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Bassett, Sara Ware, 1872-1968

"The Story of Porcelain"

He did much to perpetuate the industry
and keep up its standard. During his time no piece with an
imperfection in it was allowed to go out from the factory."
"Was Sevres the only famous ware the French people made?"
"It is undoubtedly the most celebrated," replied Mr. Croyden, "but
there are now many other fine porcelains made in France. For example
at Limoges, where in 1775 pate tendre was made, there is a very
extensive porcelain plant founded in 1840 by David Haviland, an
American, from which quantities of pate dure or genuine porcelain for
the American market are annually turned out. Much of the other French
china, however--dainty, exquisite, and artistic as it is, is pate
tendre. It is of course sold in quantities, but it is very perishable.
There is also a so-called porcelain made from a mixture of clays and
phosphates--a ware known to the trade as _bone china_. But of course
this variety is not real porcelain. You see that much of what we call
porcelain is not porcelain at all when you judge it by this strict
standard. It is nevertheless very useful, and a hungry boy like you
can manage nicely to eat his breakfast off it and be quite as
happy.


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