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Wrotham Ware
At Wrotham, in Kent, a small manufactory was at work in 1688, and produced the earliest slip decorated ware. This was a design produced by pouring through a small pipe clay diluted with water to the consistency of batter; the slip flowed in tracery, and was dropped in dots of a contrasting color on to the ground of the piece, forming an effective decoration. In our own day wedding and other iced cakes are similarly ornamented with designs and tracery in diluted sugar pressed through a pipette.
Some specimens of this ware are found with initials, names, and dates in slip. Mr. Solon gives the following list of forms generally used in “The Art of the Old English Potter”
“The Dish, in every variety of size and ornamentation. The Tyg, a tall cup, which was enriched by an unlimited number of handles. The Piggin, often finely decorated: this is a small and shallow vessel, provided with a long handle for the purpose of ladling out the liquor brewed in Tyg. The Candlestick, found most frequently in the South of England, and often adorned like the tyg with numerous handles. The Cradle, almost peculiar to the Midland Counties. The Jug and Puzzle Jug, both plain and fanciful.”
Some of the inscriptions on this ware are very interesting and quaint.
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