View of the Russian Empire,
During the Reign of Catharine the Second, and to the Close of the Eighteenth Century.
By William Tooke, F. R. S.
Member of the Imperial Academy of Sciences and the Free Economical Society at St. Petersburg.
In three volumes. Vol. III.
The Third Edition.
Dublin: Printed by P. Wogan, No. 23, Old-Bridge.
1801
Russia has at present three. The grand imperial manufactory at St. Petersburg, that belonging to M. Volkof at Savsk, and that set up by our countryman Mr. Henry Gardner at Dmitrof, with a capital of 50,000 rubles, in 1766. That at Petersburg works chiefly for the court, costs annually above 15,000 rubles, and has 400 work-people belonging to it. Their ware has been gradually improving, and not till about 15 years ago has it been of eminent quality and beauty; the latter is to be particularly understood of the elegant modelling ofthe pieces in groups. But it must still yield the palm in regard to whiteness, durability, and painting, to many of the manufactories abroad. That at Petersburg formerly obtained its clay from the Uralian mountains, but at present it is got from the Ukraine, whence also Mr. Gardner fetches it. The quartz is brought from the mountains of Olonetz. The produce of Mr. Gardner's manufactory comes at present tolerably well into commerce, and he has even made a complete service for the court: his porcelain is cheap, has a pretty white glazing, but is not particularly substantial, and the painting will admit of improvement. None of these manufactories have succeeded in imitating, either in quality or cheapness, the blue saxon porcelain which is in such general use.
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