SEVRES VASE.

M. Labarte informs us,* that although at an early period the raw materials were imported from theEast, they always arrived in a state of fine powder. Upon the composition of this powder some light wasthrown by the information collected in China by the celebrated Jesuit , Fran5ois Xavier d’Entrecolles.f It was,however, reserved for European chemists to recognise the materials and the proportions in which theywere mingled; and, above all, the sources from which similar materials could be procured. Many savansattempted to resolve this problem; but it was only under the auspices of Frederick Augustus the First,Elector of Saxony, at the commencement of the eighteenth century, that the desired result was obtained.The celebrated Bottcher was born on the 4th of February, 1682, at Schlaiz, in Yoigtland.J His earlieststudies in chemistry were directed, as was usual at that period, to the mysterious refinements of thetransmutation of metals, and the composition of elixirs; and the fame he had acquired at an early agefor his knowledge on these subjects, caused him to be brought to Dresden , and placed, in association withthe distinguished chemist Walter de Tschirnhaus, in the Royal Laboratory. Thus installed, Bottcher turnedhis attention to the production of porcelain; and, in 1708, he attained complete success in the fabrication ofthe celebrated red-ware known to collectors by the name of its inventor. This material is not strictly aporcelain, but rather an extremely perfect red earthenware. It was at this period that accident led to thediscovery which had defied the labours of generations of students. Jean Schorr, a tradesman, in riding atAue, near Schneeberg, remarked that his horse trod into a soft, white earth. Struck with its appearance,he reduced some of it to a powder, and successfully introduced it at Dresden as a substitute for the flourthen in use for the immense perruques commonly worn. Bottcher’s servant employed the new powder oneday in dressing the wig of his master, who, remarking that it was unusually heavy, questioned his domesticas to the origin of the powder. Learning that it was an earth, he examined the material minutely, and tohis great delight discovered that it was no other than the long-sought material, kaolin. Availing himself ofthis discovery, Bottcher produced, in 1709, a perfectly white and transparent porcelain, possessing all thecharacteristics of the Chinese. His success led to the formation of the celebrated establishment at Meissen ,from which the principal Courts of Europe were long supplied with imitations of Oriental china. For alength of time every effort was made to keep the material and the processes secret; but, in spite of everyvigilance, it gradually extended into the different countries of Europe . In 1720, Stobzel, foreman of the worksat Meissen, succeeded in reaching Vienna , and establishing in that town the celebrated manufactory whichhas ever since remained under Imperial patronage.

At this period, as we have shown in our notice of Plate XIV., the French chemists, aided by theimportant investigations of Reaumur, had arrived at a beautiful imitation of china, by means of the artificialbody known as pdte-tendre. In 1761 the French Government made a contract with Pierre Antoine Hannon^of Strasburg, for the acquisition of a knowledge of the Saxon processes, but with little beneficial result toFrance, as the primary ingredients were wanting. In 1765, Guettard discovered a locality near Alenin, fromwhich both kaolin and feldspar could be procured. From some imperfection, however, he was unable fromthese materials to fabricate a white porcelain; all the specimens of his execution being distinguished by a greytint. Chance, however, coming again to the assistance of science, brought to light the source of an abundantsupply of the greatest purity. Madame Darnet, the wife of a surgeon of Saint-Yreix, having remarked in aravine in the neighbourhood of that town a peculiar white earth, fancied that it might supply the place ofsoap in washing. Her husband, w r ho had probably heard of the demand for china-clay, took some smallquantities of the earth to a druggist at Bordeaux, by whom they were forwarded to the celebrated chemist ,Macquer , who immediately recognised in them the much-wished-for kaolin.

After having verified, in 1768, by a series of conclusive experiments, the importance of the supplies obtain-able from Saint-Yreix, Macquer established the fabrication of hard porcelain at Sevres , where it was soon carriedon with great activity. From that period the manufacture of porcelaine dure and porcelcdne tendre wereconducted together in the royal establishment, until 1805, when the latter was entirely superseded.

In a subsequent notice we shall offer a few remarks on the recent history and productions of thiscelebrated manufactory.

* “ Description des Objets d’Art cpii composent la Collection Debruge Dumenil.” Paris , 1847.

t “Treatise on the Origin, &c. of the Manufacture of Porcelain and Glass .”—Lardners Cyclopcedia, vol. xxvi. p. 9.

+ Vide Dr. Gustav Klemni, “ Die Koiiiglich Sachsische Porcellan und Gefasse-Samlung.” Dresden .