The title of this book describes the two extremes of ceramic invention from aesthetically beautiful and decorative works of art that graced the tables of the aristocracy to the functional silica brick that lined the smelting furnaces of industrialised nations in the 19th century designed to produce iron, copper and glass. Both of these ceramics are linked to one man, William Weston Young (1776-1847) and with his contemporaries both of these ceramic extremes became world leaders in their own right. The book traces the history of Young and his ambitions, his interactions with numerous associates and the influence these ceramics attained in 19th century society.

The book provides a sequel to the two preceding texts on Nantgarw and Swansea porcelains (also published by Springer), which cover one extreme and extends the discourse onto the other extreme, which until now has been relatively ignored despite its scientific and engineering importance. The trilogy has now therefore been completed. This book examines the historical documentation along with scientific analytical data from the last 100 years up to the present in a novel holistic forensic approach.

It will be of interest to porcelain collectors, ceramics analysts, museum ceramic curators, ceramic historians, analytical scientists, cultural heritage preservation, industrial archaeologists and industrial museums.

Autorentext

Howell Edwards, M.A., B.Sc., D.Phil., C.Chem., FRSC, is Emeritus Professor of Molecular Spectroscopy at the University of Bradford. He studied Chemistry at Jesus College, Oxford, and completed his doctorate there followed by a Research Fellowship at Jesus College, Cambridge. He then joined the University of Bradford as Lecturer in Structural and Inorganic Chemistry. In 2003, he received the Sir Harold Thompson Award from Elsevier Science for his international contributions to vibrational spectroscopy. He is the recipient of the Emanuel Boricky Medal for 2008/2009 from Charles University, Prague, for distinguished international contributions to analytical geochemistry and mineralogical analysis. He was awarded the Charles Mann Award from the US Federation of Analytical Chemical Spectroscopic Societies in 2011 for distinguished international work on the analytical applications of Raman spectroscopy. In his research career he has published over 1260 papers on Raman spectroscopy and its applications and is the co-editor of six books on Raman spectroscopy and its applications to archaeology, art and forensic analysis. He has had a lifelong interest in the works of William Billingsley, especially porcelains from the Derby, Swansea and Nantgarw factories, and has published 2 books in sole authorship with Springer, the first on Swansea and Nantgarw Porcelains: A Scientific Reappraisal which appeared in 2017, the second on Nantgarw and Swansea Porcelains: An Analytical Perspective in 2018. In addition, he has published four monographs on William Billingsley and his porcelains, entitled: William Billingsley: The Enigmatic Porcelain Artist, Decorator and Manufacturer; Nantgarw Porcelain: The Pursuit of Perfection; Swansea Porcelain: The Translucent Vision of Lewis Dillwyn: and Derby Porcelain: The Golden Years, 1780-1830. He is Honorary Scientific Adviser to the de Brecy Trust for the scientific evaluation of artworks and paintings.

Inhalt

List of Tables.- Preface.- 1: Introduction.- 1.1 References.- 2: William Weston Young: His Life.- 2.1. The Three Nantgarw China Works Auction Sales.- 2.2. Thomas Pardoe at Nantgarw.- 2.3. Porcelain manufacture at Nantgarw, 1820-1822.- 2.4.  The Birth of the Silica Refractory Brick.- 2.5. William Weston Young's Interests Post the Silica Brick Invention.- 2.6. References.- 3:   The William Weston Young Diaries.- 3.1. References .- 4: Thomas Pardoe.- 4.1. References.- 5: Samuel Walker.- 5.1. References.- 6:  Lewis Weston Dillwyn.- 6.1. Alfred Russel Wallace: A Link Persona.- 6.2. References.- 7: William Billingsley.- 7.1. References .- 8: The Dinas Silica Brick.- 8.1. History of Brickmaking.- 8.2. Refractory Fire Bricks.- 8.3. Dinas Rock Sandstone.- 8.4. The Silica Firebrick.- 8.5. An Analytical Theme.- 8.6. References.- 9: The Nantgarw Porcelain Body.- 9.1. The Nantgarw Porcelain Body Recipe .- 9.2. The Nantgarw Glazes.- 9.3. The Chemical Components of Raw Materials in Nantgarw Paste and Glaze Formulations.- 9.4. References.- 10: The Nantgarw China Works Site.- 10.1. Nantgarw Porcelain Shards: Their Origin and Analysis.- 10.2. A Prophetic Prediction.- 10.3. Nantgarw Porcelain Analysis.- 10.4. Conclusions of Analyses of Nantgarw Porcelain Shards.- 10.5. Comparison of Analytical Data.- 10.6. Analysis of Nantgarw Shards.- 10.7. Combination of Elemental and Molecular Analytical Techniques.- 10.8. SEM/EDAXS Analysis of Nantgarw Shards.- 10.9. Nantgarw Shard Glaze Analysis.- 10.10. Raman Spectroscopy of Nantgarw Porcelain Shards.- 10.11. Analytical Raman Spectroscopy.- 10.12. Nantgarw Pigments.- 10.13. References.- 11: Epilogue.- 11.1. Nantgarw Porcelain: An Invariant Composition?.- 11.2. References.- Appendix I: Transcript Letter from Flight, Barr & Barr, Royal Worcester China Works, to Samuel Walker, Dated November 12th, 1814, with Notes and Commentary.- Appendix II: Notes on the Experimental production of Swansea Porcelain Bodies and Glazes Made by Lewis Weston Dillwyn with Samuel Walker at the Swansea China Works Between 1815 and !817.- Appendix III: The Purple of Cassius, with References to the Historical Literature.- Appendix IV : Raman Spectroscopy of Nantgarw Shards and Porcelain.- Subject Index.- Glossary of terms.