Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1894-10-13
BRITISH DECORATIVE AIT.
It Has Suffered Marked Decline During
Recent Years.

It Has Suffered a Marked Decline During
Recent Years.
The decorative branches Of the pot
ter's art are probably those which have
received the least attention of those who
are frequently writing upon other de-
partments of the craft 1t would seem
that the exploits of tho thrower. the
achievements Of the turner and the
handicraft Of the presser have for them
the greater attraction. Yet the finished
work of these artisans plays but small
part in the general commercial world of
buyers. These latter gentry look not
only for form, but for decoration of
somo kind or another upon which their
customers may feast their eyes.
Unadorned white or ivory is not con-
sidered by them, like nature, adorned
the most; hence they ask for printed,
gilded and painted goods And il these
departments there have been i'll late
years many changes, of which it may
prove interesting to take note. There is
no longer the wide demand for classical
| subjects or for rural scenes that used to
exist. A simple, towering spray, few
tangled fern leaves, with a seashell of
some kind or other or bird fixed upon
a piece OF bamboo work satisfies the gen
eral public. And this kind Of work, we
are told, can be produced by workman
who has but little skill i'll his art. II
this is 60, it is to be regretted, but we
/ give the opinion IS expressed by a past
master Of tho art.
/ Then the cost of such productions l.
small, and one plato engraving will
serve TO decorate not only q complete
dinner service, but also tea and toilet
service. Alas fer tho art as practiced
but a fev years asol Another depart
ment Of decorative art which has sui
fered of late in its prestige is that OF the
| glider. lie used to be an artist of no
mean repute, as many Of the old dinner.
tea and dessert sets Will prove. How
rich was his treatment in gold on yari-
Gus devices end patterns and how proud
orr sires used to be Of his work.
In the days we are speaking Of the
glider was an important factor in the
decorating shop of any respectable man
ufacturer, ard his art had many follow
ers. His occupation is. however, for
the most part gone, excepting in few Of
our principal manufactures, where the
highest specimens Of the potter's craft
are produced.
] Yet it may be said how. then, do
you account for tho large quantity OF
gilded ware now seen in the markets:
Easily enough 1t is not the work OF
the male artist, but of young women
and girls, who work for comparative
ly low wage as compared with the male.
Then, again, it is not. for the greater
part, the cold English" gold you see
upon the ware, but an imitation known
as bronze" but which is not Of dura
BILE nature. But these changes in this
struggle for wealth and not for art, II
is to be presumed, must be endured, al
though in tho end we pay dearly fol
them. The position Of the male artist il
again usurpcd by the competitive de
1nand for cheapness i'll the painting de
partment. though we do not think b
the game extent as his fellow worker
the glider.
Yet it is difficult fer many first elias
painters to find constant employment
owing TO the demand which has bee,
fostered for cheap painted ware 4
daub to represent flower or foliage
deemed sufficient. and hence good paint
7 ting is not SO sought after-only upol
: expensive artware--as it used TO be
But change nsay be expected and
], sure to como in claim for better art
! ware with an increasing trade, and the
the art workman to whom we have re
ferred may possibly reap an advantage
British Pottery Gazette.