The Industrial Arts in SpainRiaño, Juan F. (Juan Facundo)
History
The Industrial Arts in Spain
Riaño, Juan F. (Juan Facundo)
Decorative arts -- Spain -- History; Pottery -- Spain -- History
One of the most important results of the present study is the necessity
of changing the classifications of a great number of specimens which
have been believed to be manufactured at Moustiers and other localities
in France, but which in fact were made at Alcora. It is sufficient to
mention the names of Grangel, Cros, Soliva, and Vilar, which one of the
best informed writers on Ceramic industry, Baron Davillier, has
discovered on different specimens of pottery, and which, in his "Hist.
des faïences et porcelaines de Moustiers, etc., Paris, 1863," he
considers to be the names of artists who worked in France, although all
of them belonged exclusively to Alcora, as will be seen in the subjoined
list of artists' names. I am in hopes, also, that many errors may be
corrected in future, touching French and English pottery, which was
imitated to a great extent, and with much success at Alcora.
We gather also by this information that an immense number of objects
were made of pipeclay porcelain, in imitation of English wares; and, in
my opinion, a great quantity of objects of white pipeclay porcelain
which have been found of late years in Spain are of Alcora manufacture.
They have been hitherto classified by amateurs as Leeds pottery. We
find, in papers relating to Alcora, that a decided distinction is made
between white and straw-coloured pottery. This indication may be
sufficient to distinguish it from English wares.
Townsend, in "A Journey to Spain in the years 1786-1787," London, 1792,
p. 255, says: "At Alcora, in the neighbourhood of Valencia, a
manufacture of porcelain has been successfully established by Count
Aranda, and deserves encouragement. I was much pleased with their
imitations of gilding. It is very natural, and the manager informed me
that after many years' trial it was found to be durable."
[Illustration: EARTHENWARE PLAQUE, ALCORA WARE. SOUTH KENSINGTON
MUSEUM.]
Specimens exist of Alcora ware and porcelain at the South Kensington
Museum.
Nos. 1051, 1052-'71. Two fine plaques, painted with mythological
subjects of Pomona and Galatea, the borders raised in form of a frame,
with scroll ornaments [see woodcut of No. 1052].
No. 341-'76. A porcelain cup and saucer, blue ground, gilt; painted with
flowers in white medallions.
No. 333-'76. A plate painted with sprigs, and containing models of fruit
in full relief.
A LIST OF THE DIRECTORS AND ARTISTS WHO WERE EMPLOYED IN THE
MANUFACTORY OF POTTERY AND PORCELAIN OF ALCORA FROM ITS FOUNDATION,
1726, UNTIL THE BEGINNING OF THE PRESENT CENTURY.
DIRECTORS.
Dr. Joaquin Joseph de Sayas, 1727.
Joseph Ollery, 1727 to 1733.
Manuel de Molina, 1727 to 1735.
Cayetano Allue, 1727 to 1750.
Marcial Guirandeta, 1778 to 1783.
Juan Villalonga, 1789.
Pierre Cloostermans, 1789.
Domingo Abadia, 1789.
Gabriel Berenguer y Cebrian, 1789.
Josef Ferrer, 1799.
Josef Delgado, 1800.
ARTISTS.
Abella, Francisco, 1750, at Alcora.
Alvaro, Cristobal, 1750.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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