Parian Porcelain - What is it? Part II

From Hobbies August 1942 by Thelma Shull:

Continued -

One need only glance at a list of English potters who made Parian, many of whom exported large quantities to the United States, why it is still to be found in homes scattered over the country. Many American firms also made this ware.

At Copeland and Garrett's factory, they called their fine Parian figures and busts Statuary Porcelain. It had a silky texture and a slight glaze. Copeland made a wedding service for the Prince and Princess of Wales, Edward and Alexandra, and the large compote was upheld by four Parian figures representing the four continents: Europe, Asia, Africa and America. Matching smaller fruit dishes were made of soft porcelain, richly gilded, were each ornamented with a Parian figure. These represented Earth, Air, Fire and Water.

The Minton firm at Stoke-upon-Trent, England, exhibited their Parian ware at the Exhibition of 1851 and again at the United States International Exhibition of 1878. IN 1878 they were making both white and colored Parian.

With a radius of about ten miles in the northern part of the County of Stafford, England, were located the towns known as The Potteries, including Cobridge, Etruria, Burslem, Fenton, Tunstall, Longport, Shelton, (at one time called Hanley), Lane End, and several others. It was here that so much Parian, Majolica and Ironstone china was made and sent to America between 1850 and 1900.

Part III to come soon...

I was just wondering, the four continents? In 1942, we did know the world and that there 7 continents. Were these just the four that England still had empires in?