[Illustration: FIG. 245.--STATUETTE. _Chaucer, by_ RALPH WOOD.] MOSES STEEL was a manufacturer at Burslem in 1715. The name of a descendant is found on a vase, with blue ground and white figures in relief, in the style of Wedgwood, in the Victoria and Albert Museum. [Illustration: FIG. 246.--VASE.] SHELTON. ASTBURY of Shelton, early in the 18th century, made red crouch, and white stoneware. It is said he derived his knowledge of mixing the clays by pretending to be an idiot and obtaining employment at the Elers' manufactory at Bradwell; after gaining their secret, he set up in business against them. The first use of calcined flints as an ingredient in the composition of pottery is attributed to the younger Astbury; it led to the manufacture of fine fayence, and paved the way for the great improvements afterwards achieved by Wedgwood. SAMUEL HOLLINS of Shelton established about 1760 a manufactory of fine red ware teapots; he procured the clay from Bradwell. He was succeeded about 1777 by T. and J. HOLLINS. [Illustration: FIG. 247.--GREEN BOWL. _With ornaments in relief. Signed "S. Hollins."_] [Illustration: FIG. 248.--BASIN. _With white ground and blue figures in relief. Stamped T. and J. Hollins._] The NEW HALL CHINA WORKS at Shelton owed their origin to the purchase of Champion's (Cookworthy's) patent by a company of potters in 1777, and were the first porcelain manufactory in Staffordshire. The ware made here was not of a fine character; inferior artists were employed in its production, and it was never held in any great esteem. The manufacture consequently soon fell to decay, after many changes. The mark is the name of the works in a double ring. [Illustration: FIG. 249.--CUP AND SAUCER. _Painted with flowers._] BRADWELL. A potter to whom Staffordshire was indebted for great improvements in the ware was JOHN PHILIP ELERS, who about 1690 came over from Holland and settled at Bradwell. He was descended from a noble family of Saxony. Elers was a clever chemist, and discovered the art of mixing the clays of Staffordshire to greater perfection than had ever before been attained. He manufactured to a considerable extent an improved kind of red pottery, in imitation of that of Japan, while by the addition of manganese to the clays, he made a fine black ware, which a century afterwards was adopted and improved by Wedgwood. [Illustration: FIG. 250.--TEAPOT. _Of red ware, with flowers in relief._] HANLEY. Shaw mentions a Mr. MILES of Miles's Bank, Hanley, who produced the brown stoneware about 1700. There is in the Victoria and Albert Museum a fayence barrel of brown glaze with gilt hoops, dating apparently from the first half of the 18th century, and it is impressed with the name of Miles (see Fig. 251). [Illustration: FIG. 251.--BARREL.]