The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-08-21

| colors being mixed with clay and becom- | ing part of the ware itself. The pieces after decoration, are fired Into biscuit end the various glazes are applied In sub sequent firings. These methods while necessary to produce the beautiful under glaze effects of Rookwood are rarely used elsewhere as they increase so large ly the risks and expense of manufae- ture.
 The clays in use for all purposes are entirely American and largely from the Ohio valley. These native clays from the start inclined the color quality to- ward yellows, browns, and reds and the decorative medium lent itself to rather luxuriant style of ornament in rich ar engagements of many colors, all of which the transparent glazes merge In deep, mellow tones, as this woman described It. The worm yellow or red tones are often refined with deep rich greens and blues and some of the pottery shows the lois and Pea Green" in soft tones.
 Still another variety are the mat glazes first made at Rookwood in 1896, but only becoming an important production during the past year. In these the special quail ity Is beauty of texture, though the range and variation Of color Is very great To many pieces decoration Is ap- piled of flowers or other subjects broad- ly painted; of motives derived from American Indian designs, either In relief or incised; or modeled figures of applied metals.
 The exhibit of the Grueby pottery is ex- tremely interesting and Illustrates what has been accomplished in the efforts to utilize the experiments of young ceramicst whose artistic career has meant a great deal for the art of this country. MT. Gruely began his education as a ceramicst in the low art tile works, and his first opportunity for individual effort came when he met some foreign artists at the worlds fair at Chicago.
 From a little chat that I had with a woman who Is herself a ceramicst of note, I learned that following up the experiments suggested by the best exam pies, MT. Grueby developed glazes simi- lar in general character to the French "gres flamme" but having a surface tex ture unlike that of any of the ceramic products then known. Where the French in their memorable logic had swung from the bright, shiny glazes of the old ware to the extreme of dull matt-glazed sur faces, MT. Grueby stopped at point well in advance of the old. but judiciously short of the new extreme, producing a glazed surface soft In texture and varied in tone, not unlike the bloom of melon or the smoothness of a leaf This pe- culiar texture is obtainable only in the firing, not by any subsequent treatment of sand or acid.
 In color there is also marked diff ference between the Grueby and other wares, the many shades of green, yellow grey, and blue resembling that subdued tone, combined with depth and richness.
 If you want to see copies of the dinner service of King Edward VII and Margue- rite of Italy and other crowned heads you may do so In some of the poree- lain exhibits and the White House ser vice is also exhibited, while the Presi- dent and Mrs. Roosevelt are at Oyster Bay. You will recall that the papers had a great deal to say of this service, for whether Intentionally or by accident the mystic number of 13 Is repeated in | the crest. Of course you know there are 13 stars. and 13 bars in the shield, | representing the original IS states of | the Union. Besides this in one claw the eagle grasps 13 bolts, and in the other | an olive branch upon which there are l9 l leaves and 13 berries. The pinions of the eagle, too. have 13 feathers, and there ] are 13 letters in the motto: "E Pluribus 1 Unum." Further there are IS letters in the Christian names of the president and his wife and 13 letters also in Staff fordshire, the county in England in which the Wedgewood ware Is manufactured, but perhaps the most significant fact
 
 vice was delivered on Friday the 18th day of February. This is something for the superstitously inclined to think about.
 I had my palm read today by an East India woman. She told me among other things that l must restrain my luxurious inclinations and that I was very artistic. Now, my dear Gwendolen, l am nothing
 if not industrious and artistic Is such an | elastic word that you may interpret 1t | several ways to suit the individual. Knowing you as l do with all your love of pretty things l should say. 1t would 1 fit you like q glove.
 l I am buying you some gloves which were sold to me today in little Paris shop. As I wrote you in my last letter the exposition is a place where you may shop In any street In the world 1 Faithfully your,
 | A K, w. | St Louis Mo.