New-York tribune., 1902-07-21
VISIT TO WOMAN POTTER.
CLAY WORKING AN OCCUPATION WITH
MANY ADVANTAGES-POSS
TIES OF THE CRAFT.

This is such comfortable. restful work-just the
thing for nervous people" said Mrs. Cornelius
Poillon, yesterday in her New-Jersey pottery.
"Of course" she added. zone have nervous
prostration when the kiln is opened and the work
of days Is revealed in ruin but there is no hurry
ing the clay. in fact. any part Of the process
II is steady, painsaking effort that achieves sue
cess"
Mrs. Poillon is potter That IS, by long and
diligent experiment and undaunted courage. she
has learned the potters secret of clay mixing, and
all the pottery. both for decorative and kitchen
utensils, made in her establishment is the product
of formulas worked out by herself.
To get the formulas was the difficult part of her
undertaking, for every potter guards the secrets
OF his mixtures with jealous care. 1t was only
because the potters had little fear of a woman
learning their art that Mrs Poilon was admitted
by certain ones to their establishments for expert
menting purposes.
"Potters." said Mrs. Poillon. ARE the most
charming in existence and the most cheer
ful liars. With the most mrnner and fetch
ing Establishments they will make you think that
they giving you perfect formula when.
fact. they are throwing you off the track all the
time"
Mrs. Poillon began her efforts in pottery with
china painting. But the possibilities of that proc
ess were limited. and a great admiration for the
colors and depth of underglaze her incentive
TO enter the field of experiment With three les
sons. in which she learned what the undergIaze
colors look like and how to apply them. she
started to work out results
HER UNTIRING EFFORTS
small kiln was built in a New-Jersey town,
and there Mrs Poillon worked for entire
before a single good result in color
tained. To be sure. there was one exception in
the underg!aze blue but cobalt blue cannot be
destroyed by heat that not classed as an inn
portant achievement. The goal of all her efforts
at that time was to produce a finished landscape
in the various tones of green, brown, gray, etc. To
produce perfect piece of underglaze work, the
ware ware on which M the decoration is painted ted the
face must al! be In chemical harmony and 70 at
tniap @ thf8ugh long experiment WIN @ an 'nTSe % iac @
@ TORS and dhrf acton under intense I neat IA Inc sec
these ends. and at last, after patient trial. she
the different wares with ali the various glazes,
until a definite knowledge of results was gained
$50. So, although the work was fascinating, the
"A perfect understandng Of his mixtures is as
necessary 20 the potter as to the baker. said Mrs
sugar and -four in the bakers processes different
combinations and proportions producing different
ART OF MINING.
In order 10 learn the art of mixing. Mrs. Poillon
gained admission TO pottery. and there shovelled
and mixed side by side with day laborers- All the
practical experiments she supplemented with study
abroad and gradually the work which began as
recreation assumed the character of an ambitious
At present Mrs. POLLEN; with her assistants is
0TR TT b cTav anS ~ coIors Skilled laborers do the
throwing, pressing, casttn-. tiggering and, hand
modelling. a the various processes are called
The place in which the work Is done might ne
mistaken for Junk plant A high board renee
decorated IN lavish profusOn with gaudy bill
pottery excepting perhaps the top OF misshapcn
chimney. which does not intrude Itself upon the
observation The gate. a section OF the fence set
hinges and containing serial portions or the
decorations Is only visible the initiated. Upon
opening the gate a scene Of disorder Wild 10 the
point Of picturesqueness presents itself There Is
every kind sort and description Of vagrant box
barrel 'sagger." tub, board and timber and an old
wagon or two long unused Pottery broken and un-
broken dried and undried. baked and IN the biscuit
scattered In every direction and serves 10 blend
the medley into something like harmony.
THE POTTER's WHEEL.
In the inclosure is an old brick furnace emitting
at the time OF the reporters visit P'utonlan fumes
and filled with saggcrs containing cooling porcelain
The pottery itself is a series OF unpainted sheds
thrown together, apparently. as business demanded
enlarged accommodations. Tubs Of wet clay, drying
cast, and mouds the simple machinery demanded
for the work, few people leisurcly working in
various departments and old horse that travels
far every working day without getting any
where" complete the equipment. The pottcr's
wheel. old In the days Of Pharaoh and too little
used in these days OF machine made and stereo-
typed wares is part Of the OUTFIT. Only woTknen
skilled by long practice can use the wheel They
known "thTOWcrs.' and few are to be FOUND
in this country. The kitchen utensils are made BY
"A machine known the 'jigger' or in moulds. All
this work Is done by laborers.
Suggestions for designs. decorating coloring ana
glazing, well the preparation OF the materials.
are the work OF Mrs Poillon.
There Is nothing about work in clay that a
woman cannot DO successfully said Mrs. Poillon.
I'm Il she find wide scope for original eX-
preston