The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1886-01-08
ORNAMENTAL WARE.
GROWING TASTE or THE PEOPLE
FOR DECORATED POTTERY.
Marvellous Popularity of the Japanesquo
English Wares and French-Designs
Turned Out by Our Home Fact
ories-Potter at Work.
TChicago News.l

and decorators ransacke1 their eastern
treasure HOUSES AMI exhibited the choicest
OF their art pro iucts at the centennial ex-
po ition at PniIa lelphia. The idea doubt
less was to open up a now marka5 for their
goods. No only did they do this, but they
established place in beaux art; Tor the
Japanesqus. and in the department. OF dec
orative art they revolutionizsd tine tasts of
people. In the comparatively short space
of nine years as marked a Renaissance has
occurred in this respect as any that is re-
corded in the history of letters or Of paint
ing.
The marvellous popularity of the Japan
eque may be noted at one extreme in the
underglazsi decoration OF q humble pie
plate, and at the other in the costumes and
antics of Mdlle Nitouche In the matter
of interior decoration everything has re-
ceivsi touch, be it ever SO slight from its
quaint brush which has instantly transfig-
ured it. The present popularity of the an
tique, as exemplifel in curiously shaped
ewers, urns, amphor@. Spanish water
bottles, and pilgrims jars, bearing
quantity y-designed figures and arabesques.
may be traced directly back to the Japan
csc exhibit at the centennial
ARTISTS AND MANUFACTURERS.
terry was sought after, but, as artists and
manufacturers bscams more familiar with
the japanese principles of design, this first
rude conception disappeared, and specimens
Of telsgantly-decoratei china and porcelain
began TO attract widespread interest and
admiration. The best of this work comes
from the great factories in the vicinity OF
Stoughton, in England, although many
very choice specimens come from Carl bad,
on the continent There is very ancient
pottery also located at Nancy, in France.
which, according to conn oisseurs, turns out
the most artistic faience in the world. Its
made under the supervision Of q French
artist named Emile Gale. The odd shapes,
and the dark richly-shaded colorings of his
work make it peculiarly attractive.
As a 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 running stream; it is exceedingly brit
tie, and is therefore easily broken. The
English china, on the other hand, Is made
of the same clay that is made in the manu-
facture Of earthenware, with an alloy OF
ground bone to make it translucent 1t is
tough and fbrous, and with ordinary care
will not break or nick easily. Then the
French style of decoration has very strong
resemblance 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 decorations more easily tLan
the French
Inc finest OF this English ware is the the
"R yal Worcester which is celebrated for
its soft, elegant finish; it is uncolored, ard
is decorated with designs in platinum and
gold. Next to the Royal Worcester war1,
comes the Crowned Doulton," from the
factories at Lambeth England. It is re-
markable for its underglaztng and its cele-
bratel etch-stons work. The he west thing,
however, is a notified treatment OF tie ware
itself after the pattern of lace with parts OF
the surface covered with designs which are
colored in rich Indian red. At an obscure
town in Wales called Coalport is situated
the old John Rose factory, which dates back
to 1859. This factory gained its reputation
by copying the cashmere shawl designs 1t
now surns out ware which is peculiar for
its relief decorations AMI designs in raised
flowers. The Minton, Wedgewood and Cope.
lani factories take the lead in making use
full wares, those produced at Stoughton and
Lambeth being purely ornamental
P0TTERIES IN THIS COUNTRY.
There are many pottsries also in this
country, but they manufacture useful
wares almost exclusively. The designs,
however, turned out by the home factorie
are the prettiest in the world, and they are
fast making q reputation for 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 Amer
lean art product, which, however, bears
foreign nams is the "Italian growing vase"
1t is made Of peculiar red clay, founl
near North Cambridge. Mass, which is
molded into simple. conventional shapes,
and Is left unglazsd Toe vase in this form
should be soaked in water for thirty six
hours. Grass seed should then be sprinkled
over it. ami il it be left in warm dark
room it will be quickly covered with
thick growth of young grass. This will not
wilt for several months, AMI the process
can be repeated again and again.
So popular have ceramics become in Chi
cago that pottsry has been ESTABLISHED
here which turns out great deal OF very
creditable ware. Underglazsl faience ware
and decorations in paste are done at this
pottery, although good deal Of Limoges
faience Is also turned out A mineral clay
brought from Ohio is used in tae work. 1t
arrives, of course, in nu ie stats, AMI it
takes some tims to reduce it to proper
form. 1t is first "waihsp in q plungsr uu-
til it is dissolved. Then it is run through a
fine silk lawn which catches all the impuri-
ties, in the shape of pebbles AMI grit. and
leaves the pure clay. This is allowed to
settle i'm a vat until the water rises to the
top. This is then skinned of, leaving
the clay about the consistency Of putty.
A fire is kindled under it. which svaporatss
any remaining moisture AMI the clay is
ready for use.
The potter then abats out" the clay, which
he uses like a sheet OF pie-crust, and by
means OF plaster Of paris moli forms into
any desired shape The plaster absorbs
the moisture In the clay. AMI the form is
thereby simply 'shrunk out" Of the mold.
The shape Is yet soft, and in this condition
it passes into the hanis Of the decorator. It
may be decorated in several ways. It may
be painted with mineral color, which is
mixed with soft clay, or Slip" TO give it a
body which viii neutralizs with the clay
while burning, or flowers may be modelled
In relief upon it, or it may be carved
There are three kinds Of carving-relief,
intaglio, and what is called "tracing,n on
picked background.
After passing through the decorative
process the form is carefully dippei into
vat of glazs--a chemical composition the
combination of which is a secret This
gives the finish or surface. The piece must
then be allowed to dry thoroughly, for,
should it contain any moisture when put
into the kiln. steam would be generated and
the form broken When dry the form is
subiectei to fierce hest for eightaen Lours
Ia q bricked-up kiln. an when it comes Out
Of tbs furnace it is underglazsd Iaience
A Sure Cure.
Ia