The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-12-18
TURNING 70 POTTERY
Ceramic Decorators No Long
er Content With Decorating
BUT MUST MOLD THE CLAY
Processes of Fashioning and
Firing Described.

York Society of Ceramic Arts have cemoe
enthusiastic potters through the influence
and example of Nine. La Prince and the
valuable aid of Charles Volkmar, who has
put his pottery at Corona, L. /, at their
disposal. Mr.. Volkmar who is a leading
member of the National League Of Mineral
Painters, and is well known as an artist
potter through his work for the Boston
library, the Astors. Vanderbilts and other
prominent families, presents the society
with the clay TO work with, bakes their
models. and extends a standing invitation
to them 10 visit the pottery, so tina hey
may learn he mysteries Of the potter's
work from actual observation.
Little trips to Corona have become popu-
lar with the members of the New York
and Brooklyn societies. An atmosphere of
antiquity pervades the low brick pottery,
with its tall chimneys, for the methods
here are substantially thpse which have
been used for centuries. They have
primitiveness and certain strong simple
ity that give the place quaint charm,
aside from the interest in the processes,
which are carefully explained. One sees
first the raw clay, just as il comes from
New Jersey; then its publication and soft
enns by water for the manipulation in the
mou,ding-room. Here il is put in Jumps
upon the upper fiat surface of a circular
block of hard wood, before which the pot
ter sits, and which he keeps turning by
means of a foot-tread. The clay is slowly
transformed under his deft fingers from
a shapeless mass into a beautiful and
fragile form, which will crumble at any
but an experienced touch until it has been
hardened by its first baking. After this
baking the process becomes particularly
interesting to the average visitor, for the
reason that it is an underglazed process,
which, because of the intensity of heat re-
quired in firing, is impossible to ceramic
workers outside of potteries, and therefore
somewhat unfamiliar to them.
In underglazed ware it may be ex-
planned. the co.ors are put on under the
glaze. and in the firing blend into beauti-
fu. and often surprising combinations. re-
sulting in deeper and softer effects than
can be obtained in overglazing; that is.
putting the colors over the glaze. But the
underga2e is the older and more inherently
ceramic process. and is the one which is
seen on visit to Corona. The cOlors are
smeared upon the biscuit" that is. upon
the unglazed model, with apparently no
regard 10 form. over this unsightly blur
and p/chwork of color is sprinkled the
glaze in the form of a powder; and now
the model is ready for the fire. 1t is put
in an earthenware box, which is carefully
sealed and arranged with perhaps hun
dreds OF others, in the great brick kiln.
The fires are started, and the firemea
shovel in coal necessarily to keep the kiln
at white heat. while the directing potter
tests this heat at frequent intervals by
noting its action upon bits of colored por-
celain which he wihdraws from the fire by
means of long iron rods.
At last, after the consumption of many
tons of coal and twenty-four hours or
more Of roaring flame and glowing heat
and ceaseless labor, he calls a hat. The
fires are rapidly withdrawn. The brick
walls of the kiln are allowed to cool, and
are then torn down, and the earthenware
boxes are removed and unsealed. This IS
a time of intense interest and suspense to
/ the potter He is about 20 see the results
OF his labor. Il may be failure, and it may
be success beyond his fondest expectation.
1t is difficult to tell. The fire is a capri
( cious workman and plays queer tricks with
/ the colors il deve,opes. Sometimes it spois
/ them altogether and sometimes it blends
I them into happier harmonies than the ar
/ tist could have conceived. Frequently the
/ colors will approximate success, but not
! quite reach it. In this case, colored
glaze that has the effect OF modifying or
/ the transparent glaze. and tho piece Is
! fired again. Often this process Is repeated
several times, and excellent results are
| thus obtained But the successes from one
! firing are always regarded as the greatest
Interesting examples Of the underg,aze
! Is the old blue ware. decorated with quaint
pictures which is chiefly to be found in
old-fashioned country houses and the col
/ lectious of antiGuarians. Similar ware Is
now being made for the ladies OF the
! George Washington Memorial association
Their intention is 10 sell it as one means
Of raising funds TO put into execution
/ Washington plan for a great national
/ postgraduate university. for which, as Is
well known. he left legacy of 5000
/ The pictorial decoration of this new col
oniar ware Is from cd prinss Of scenes
/ from Washington Ufe. such. for example
/ Revolutionary war episodes.
The process OF reproducing these old
/ prints from books is quite simple. \ cop
/ per plate Is made OF the print. The palte is
linked and an impression IS made o. IL hy
means OF small hsnd-press upon 4 Ger
[ tain kind OF paper. which. when il has re-
celved tho print from the Plate IS gently
pressed with the hand and a small roller
/ upon the soft Gay, which i then baked
! co.ored and glazed. The process IS sub
stsntiaily the same as was used IN making
4 the old colonial blue decorated china. But
I If the potter = very conservative the dec
orator IS nov remarkably progressive
+ The small kiln for oyerglazing IS shrd
! The small kin for overglazins 20 be found
: in most ceramic studios j quite a marvel
/ in its. .couveuiences: and most OF these In
Z provenencs have been made within the
1 las. SIX years. L Vas In Use under the
/ stimulus OF the worlds Far. that the de-
+ ve.opueut OF this art began Il was then
( that New York and Brooklyn societies and
mos OF the other ciabs were organized
1 The same year saw the federation % these
I clubs into he National Society n Mineral
Painters. This organizing activity vas die
TO the desire OF followers ~ ceramics 20
: take advantage Of the opportunity offered
by the fair 10 show the world tAat Amer
lean mineral pointers were doias m~ri,o-
nous work The exhibitors proved ta~.r
case 81 successfully that a great impetus
wls given 20 ceramic arr in ,h-s country.
The number % is devote Sau be grow
rapidly untI row yhev according ta
( Authoritative estimates Between thir,y ard
thirty-dve thousand American m.ae-aI