Page:Walks in the Black Country and its green border-land.pdf/136

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Walks in the Black Country

working days to the week, then this establishment must work up 17,555 pounds of silver, and an amount of gold of equal value in a year. And, what is a fact of great importance, every ounce of this silver and gold is lost to the world. It is doubtful if a pound's weight of all the tons which the manufactory has solved and deposited has been saved to be used over again for any purpose whatever. The silver or gold coating is worn away and disappears in the course of years. The same is the case with all the gold-beaters of the world. The acres of gold-leaf they hammer out for gilt work are all lost, as much as the sunshine of a past year.

About 1,000 persons are employed in the establishment, who probably represent as much highly-trained genius and skill as was ever brought together under the same roofage. First in the high art department stands M. Morel Ladeuil, a pupil of the celebrated Antoine Vechte. This distinguished artist in repoussé or raised work has attained an eminence which has often been recognized and honoured. He received a gold medal at the Paris Exhibition for specimens of exquisite conception and execution. It will serve to give some approximate idea of the amount of labour bestowed on some of the specimens of this raised work to examine one exhibited at the Messrs. Elkington and Co.'s. It is a silver vase, which will