Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1893-1895, 1894-10-17
eRl1IsH oscoRArlYE Aa1
Il h@s suffered Marked DeeI,ns D,,,..
Recent Yeara

:" ''@A 7"hfTsd Marked Decline D1,f.s
Recent Years.
me decorative branches Cf tho no,
tsrs art are probably those which bav.
received the least attention of ,b,,.o ,,,,,,,
are frequently writing upon other de-.
pafiinents Of the craft It would seem
mat the exploits " the tbrowcr tho
achicyements Of the turner and tine
hahhicraft VI the presser have for them
the greater attraction. Yet the finished
""rk 0f these artisans plays but a small
part III the general commercial world Of
buyers. These latter gentry look not
| only Tor form, but for decoration Of
some Kind or another upon which their
customers may feast their eyes.
Unadorned white Dr ivory is not con.
sihcred by them, like nature, adorned
INC most; hence they ask for printed.
gilded aud painted goods. And i'm these
departments there have been in late
years many changes, Of which IL NAV
prove Interesting TO take note. There is
no longer the wide demand for classical
subjects On fOr rural scenes that used TO
exit. a simple, towering spray, few
tangled fern leaves, with "A geashelI Of
some kind cr other or bird fixed upon
a piece u bamboo work satisfies the gen.
cral public. Aud this kind VI work, we
arc tpId, can bC produced by q workman
who has but little skill in bis art. II
this - ~, 1t Is 10 b. regretted, but we
give the opinion as expressed by a past
master Of the art.
Then the cost Of such productions il
small, and one plate engraving will
serye to decorate not only q complete
dinner service, but also tea and toilet
service. Alas for the art 90 practiced
but few years ago! Another depart
mcDt Of decorative art which has suf.
fcred Of late in its prestige Is that Of the
glider He used 10 be an artist Of no
mean repute, a. many Of the old dinner,
tea and dessert sets will prove. How
rich was his treatment in gold on yari.
Gus devices and patterns and how proud
our sires rsod 10 be Of his wUrkl
In the days we are speaking Of the
glider was AN important factor in the
decorating shop Of any respectable man
ufacturer, and his art had many follow
ers. His occupation Is, however, for
the most part gone, excepting in "a few Of
our principal manufactures, where the
highest specimens Of the pOtter's craft
arc produced.
Yet, it may be said how, then, do
you account for the 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 a comparative
ly low wage as compared with the male.
Then, again, it is not, for the greater
part, the "Old English" gold you see
upon the ware, but an imitation known
a. bronze, but which is not of a dura-
bic nature. But these changes IN the
struggle for wealth and not for art, it
is 10 be presumed, must b. endured, al
though in the end we pay dearly for
them. The position Of the male artist IL
again usurped by the competitive de-
maDd for cheapness IN the painting de.
partment, though we do not think to
the same extent as his fellow worker,
the glider,
Yet IL L. difficult for many first class
painters ~ hnd constant employment
owing 10 the demand which has been
fOstered for cheap painted ware. A
daub 10 represent flower cr foliage IL
deemed sufficient, aud hence good paint
ing IL not 80 sought after--only upon
expensive aTtWare-as IL used 10 be.
But change may be expected aud H.
sure % come Ia claim for better art.
ware with an Increasing trade, And then
tbe art workman ~ whom We have 70.
ferred may possibly reap an advantage
British Pottery Gazette