Chief among the direct copyists was Henry Palmer. He had a spark of originality, as we have seen, anticipating Wedgwood by some five years in applying bas-reliefs to his black vases, and the sprinkled marbled ware touched with gold was another success of his, but here his ingenuity ended. He must have been a great thorn in Wedgwood's side, for he is said to have procured every new pattern on its appearance and copied it. Voyez, who was a modeller and not a potter, assisted in this nefarious traffic; but Voyez, in spite of his rascality, was a clever modeller, and struck out a new line in his rustic or "Fair Hebe" jugs. He was employed at one time by Wedgwood, and probably by Ralph Wood. Voyez specialised on the intaglio seals, and added Wedgwood and Bentley's names to his handiwork. On other intaglios, equally imitative, and on vases is the name PALMER or the initials H. P.
Wedgwood himself--as do collectors nowadays--was obliged to acknowledge the fine quality of the work of Palmer and of Neale, for he admitted to Bentley that they were "serious competitors," and he evidently feared their activity, as he says, "We must be progressing or we shall have them treading on our heels."
The sagacity of Wedgwood's remark is obvious, for an examination of the Neale-and-Palmer jasper and other ware reveals an amazing mastery of technique. It is finely potted and well balanced in ornament and design. If it were not for the impressed mark such vases might readily pass as Wedgwood. It is not improbable that in the middle nineteenth century the names both of Adams and Palmer and Neale were ground out of the bases of some of their finer vases by ingenious persons, who passed them off as the work of Wedgwood.
TURNER STONEWARE TEAPOT, UNGLAZED. With ornament in relief and classic figure subjects. Mark impressed TURNER. (Height 4-1/2 inches.)
TURNER STONEWARE JUG, UNGLAZED. With decoration in relief of archery. Silver lid and rim. Mark impressed TURNER. (Height 9 inches.)
(_In the collection of Mr. John Watson Bradley._)]
=Marks--Palmer, Neale, Wilson.=--In regard to marks, H. PALMER or PALMER. HANLEY is the earliest--sometimes only the initials H. P. About 1776 he entered into partnership with his brother-in-law, and sometimes the mark NEALE alone is found and often NEALE & CO. These marks are usually in circles; on one piece appears I. NEALE, with the word HANLY (spelt wrongly) beneath. About 1778 Robert Wilson joined the firm, and after 1788 his name alone appears. Stoneware jugs--drab ground with cupids in relief--baskets, and cream-ware are often found marked WILSON surmounted by a crown with the letter C above. Sometimes this is present without the name. Wilson, too, is remembered for having introduced chalk into the body of his cream-ware, which was of exceptional value in whitening the ware and rendering it more adapted for under-glaze printing. At Wilson's death, in 1802, David Wilson succeeded to the pottery, and the firm shortly after became D. Wilson & Sons. These Wilsons made pink lustre, similar to that of Wedgwood, and also silver lustre, upon some of which the name of Wilson is impressed. This brings the factory down to 1820, when it passed into other hands.