Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1886-02-13
ORNAMENTAL POTTERY.

ORNAMENTAL POTTERY.
Public taste is a curious, susceptible,
and altogether ineXplicable phenome-
non. "A few years ago some Japanese
merchants and decorators ransacked
their ancient eastern treasure houses
and exhibited the choicest of their art
products at the centennial exposition
at Philadelphia. Their idea doubtless
was to open up new market for their
goods. Not only did they do this, but
they established place in beauX arts
for the Japonesque. aud in the depart
ment of decorative art they revolution
lied the taste of a people. In the
comparatively short space OF nine years
as marked a renaissance has occurred
in this respect as any that is recorded
in the history of letters or of painting.
The marvellous popularity of the
Japonesque may be noted at one eX
treme in the underglaZed decoration of
humble pie-plate, and at the other in
the costumes and antics of Mdlle
Nitouche. In the matter of interior
decoration everything has received a
touch, be it ever SO slight, from its
quaint brush, which has instantly trans
figured it.
Mural decorations, textile fabrics,
embroidery, painting, glazing, works
in silver, gold, brass and copper, all
bear unmistakable stamp of the Japon
esque. Especially is this the case with
regard to the ceramic arts, for pottery
is the great specially and the chief de-
light of the Japanese artist. The pres
ent popularity of the antique, as exem-
plified in curiOusly shaped ewers, urns,
amphore, Spanish watcr-bOttles, and
pilgrims jars, bearing quantity design
ed figures and arabesqucs, may be trac
ed directly back to the Japanese ex-
hibit at the centennial.
At first only underglazed, unglazed
pottery was sought after, but, as artists
aud manufactures became more familiar
with the Japanese principles of design,
this first rude conception disappeared,
and specimens of elegantly decorated
china and porcelain began to attract
widespread interest and admiration.
The best of this work comes from the
great factories in the vicinity of Slough
ton, in England, although many very
choice specimens come from Carlsbad,
on the continent. There is very an
cient pottery also located at Nancy, in
France, which, according to cOnnOis-
seurs, turns out the most artistic faience
in the world. 1t is made under the
supervision of a French artist named
Emile Gale The odd shapes, and the
dark, richly shaded cOlorings OF his
work make it peculiarly attractive.
AS rule. however, the English
wares are preferred to the French for
two reasons The first is that the
French china is made from the clayey
substance found in the bed of q running
stream; it is exceedingly brittle, and
is, therefore, easily broken. The Eng
lish china, on the other hand, is made
Of the same clay that is used in the
manufacture of earthenware, with an
alloy of ground bone to make it tran
slucent. 1t is tough and fibroas. and
| with ordinary care will not break or
nick easily. Then the French style of
decoration has very strong resem-
blance to the work done by amateurs
and dabblers in china painting. while
the English designs are so complicated
and ornate as to defy imitation. The
English china Is softer, too, and it
therefore takes highly colored decora-
tions more easily than the French.
The finest of this English ware is the
"Royal Worcester" which is celebrated
for its soft, elegant finish; it is uncolor-
ed, and is decorated with designs in
platinum and gold. These goods are
generally made up in Moorish and Per.
sian ever and urn shapes, as they are
considered preferable for Orna-
mental purposes to the decided vase
| shapes.
Next to the Royal Worcester ware
comes the ''Crowned Doulton," from
factories at Lambeth, England. 1t is
remarkable for its underglazing and its
celebrated etchstone WORK. The new
est thing, however, is mOttled treat
ment of the ware itself after the pat
tern Of lace, with parts of the surface
covered with designs which are color
ed in rich Indian red.
At all obscure town in Wales called
Coalport is situated the old John Rose
factory, which dates back to 1850. This
factory gained its reputation by copy
ing the cashmere shawl designs. Ii
now turns out a ware which is peculiar
for its relief decorations and designs in
raised flowers.
The Minton, Wcdgewood, and CoIe
land factories take the lead in making
useful wares ;those produced at Slough.
ton and Lambeth being purely orna-
mental.
Up to eight years ago quiet decora
tions were in demand, but gradually
brighter cOlors came into vogue and
the idea has finally eliminated in table
services arranged i'm courses. First
there Is the soup course, then the fish
course, the meat course, and so on
down to the dessert course. The first
course is very richly decorated i'm heavy
colors, but as the dessert course is ap-
preached the designs become quieter,
ending in very delicately decorated
dessert course. This is a refinement
which Lucullus himself might have
welcomed. Some of the single courses
run as high in price as $475.
In this connection the pate. surpate
ware might be mentioned. Ii was
formerly introduced into the royal
Sevres factory in France by the cele-
brated artist, 5. SolOn, who is now with
Mlnton. 1t is the most elegant faience
made al any factory in the world, single
plates frequently selling at $50.
There are many potteries also in this
country, but they manufacture usefu
wares almost exclusively. The designs,
however, turned out by the home fac
tories are the prettiest i'm the world,
and they are fast making a reputation
Tor themselves. The porcelain and
opaque china wares and services are
said to give better satisfaction for the
money paid than any other wares,
foreign or domestic.
A distinctively American art product,
which, however, bears foreign name,
is the ''italian growing vase" IL is
made of peculiar red clay, found
near North Cambridge, Mass, which is
nodded into simple, conventional
shapes, and is left unglazed The vase
i'll this form should be soaked in water
for thirty-siX hours Grass seed should
then be sprinkled over it, and if it be
left in warm, dark room 1t will be
quickly covered with a thick growth of
young grass. This will not wilt for
several months, and the process can be
repeated again and again.
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