The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-04-18
SPANISH POTTERY.
Pretty Things for Decorative Purposes
Moorish Water Jars.

Pretty Things for Decorative Purposes
Moorish Water Jars.
There are few styles of pottsry more
effective for decorative purposes thar
some OF the rude wares made by the
Spanish and Portuguese peasantry and
imported by few houses in this city,
The blue and white Spanish ware is
found in water-bottles with cups; huge,
unwieldy cups and saucers; plates, vases
in old Moorish shapes, water jars and
other pieces. The color of this ware is
nearer to the blue of old Holland Delft
than anything now made. The decora-
ton on some of the vases and on the
hanging water bottles, which come in
fiat, round canteen shapes, when in fine
arabesque patterns of lilies is especially
effective. Such hanging bottles may
be made the receptacles of a bunch of
graceful dried grasses, or may hold in
water growing ivy. Small pitchers of
this ware, charming vases for a cluster
OF crimson roses, are only fifteen cents;
wash-bowls and pitchers are So, and the
hanging bottles and vases are $1.5O up
ward. The red glazed Spanish wares,
decorated in slight conventional style,
have been readily sold to people ofrefned
taste, because of their odd and quaint
appearance. The pretty porridge bowls
and saucers which sell at Is and 20 cents
each were used last summer on elegant
breakfast tables at Newport for oatmeal
and other grains. The wash-bowls and
pitchers which come in this ware and
sell at S1.50 are used in summer cottages
and are strong, as we'll as effective, and
are not as apt to chip as the blue and
white ware.
SpanlardS also make ware with a
decoration in green's and blue with
neutral colors which is distinctively
different from any other ware. Moorish
water bottles in globular shape, with
the curving handle on top and two
spouts, one to fill and one to pour, are
shown in this ware and are decorated in
various ways, often with fence bars and
leaping bull, which may have escaped
from some unseen toreador's sword.
The landscape is drawn with that de-
lightful oblivion to perspective.
The unglazed Portuguese ware of fine
red clay is decorated artistically with
geometrie figures outlined on the sur
face, though done by the hand of peas
ants. 1t is used chie11y for water bot
ties and quaint Moorish water jars.
This ware possesses the power of evapo-
rating any water from it's surface. Adrop
spilled on it seems to disappear by magic.
Ice water decanted into one of these
jars may be kept cool all night by the
continued evaporation of the moisture
collecting on the jar. Even lukewarm
water may be reduced to low tempera-
ture in this way, The Orientals who
use this method of cooling water some
times moisten the outside of these water
jars. This method of cooling water
was, no doubt, introduced into Spain by
the Moors. To obtain the best effect
the cooler should stand on balcony in
the night air. Quaint brackets, cabi-
nets and other pieces are shown in the
Moorish woodwork decorated all over in
bright colors, and are exceedingly eff
fective and pretty. Such brackets begin
in price at $3.50; cabinets cost SIS and
more, but it should be remembered that
they are painted by hand quite elabo-
ratcly, though rudely, and generally
with true feeling for color. Spanish
fans painted with toreadors and bulls
are also inexpensive items useful for
decorative purposes.-N. 7. Tribune.