NANTGARW. Established in 1813 by Billingsley, the celebrated flower painter of Derby, with Walker, after they left Worcester. They produced some very fine porcelain, of the same peculiar character as that of Pinxton, with a sort of vitreous appearance and a granulated fracture like that of lump sugar. Being very soft the paste would not in all cases stand the heat of the kiln; some of the early pieces are consequently found cracked on the glaze, or slightly warped and bent. [Illustration: FIG. 323.--PLATE.] [Illustration: FIG. 324.--CUP AND SAUCER.] The Nantgarw porcelain was of remarkably fine body and texture, but its production was expensive. About the year 1820 the manufacture was discontinued; Billingsley and Walker having disposed of their interest in the concern to J. Rose, the moulds and everything connected with the works were removed to Coalport. [Illustration: FIG. 325.--VASE.] ORIENTAL POTTERY AND PORCELAIN CHINA The porcelain of China is composed of two earths, the one a decomposed felspathic rock called _kaolin_, and the other a rock of the same geological origin, mixed with quartz, called _petuntse_. They both harmonise so completely that they have an equally resisting power when placed in the kiln. The _kaolin_ used in making porcelain is much softer than _petuntse_ when dug out of the quarry, yet it is this which, by its mixture with the other, gives strength and firmness to the work. Chinese porcelain was classified by the late Dr. S. W. Bushell, C.M.G., under the following periods:-- 1. Primitive period, including the _Sung_ dynasty (960-1279) and the _Yuan_ dynasty (1280-1367). 2. Ming period, comprising the whole of the _Ming_ dynasty (1368-1643). 3. K'ang Hsi period, extending from the fall of the Ming dynasty to the close of the reign of _K'ang Hsi_ (1662-1722). 4. Yung Chêng and Chiên Lung period (1723-1795), the two reigns being conjoined. 5. Modern period, from the beginning of the reign of _Chia Ch'ing_ to the present day. [Illustration: FIG. 326.--STONEWARE VASE. _With Céladon green glaze. Ming dynasty._] The most ancient mode of decoration was the blue _camaïeu_, and it is still much esteemed in China; it was executed on the ware, simply dried before the glaze was applied, and then placed in the kiln. Being all completed in one baking, _au grand feu_, the painting thus executed became imperishable. [Illustration: FIG. 327.--STONEWARE VASE. _With Céladon crackle glaze._]