The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-10-22
WOMAN'S EXCHANGE TO OPEN
AIab INA Press Women Will Have Head
quarters at State Fair-General
News of Woman's Board.
Week in Society.
by ANNIE KENDRICK WALKER

1t will be of great interest to the art
coterie in town to learn that Mrs. j. b.
Rawlston, one of the famous artists OF
Chicago, has opened studio here for the
winter. Her work Is confined almost exclu-
sively to china decoration, but she is also
an expert in the art of typography or fire
etching.
The popular idea that has prevailed of
recent years in regard to china painting as
"a fad, has been dispelled entirely, and this
decorative work is now recognized by the
famous art schools of this country as
worthy of place beside the old masters,
and recent exhibits in the east and west
have included examples of china decoration.
Consequently in view of this recognition,
the artists who have appreciated the ex-
quisit possibility of china painting, and who
have been devoting the passing years to
this especial form of art, overjoyed at
the stand which the American schools of
art are taking in regard to the decorative
work on china.
Mrs. Rawlston's examples of china paint
ing are so rare, and indeed reveal the pos
sibilities of decorative work to such an
extent, that the artists here in the city
who have made a study of china painting
candidly confess that a morning in her
studio is not unlike a stroll through an eX
hibit of water-color landscapes and rare
etehings. She is exhibiting recent examples
of decorative work, which are known the
water-colors for china painting. 1t shows
the perfect blending of the Dresden colors,
and the glaze is noticeably high. There is an
entire absence of the gold, which was in
such favor a short time ago, and the color
ings consequently show to the best advant
age. Mrs. Rawlston, in speaking of her
work, emphasized the value of the kiln in
burning the china. This important process
is not always valued as it should be, and
while the process of burning does not cover
up deficiencies in work, still artistic work
shows to all the greater advantage when
properly burnt.
In Mrs Rawlston's exhibit, there are a
number of unique vases, upon which the
designs flash in yellow, greens and browns
and pompadour reds. A vase which attract
ed particular notice was done in English
Hawthorne which showed the wonderful
blendings of the ruby puppies, and the
high glaze. table top was decorated with
a fruit design in natural colors. or one
should say in ideal colors, for as in the oil
landscapes of autumn scenes, or tree light
it is the ideal that the artist paints, so
with this wonderful coloring china. 1t
Is the luedl tldt the drtlSt OF toudy mas
attained.
There were several stems. tankards,
pitchers. which were decorated with the
vivid colors of fruits and flames, with the
exquisite and fascinating contrasts of
green's and browns and reds against soft
golden backgrounds. A iardinerre showed
a design of roses. pale gold against pallid
ground of delicate tints. cake plate was
decorated with arbutus, the delicate tracery
of pink blossoms, over a SOFT bewildering
ground. There was a nut set of a dozen
plates and bowl showing an exquisitely
beautiful coloring of the Dresden shades in
artistic designs. An example in imitation
of the lockwood pottery showed the
scharmingly artistic figure of the Duchess of
Devonshire in her characteristic Gaines
borough costume. so beloved by painters.
Mrs. Rawlston includes in her exhibit
number of artistic plates, panels, bon-bon,
chocolate pots iardinieres and other pieces
of rare and exquisite design small china