kind, usually formed of metal, are liable. These were not made to any extent by Messrs. Mayer, but are now being reproduced by Messrs. Bates, Walker, & Co. with great success; they are highly ornate in appearance, and will doubtless come much into use. Messrs. Mayer also produced some admirable designs in vases, decorated with a profusion of exquisitely modelled raised flowers. Two of these are shown on Figs. 386 and 387, and a jug in the following figure. The dinner plates, dishes, &c., of Messrs. Mayer, were characterized by an excellent “fit” in nesting, by lightness of body, and by neatness of finish in decoration. In 1851 they received a medal for their exhibits, and again in the New York Exhibition of 1853 and the Paris Exhibition of 1855 medals were awarded. [Illustration: Fig. 388.]