New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-12-11

POTTERY AND PoRCTIA AIN OF ALL TINfFs AND IA.
Harper & Brothers.
With the rapidly increasing taste for house
hold decorative ts country, The present volun'
VIII ne regarded 3 highly opPortUnc publication. Tie
author has aimed 20 cuudouse within convenient space
The important portions Of the history Of ceramics
which been treated ID MANY learned European works
together with notices OF the principal fabrics which
fall into the hands OF American collectors He has writ
ten suppos ton that tie re der N ignorant even
Of the rdepts o. The art aud has endeavoIed 30 give
clear account ~ the several departments 20 De OF
service 20 the p0sScsSor Of w old pieces
of family china Us well p 70 the laborioUs collector
Tac progress o bc art @; pottery in the United States
as rotated by NJ Prime furnishes store OF interesting
details soon after the settlement Of America by the
Europeans. pottery made I'm various parts Of
the country. bur artistic work attempted. our
anc- Stors used pewter and wooden dishes Pottery
was not common in America, however. until
the middle % the eighteenth century. Few Of
the people Of Revolutionary times had seen por
ecain. Wooden trcnchcrs pewter dishes. mugs, water
pitchers aud the like continued III general use until The
present century IN 1904 there several potteucs IN
Connecticut which made Jugs. butterpots jars OF an sizes,
large milkp3ns. then m common Use among the farmers
the state and other red and gray Of soft pottery
u many forms other factories sprans up di4crcnr
times ant important works IN operation I'm Bal
rmorc Trenton. Long Island CITY, and other places.
making varieties Of pottery plain and decorated, ana
o. good quality. Within the past two years
there has been M increased demand FOR the higher
qualities II decorated porcelain Foreign artists have
been employed for the decoration OF wares. and admir-
able work has been produced, though no attempt has
been made regular patterns. In regard TO the cocC
ton ~ specimens Nr Prime lays down several practical
rules which may De OF great 10 The Impractical
amateur The anecdotes which he gives from Bis own
experience pursuit Of choice porcelain very much
the point ana viii be read with interest even by per
sons outside o. the magic circle lie insists tie night
and the duty Of private judgment in TIE selection OF
specimens. boldly den1lt OF artistic tradition and APP
pgoaca,s the verge Of aesthetic hcterodoSy in calling in
question the existence o. failh standard Of taste.
Tie copioEs Illustrations OF the volume afford
>iIuctiyo study They have been selected from variety
of sources. comprising characteristic work Of different
countries and factories such collectors may hope 10
ind the.r search. i'll preference g. curious. and
superb products or tie arr. II viii add much the
q the volume 10 know that 20 large extent is
the fruit Of personal experience and affection. The
tbors collection % porcelain and pottery i Of
character. and the oIoC 90 deserved admiration from all
who have examined it. treasures L. The tribute 10 its
founder with which the preface closes the readers who
were honorcd with her acquaintance will recognize the
qualities which made her the ~ the household and
rendered her early departure a social calamity.
In all other departments" saws Mr.. Prime,
q have been compelled 70 rely on memo
rca OF European cabinets. and my own
imueriect collection, which il often referred 20
Tie Trlmuul Prime collection, which namo il bears in
memory of founder, who Tar aS know. the first
lady, and perhaps The first person in America who made
an especial study Of ceramic art. This collection has
enabled ne departments II which II l. peculiarly rich.
10 sad facts 10 the general sum Of knowledge On
tue subject Had the assistance O: her superior Utor
nation, pare taste and uueruus Judgment this would
have been much more valuable book for 20 them 1
owe al that know Of the subject. Il work
---..Ia.l ~ e. .lt,.
that memory whose constant presence has made it 4
labor % love"