The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-12-12

That most fascinating study, the art OF
ceramics or pottery. il just a. present agt-
sattcg a large section OF fashionable So
rgafy. ard the 1hETd annual exhibition OF
che Seattle Ceramic Club which COM
snenced 81 1zacDorgalI & South wicl<'s yes
tsrday attracted . large crowd. not only
OF the club and the friends OF the Faefn-
BERG 5n OF art lovers generally. who we're
Surprises and delighted not only ~ the
large display ~ beautifully decorated
ware barf AZ the marked Improvement
shown IN all the exhibits when compared
with that % year ago. at which time the
showing was considered highly cre9iiaole.
The decoration Of pottery has for
number Of years found support as an eFt
among nosne Of the best people throughout
the United States. not only as q sensible
way Of occupying time but as an elevated
ard interesting study. The best examples
OF ancient art and the key 20 the worlds
Oldest histories finds 8 noble expression
an pottery. and without those subtle and
smperishazle links archaeology would
many times have gone astraY and anti
ararlaus would never have been able 10
tell OF the gioTies Of The old world. Fhe his
tory and romance OF which II told In the
baked eIays that have from tirne>io time
been unoarfhed from the ruins OF pre-
historic cities.
when the earlirst civilizations lived the
pottery was rugged. and It's figure decora-
flnn In the duh reds and blacks Of the
Egyptians and Etrraeans 4as tast OF
men. either warifke or anoroaa. AZ time
grew on and the world got older SIS art
became IN come respects better as an art.
NJ 'esst liz spirit was In keeping with the
s'mex. From Athens. when that city was
she worlds art center. and when men
commenced 20 be subdued b. association
with women. down through its decadsnce
md the FieIag Of a new art Ia Italy, the
tr..A
changes OF forms OF pottery decoration.
Then came that most exquisite age OF art
en France that saw the resEns Of Louis
ouatofze and Louis Qusnze. when those
Gsmiest creations OF the poetic imaglna-
zion found expression In the delicate fur
riture. the fullest attainment OF artistic
ecstasy in decorations, iaces. tapestries.
rugs and. not By any means least, rs
dainty pottery with its figure work and
flowers. Its pale fints and gold combina-
tions: al rich. but N exquisite coed taste
which has baen handed down until II finds
itself as sfyie. raised IN the feminine
mind 10 a pedestal far above all others.
The French styles made possible the
evolution OF the Rocco, and the influences
OF that popular style lakes Itself emphau-
cslly felt In the exhibition Of this year
Of the Seattle Ceramic Club.
One feature Of the 1sad exhibition that
contributes 30 an extraordinary interest
IS the prizes that are offered. At meet
sng Of the club. held ~ the residence Of
krs. r. A. Wing the first Monday IN Mo-
vember. the firm OF NJ. Seller d Co. Of
sered a prize. the exact nature OF which
was not stated which was TO he given
for the best piece Of work executed sub
fequent TO that date. There were no clas-
Flfcatfons nor restrictions as TO style, and
the result WAS diversity Of beautiful
comretitlve works that occupied the table
ct the end Of the space on the third floor
a 80 4. 4ssf4e - 49,
where tire display ives made. There we're
nine entries for the Seller prize including
n framed masIailtou plaque. A rose jar,
two trays. n bonhoniere vase and two
1ardineres. There were no names, num-
herA or distinguishing marks. and tho
Judgment of the rommttee was therefore
entirely unprecedented n naming the prize
winner However. the fact that no cias-
siaratlonH ware established made the work
OF the committee a hard one. Had there
been four prizes Instead af one. giving ore
each to the best piece u bronze werlk. the
best enamefing. the best figure work and
she best flowers. II would not have taken
long 10 decide. As & WAS. each piece had
10 he considered differently. under distinct
heads and the flaws quite as much az the
excrileneies picked ont.
The result of the committees delihera-
sions was in favor az 4 tray by Mrs.
Shank The scheme was that of a female
figure With bare arms, a couple OF cupias
and wreath OF suggestions as 90 color.
Tho execution was IN all respects exc
cellent
A beautiful rose jar. conventional in It's
design. WA the work az Mira +. A. Wing
II exhibited the success With ~hieh that
Artistic handles enameling. All Of the work
on the prize table" was particularly
good.
Another prize. Offered for the best piece
Of work rot on the prise table. ny Mac
a "a .t~E Ira
witch fef 20 N'aa Nellie Hardwood. VINO
has recently returned from Chicago The
ssece " work on Miss tlazejwaod's table
chat was 80 conspicuousiy good was a
rose tar.
The committee on the Seller prize was
composed Of Mrs. SAVAGE 81 Tacoma. ana
Nessrs Ste4son and Ferguson: ard for gha
Narpougali A. Southwsck prize. Airs Saw
age. Mss Tenpiin and Nessrs Stetson
ana Ferguson
There were some novelties on the tables.
me of which was porcelagn-harkri
hrash. mirror and couat-hAndle resting on
q tray ~ the same delicate material eN-
/. on,sftely decorated with Hovers of pale
q ak against peachblaw background X
WAS hlwlsiy suggestive 81 those dainty bro
~aies that made The looms 81 France IA
mons two or three centuries ago.
About the enace that wasaneAased with
yurs On mo sides there we're hung gn
frares and standinE on sasels mints of
aelft ware. and 81 th~ aaslBs patch ars
that confined itself 10 white and blue AND
heavy saamclsnK.
Nrs Cofv n =. shank hs3 q table 81 hE-
ssres ana miniatures an porcelain. iurltfsl-
srg among the latter the - boys - An
dew +. nsria8eh. winfiel8 r suilhs 1tt-
sic girl AMI Mrs. Reach. TIE figure wafx
was eonsplcaous IA '~rhe Wave female
nude beautifailv executed.
Mss MeCsiltach'e sRnie wss dsuted a fssli
exhibit Of the artists wors. as several
.,ieceS were broken wfsilr beins hrnaxht 20
~ elae. Mrs. r W. Tun and Ngss cara
catch had a table together 50 sac cchtsr
~ whseh was a erleaasd puneAhowl and
"a number Of plates. trays. cups and
saucer
Nlss Hattie Gardener also ha8 a pretty
ssselav including chocolate SETS and al
sn0ad saueerss
There we're ali the l8tess sesnes 81 table
ware That arc called hv a. sarts ~ names
ard Applicable e. handre8 different pu~-
noses ira exhibition 81 Dspsry vas al