After twenty-five years' labour De Blaquier decided in 1744 to offer the works to the Government. The young Empress Maria Theresa resolved to support the factory, which promised to give occupation and profit to her subjects, honour and gain to the State. She therefore commanded that it should be taken by State contract from its owner, and that De Blaquier should receive the direction with a salary of 1500 florins a year. [Illustration: FIG. 168.--PLATE.] From 1747 to 1790 was the best period for figures and groups, while from 1780 to 1820 painting on china became celebrated, the subjects being taken from paintings by Watteau, Lancret, Boucher, Angelica Kauffmann, and others. In 1785 the most important improvements were made under the Baron de Lorgenthal or Sorgenthal; artists of the highest talents were employed, a first-rate chemist named Leithner was engaged to prepare the colours and gilding, the _chefs d'œuvre_ of the early masters were copied, while the gilding was brought to a perfection which has never been surpassed. [Illustration: FIG. 169.--CUP AND "TREMBLEUSE" SAUCER. _18th Century._] After the death of the Baron in 1805, Neidermayer became Director. The manufacture continued in its flourishing condition until about 1815. From the year 1784 to the date of its extinction, it was the custom to mark every piece with the number of the year, which circumstance may be of great service to the connoisseur who seeks early specimens of Vienna porcelain. It is stamped without colour underneath the piece--or rather indented, the first numeral being omitted; thus the number 792 stands for 1792; 802 for 1802; and so on. From 1827, under the direction of Scholtz, who followed Niedermayer, the manufactory began to decline, and what with economy, indifferent workmen, and bad artists copying from French models its doom was sealed. It gradually dwindled down to a second-rate factory, and in consequence of the great annual expense it was discontinued in 1864. The books on art belonging to the factory, and all the drawings of its most successful period, together with many of the models, the library, and the keramic collection, were given to the Imperial Museum in Vienna, to be retained as a lasting memorial of its celebrity. Fig. 166 is painted in _camaïeu_ on purple ground, and gilt; mark, shield crowned; length of tray 12 in. Fig. 167 is painted in colours and gilt, with busts of ladies, entitled "L'Hérisson" and "Fantaisie Moderne"; mark, the shield in blue; height 6 in. Fig. 168 is painted in colours, with two nymphs in a landscape playing with the infant Bacchus; mark, the Austrian shield of arms, in blue; the painting attributed to Fürstler. SCHLAGGENWALD, in Bohemia. This manufactory was established in the year 1810. George Lippert was the owner in 1842, and much improved the industry. Some pieces are marked "Lippert & Haas." [Illustration: FIG. 170.--CUP AND SAUCER.]