The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1881-03-30
Mrs. Nichols's Pottery.
Cincinnati Gazette ]


Everybody has heard more or less of Mrs
Nichols's pottery, and while few are conver-
SAINT with the full scope of her plans, many
more, knowing its protector only as woman
OF high social position, an heiress to the Long,
worth millions, fancied it pretty playhouse
affair, where Limoges vases, plaques and Gre
clan jars alone had place, and the owner might
light the furnace fires Of her kiln with wisp
of banknotes if it pleased her.
A visit yesterday to the pottery, which is
now in full operation, demonstrates that it is
no artistic experiment to divert rich woman't
ennui, but business venture of the staunch-
est sort, entered into to supply want which
everybody confesses to exist-table ware
which shall combine cheapness and utility
with beauty of form. To make thing of
common use at the same time thing of beauty
is the highest aim of the art decorator. In the
Nichols ware this theory is pat into tangible
shape. There is no flourish or lavish decora-
tion, but each piece which goes into the kiln is
as perfect in shape and as exquisite in finish
as the craft of the potter can make it. Every
precaution that the utmost skill can suggest is
used in the preparation of the clay, no expense
in time or money is spared in the designing of
the moulds, and the finest manipulative skill is
brought to the simple decoration of each piece
The result is variety of articles adapted to
the uses OF everyday life as perfect as can De
produced-vessels adapted to the homliest
purposes, but as graceful in outline as the
slender amphora or the rotund Hydra of the
Greeks.
Among the most generally attractive pieces
are the tea sets in four pieces after the Elder
Brewster pattern. These are shown in a sage
in na of fIa ra1
clay, in creamy with bands of pale blue, in yell
low and a creamy white The edges are beaded
and the bodies relieved at top and base by an
incised band, in pattern known as the double
key border, making very chaste and effective
decoration. These sets are finished in gloss
and in smear glaze, or they may be bought in
the biscuit ready for the decorators brush or
tool, and when painted. returned to the kiln
for final firing, or they may be had in the
wet clay ready for the Limoges treatment. The
same is true OF all pieces made in the works.
They may be had in any stage, from the wet
clay as it leaves the hand of the potter to the
finished piece ready for the table, and every
facility for firing is offered, either in under or
over glaze, biscuit or printing, at the choice of
the buyer. There is no obligation at all to
take set; if you covet cream jug, take it
and leave the other pieces; or if you disapprove
of the jug, take the other pieces and leave that.
Mrs. Nichols's mind is not of the commercial
sort that would force anybody to take set of
anything.
The line of what our English friends call
"jugs and the American cousin designates as
pitchers" is altogether admirable. Milk jugs,
water jugs, beer jugs, claret jugs, chocolate
jugs, and many OTHERS from a pint to a gallon
capacity, copy shapes to name which is to rem
der description superhuors. The Haviland
and Doulton shapes are conspicuous among
the larger ones and the smaller copy Etruscan
and Roman ideas. One style has the graceful
Etruscan handle and the broad lip like flower
petal, following designs favored in the rarest
Oriental porcelains Another copies famous
Doulton shape, the "melon" BODY, with plain,
deep band at the neck. Many show the ridgy
lines of the potters "coursing' half their depth,
the upper half being quite plain, and seeming
to set into the lower part as in wicker basket.
All these admirable shapes are furnished at
price scarcely in excess Of what is asked for
Rockingham or stone china. Bowls in many
graceful shapes are another speciality. Some
with deep foot and flaring top copy shapes IA
miliar in silver plate; others are barrel shape,
zoned about with hoops of earthern-ware. The
| tubs are perhaps the prettiest of ala beaded
border finished top and bottom, the open ears
| serving as handles. The swell thing at the
pottery, however, is a big yellow tub for the
footbath, copied after cedar tub exactly, with
au earthern bucket with brass mountings en-
suite. Watercoolers are still other handsome
novelties-deep jars holding an earthern recep-
tacle for water. Several of these Mrs. Nichols
has given touch of decoration in that free,
| broad style which marks her work.
The Cincinnati pottery, as it has been named,
is practical pottery, complete in every detail,
| furnished with the latest improvements in
machinery and equipped with a full corps of
! skilled workmen In every department.; work
ing pottery that stands on its own merits, and
proposes as its raison d'etre to make its produc-
| tions preeminent in shape, fabric and finish
The kilns are built with the greatest care, and
are adapted for overglaze, underglaze, biscuit
and printing. Very great attent tion is paid to
the glazing and burning of decorative ware as
speciality OF the pottery, and very gratifying
results have been attained. A kiln is drawn
once and sometimes twice a week, and careful
experiments are in constant progress.