Extraordinary Earths: Ball Clay, China Clay, Soapstone & China Stone from Cornwall, Devon & Dorset 1700-1914
Description
Ronald Perry & Charles Thurlow, SB, 320pp
A history of the ball clay, china clay, soapstone and china stone industries of the West Country from the eighteenth century to the First World War, this work outlines the role of these minerals in the technical evolution of ceramics, cotton manufacture, paper making and other products such as ultramarine, alum, linoleum and miners' safety fuse. There was some controversy over the use of china clay. Though the use of clay to dilute ground flour was illegal, some millers broke the law and were penalised. Public concern made the use of china clay for sizing and finishing cotton goods suspect and led to the feeling that clay was meant for use in ceramics only, reflecting biblical comments. The discreet sale of china clay for filling paper arose because of competition between papermakers, who also used 'secret' whitening agents to improve their clay.
A history of the ball clay, china clay, soapstone and china stone industries of the West Country from the eighteenth century to the First World War, this work outlines the role of these minerals in the technical evolution of ceramics, cotton manufacture, paper making and other products such as ultramarine, alum, linoleum and miners' safety fuse. There was some controversy over the use of china clay. Though the use of clay to dilute ground flour was illegal, some millers broke the law and were penalised. Public concern made the use of china clay for sizing and finishing cotton goods suspect and led to the feeling that clay was meant for use in ceramics only, reflecting biblical comments. The discreet sale of china clay for filling paper arose because of competition between papermakers, who also used 'secret' whitening agents to improve their clay.
