The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-07-30
DECORATING CHINA.
A woman without Artistic Talent or
Training Can Ornament Cups, sau-


GERS, Etc.
at is quite possible for a girl to decor
ate for her own tea table pretty cups and
saucers, even if she has no knowledge of
ceramic art" said a well-known china
painter the other day when seen in her
studio An sorts of pleasing and decor
ative effects can be produced on china
with a steel pen and god properly mixed
for the purpose. 1t is really impossible 10
do strong, firm scrolls and borders on
small articles, such as cups, saucers, and
borders on plates with a brush. When
brushes are used such work is invariably
untidy and in every way unsatisfactory
Let the girl who has an ambition to
do the work procure a prettily-shaped per-
fectly plain cup and saucer BY that l
mean one free from enclosing or raised
effects After washing and drying it
carefully, moisten well with alcohol. Get
few bottles of luster-green, pink and vi
olet-also a bottle of essence for mixing
gold, and a small square shader. She
must remember that turpentine should
never come in contact with luster, as it
not only destroys the color. but leaves a
purple smudge If she wishes a strong
color use the iuster in its fun strength, but
if a daintier effect is desired take little
OF the essence on the brush before dip
ping into the bottle of luster 1t is best
TO use it from the bottle, as it evaporates
very quickly when exposed TO the air. The
brush can be easily freed from color by
dipping in alcohol, which should he in a
small open vessel. Also She should have
at hand a small dauber, the best being an
old silk handkerchief and a piece of sur
gems cotton.
ITO tint the cup. let her start at the
ton with the rose iuster, work into this,
deicately. the green toward the top, deep
ening with the violet as she goes toward
the bottom She must begin TO pad as
| soon as she has enough of one color to
pad into another for If she waits until the
| entire surface is colored. it is apt to be-
/ come 100 dry TO blend the different cOlors
into each other evenly.
After this undng process is completed
let the piece stand until perfectly dry.
/ Then the gold should be mixed with the
gold essence and TO such a consistency tina,
! il viii flow from the pen. If It is too
/ thick il viii not flow, and If il Is too
/ thin il will rub off the china when II
/ comes from the kiln. If the decorator Is
/ sufficiently skiuful to copy or compose
some graceful design, she may do il over
| the luster before firing, but If not very
! sure of her skin she had best apply the
/ design by tracing after the china has been
:. fired.
! THE handling of gold with the pen Is
! 90 more difficult than writing with ink.
| but a new pen should always be moisten-
ed before the work is begun. If the gold
! is mixed to the proper consistency and a
/ ittle time is given to practice, the decora-
cor Will be amply repaid by the clean. firm
/ gold lines OF their design. Also work done
I i'm this manner possesses a commercial
value that brush work can never attain.
Now. while such work is so Fashionable
l would recommend any girl who can use
her pen with intelligence to try il"
l.. NJ. Laws.