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POrcelaine, Fayence, China, or fine Earthen∣Ware, is enamel'd with our White Stuff, which we have already prescribed for Metals; and its Painting the same, and of such Colours as we have proposed for Enamels in the foregoing Book, and this obliges us to discourse thereof in this our eight Book.
The Custom of enameling on Ware, is of greater Antiquity than that on Metals, for in the time of Porcenna, who generously undertook the Restau∣ration of Tarquin to the Roman Government in the Consulate of Valer. Publicola and Horat. Pulvilius Ann. Mund. 3444, five hundred and four Years before the coming of Jesus Christ, or thereabouts, the practice of enameling on Were was used in the Estates of that Prince; and what gives us very good reason to be∣lieve this is the Name Porcelaine, which has an Affi∣nity to Porcenna, tho altered by the corruption of Time, so it is also called fayence from Fayence in the Dutchy of Vrbin, where in the Time of Michael Ange, and Raphael Vrbain, this Art was practised.
And as the Secrets of Nature are daily more and more discovered, so has time employed the Invention of Man to improve this, and make it more excellent, not only condescending to enameling, but proceed∣ing also to Painting and pourtraying thereon several Curiosities, to which at length is added the Orna∣ments of Gilding.
These Pieces of Ware are of a very general use o∣ver all the World, as for Ornaments over Chimney∣pieces, on Cabinets and Tables, or Boards. The choicest come in us from China, and next to those are done at St. Clowd and Rouen; but there are very good made in Holland, at 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in Italy, and several other places in France.
The painting and enameling on these, is what we are properly obliged to take notice of in our Art; however we shall slightly touch upon the Compositi∣on and Molding the Ware, and for this we will pre∣scribe fine and delicate Methods sufficient enough to answer the Satisfaction of such as employ themselves in this Art, and of those Persons whose Curiosity leads them to enquire after things, whereof they are not already informed.