Spain
Madrid—Buen Retiro. This manufactory (Soft Paste), called “La China,” was founded by Charles III. in 1759, in the gardens attached to his palace, El Buen Retiro, at Madrid. It was organised by workmen whom he brought with him from Naples. The early ware produced here consequently resembles that of Capo di Monte.
The royal manufactory was taken possession of by the French, and the place converted into a fortification, which surrendered in 1812 to the Duke of Wellington. It was subsequently blown up by Lord Hill when the misconduct or perfidy of Ballasteros compelled him to evacuate Madrid.
Ferdinand VII., on his restoration, recreated La China, at La Mancha, once a villa of the Alva family on the Manzanares; but this factory also has ceased to exist, at least as regards artistic merit.
Alcora. The Comte de Laborde, in his View of Spain, in 1808, says, “On ne fait de Porcelaine (en Espagne) qu’à Alcora et à Madrid: celle d’Alcora est très commune, on en fait très peu.” In confirmation of this assertion M. Chas. Davillier, on a visit to Spain, saw an engraving of a furnace for baking porcelain with this inscription: “Modele de four pour la porselene naturele, fait par Haly pour M. le Comte d’Aranda Alcora, 29 Juin 1756.” The works are also noticed by Don Antonio Ponz, Viaje de España, in 1793.