The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1884-02-23


other country-ap almost uDbroken
chain, whose links are fine specimens of
each period Of progress in the potter's
art, from its earliest introduction down
the domestic vessels, burial urns and
incense pots Of the early Celtic inhabi-
tants found in England, Scotland and
Ireland; the mortuary slabs and the
red Samian bowl of the Roman con-
quest, dating back to "a B. c.; the Ro-
mano-British earthen pots, the early
Saxon cups and water jugs introduced
400 A. D., and mural tiles Of the Nor
man medieval that came with the con-
quest in 1865, the lead-glazed vessel Of
the sixteenth century, and the rough
stoneware Of about the same date; the
imperfect early work Of the Stafford
shire kilns, and the wedgewood wares
that stand out alone, making a period
in English art life wholly distinct from
all that came before or is likely to come
after.
The old Roman kilns can be traced
for tive nty miles along the gravel beds
and clay banks of Northamptonshire,
and works showing these were largely
exported at a very early period have
been found in France, Germany and all
along the neighboring shores of the Ne
therlands. The early Saxon ware is all
coarse, yellow and unglazed. Slight
improvement is manifest till the Nor
man conquest. Then the independent
old Saxon heart seemed so troubled in
surrendering his freedom and conform
ing his uncouth, though genial and
sincere, manner to suit the court life
of the suave and polite invader that
there is little to show ia the way of
native pottery for several hundred
years.
As relics of the thirteenth century we
find queerly ornamented tiles used in
forming the floors of churches and ca
thedrals, all showing ideas of decora-
tion and coloring borrowed from the
Eastern nations, brought back probably
by the few fortunate Crusaders whose
bodies were not left prey to jackals
and hyenas nor bones to bleach before
the walls of the holy city Of Jerusalem.
The most perfect remains of this stage
of art history are found in Crudens, at
Ely, or Chertsey Abbeys in Surrey, or
more elaborated in Malmsbury Abbey
and Malvern.
After the rude earthen wares and
lead glazes that soon followed, Holland
sent to England in the seventeenth
century specimens of delf- or delft
her most famous ware. Workmen
came, too, and settled about Lambeth
and Fulham These Staffordshire pot
teries, comprising Tunstall, Busalem,
Cambridge, Shelton, ,Longport, Fenton,
Stoke-on-Trent, Lambeth, Surry,
DELPHI, Fulham, Strusia, and a number
of other small villages connected by
their trade and clay banks for distance
of ten miles, and the oldest in England
Here work began as early as the Roman
conquest.
OF the period when Holland manu-
facturers were introduced there exists
a peculiar drinking cup called the Tyg.
These were labor saving vessels so faI
as concerned dish-washing, as well as
money-saving as far as regarded nun.
bers. There was a convenience if moi
a necessity in four handles, since these
Tygs were meant to be alternately
slipped from by at least four genial ale.
loving Saxons.
Then, too, were made many posset
cups, preserved in such numbers to ouI
day from the rarity of using them.
The drink, or mess, called posset was
never made except at Christmas, and
then of shot ale, milk, sugar, spices,
slices of bread or oat cake, +" into which
was dropped a coin and the mother Is
wedding ring. 1t was eaten with q
spoon, each member of the family help.
ing himself in turn.
In 1860 the history of English pottery
was made memorable by an accident Ia
modern Martha an humble kitchen
girl. A coarse earthen pot, containing
BRINE, boiled over and dry, became even
red hot, while she possibly was enjoying
the jokes Of some admiring swain in
the back yard. A curious thing came
of 1.-THE vessel was found covered ovel
with shining glaze; all this meant
doubtless reprimand to the needless
Martha; but 1t meant as well triumph
to the English fathers. The queer re.
suit of the accident wa told from house
to house, though the girls name seem:
to have been forgotten till it reached
the Burslem kilns. Here many another
pot was allowed to boil over purposely
and there was offered in England shortly
after that salt-glazed pottery, known il
the households from that day to this a.
Crouchware.
About this time was made in England
the first successful imitation of the red
ware of China-coeval with the intro
ductiOn by Astbury of what is known
in commerce as the 'agate" or tortoise.
shell pottery. 1t was about this period
that another mechanical contrivance
of Importance In this country in this
art became known. A practical potter
visiting the capital of France learned
that plaster of Paris could be success.
fully employed as molds, heretofore cut
in England out of hard material, usually
metals.
1t is an acknowledged fact that the
ceramic art in England owes its growth
and advancement largely to women,
who could neither be ridiculed mol per
suaded out of their passion for collec,
ting whatever curious piece of old china
that came within their reach. The col
lections thus made became In time moi
only monuments of individual tastes
but the basis of interesting museums Of
art, where the potter, too poor to quit
his work and study in foreign countries
had perfect models of all ages and ma,
tions for a mere trifle laid bare for his
investigation.
STUFFINa.-To make a good stuffiug
for turkeys or other fowls and veal ,choI
finely one-quarter of pound of suet
mix with it twice the quantity OF bread
crumbs, large spoonful of parsley, a
teaspoonlul of thyme and mar Ioram
mixed, one-eighth of nutmeg, some
grated lemon-peel, salt and pepper, and
bind the whole with TWO eggs. A tea
spoonful of finely shred shallot or on
ion may be added at pleasure.
PUDDING made of cracked wheat is
very agreeable and nourishing. To one
Il u