The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-07-14
NOME HJ.t2 UUOIS.


tscful hints to Tho curious in Cermi's would
b. q light task for an export. hut TO mako book
about snucrrs AMI tcupot. which shall captivHtc
nr general reader and command "A ulacc in
genuine literature Ia no ordinary achievement
ltths has boon don" by the lady author w"
venture To take tho sex for grantcd.-ot The
emma Hnht's Chb tIIarpcrsl or thu trchnI-
cnl requirements and acunicn which are no less
essential 10 such an undertaking than the
power ~ felicitOus exposition. which form in
f't tho MIRO of tho work there would seem to
BE- no lack In this instance. since they ARE
vOuchpd Tor in n preface from tho hand ot
known counosscur. Mr. W. G. Prime. TIL"
grace ard livclincss Of tho authors style
nrH qualities which Ito unon tho sur
Taco. nud wo gro not ulo impressed
10y her exhaustive acquaintance with what may
b. called tho anocdotical record Of tho pottcr's
art. Under the guisc OF rccountinR the pro-
co.dines and discussions " club OF amateurs
shn has managed to nfuso good deal OF
human interest into n somewhat didactic
ihouo, and while sho docs not assume 10 super
sc,c such authoritative hut ponderous guides
~ DeHngc. JacuucmHri and Beckwith. aims to
lisb so fait prospect into n collectors voca-
ton az shall ehticc her readers to enter into IT,
Bat tho capital merit Of the book Ia the effective
exhibition II tho historical and literary aspects
OF ceramics. and to this we would especially
direct attention. We ought further to premise
however. that the numerous fac-smilcs Of
specimens which illustrate tho text are executed
with care and that In other ways the publishers
have strivcn TO h,stow fitting dress ON dainty
composition.
II is pointed out by the author ms q curious
Ia that no an lent pottery Of the Hebrews has
been found. although illusions 10 the ceramic
mt are not wanting In the sacred writings. Thus
ono Of the Psalms. referring 10 the Egyptian
captivity and dciyerance. speaks Of the relief
Of Israel his shoulder from the burden. his
hand from the pots " from which It seems prob
nile that In Goshen the Jews worked in pot
tories ma slaves In Chronicles some royal
pottery works are mentioned. apparently in the
charge " guild" These were the pottcrs and
those that dwe.t among plants and hedges there
thoy dwclt with the King forhis work" TO. too.
st was to n pottery that Jeremiah was sent to
learn lesson. Arise and go down to the pot
t"r's house. and there will cause thee to hear
my words Then went down to the pottcr's
nous" AMI behold he wrought q work on the
wheels. And the vessel that he made OF clay was
narred In the hand Of the potter. 50 he made
1t again another vessel rs seemed good to
the potter 90 make it," And in Proverbs we
road Of n po,sherd covered with silver dross.
which may be either pottery or earthen ware
laced with the familiar silver lustre. But the
7 a
ceramics is passage in the book Of the Wisdom
Of the Son Of Sirach. which goes at some length
Into technical details. SO doth the potter sit
ling at his work. and turning tho wheel about
with his feet. who IL Away carefully set at his
work. and maketh all his work by number. He
fHshioneth the clay with his arm and boweth
down his strength before his feet: he APP
piieth himself to lead ii over and he is dligent
10 make clean his furnace" Ii seems. how
tver that the word " lead is a mere conjecture
81 the English translators. who. writing about
a. d. 1000. conceived lend glaze to be the
proper varnish for an earthen vase, whereas
~ nr"ek term olhy lup'les lustrous surface.
WIN 'he rehHlous history ana customs OF
w"cl h"''"ns po"sr' Is 'h''lhH.e' 'ohhec.eu'
are io'hinucu' ioi eA"ihpie' now much nus
w." uVne III 'ne why u, incorporation lor inc
hotn'rlc poems ny ureek Vus's' vi inc thou-
s"nus oi siec'nichs oi heNehic ceramics now
tonee'eu III museums ana whose pictured sur
iaecs I1'eai 'le leel.hes ana conceptions when
snvci'u nv ~" ""n' "ie ~ 'ne "reeN rice
""''"' ",N i.'S''"' s'sninVnhce.
nv '"u'oS anu ''.o ""',n.u'cs Vi Atnehe
" D'o"'ao7 anu Ap"iou'e "ero rs coh-
~ ~ "N ~ " "'"' man ''"'i oH
,,ti -. ~ ~, ~ WIZ ii,
-, ,f ~, y. % Az. "u" '"o ''i' y,
w. - y" '"o WIN VI VI" iieuir'al
49, "".u ". V"'l9'u0'. 'nuevu' NO" UNI
10 20 - "e'o '''Ve' u''n''s''V oni'
-, 40 ~ ."''u' "'S'' We u
l"V " - ~ '"o "u'.'ol asSeiu,n 'na' ior
i''1'se ",'u i"'''''''0 N"""'V"sc ~ 'ic,' reiis-
'"' We 'ou'u Dou'r aiioIu W ioSe 'ne
"i'""S9 yuan ."c po''oIy Vi Tue wrecks. lhesuo-
!eN p'''u'tu" ny 'nc po..er sho" Wha' me mass oil
tie p'"p'p lAeu anu oeheNeu' anu III 'hls respect
my are horr "u7'"or'hy 'hah 'he phlosopnic
n's'oIl"hs' appears tha' the admiration Tor
t"o ceramic "r' vi I's nlsher iornH' winch had
Deem eharHcteristlc Hellenic TRAIT died out I'M
Ger the roman empire although earthenware
WAS hHue LOT thousand purposes OF utility.
ana tho poorer classes continued 10 use it, in
uudecorated styles, for household ends. OF the
Romans themselves it is worth noting that W
10 u certain date they looked upon ancient pot
terry with veneration, and regarded some OF
their terra cot,as. especially the QuAdriga OF
Veil, ms safeguards Of the CITY. For n longtime,
moreover although gold and silver vessels
were permitted for private entertainments is,
carthenwnre was esteemed most proper for re-
ligious ceremonies
The account Of Chinese pottery presented in a