The state herald., 1908-06-12
: pOT1ER At rs WIFI

tasks very lengthy ones. The pro
fession belongs to the Arts. and is not
reckoned in the commercial output OF
the country, like ceramics and lacquer
work. In almost all the other callings
whole family can be employed at
the same time. even the little children
helping in the primary processes; but
the carver works alone, and probably
requires much domestic waiting on
from his family since he dare not
spoil his delicate touch by any rough.
er labor
Far at the other end OF the artistic
social scale sits the potter bending
over his work with a face of mournful
intentness. his left hand mechanically
spinning his jar in its rounded socket
-.-l.ll.. .,s~ .tsa.s -t---i4la s's' v'saa 20 .
smooth edge Here Is monotony in
deed. for the white or red or black
earthenware is very friabe before
the last baking and only lends itself
TO the simplest forms. Tho pure
white is devoted exclusively 10 fune'
real and religious uses. and has per
haps been adopted because such yes.
sells must be Of the most severe
shapes and quite without ornament
The red or black clay is used for
everything else-the red for holding
water and grain, the black for cook.
ing utensils. The deep rich glaze OF
the black and the soft earthiness OF
the red accord well with the brown
house porch where so much OF the
work OF life Is done and where on
bright days the few humble plants
are brought out 10 grow in the sun.
The potter always seems to be some.
thing OF a philosopher; he will be
poor to the end Of his days. for
though everyone needs his wares. the
extreme care with which they are
used makes them last for many years
| II never have seen shop devoted
solely TO them. Yet he is content to
work on til his back Is bent with long
/ stopping and he comes TO resemble
one of those squat figures which the
! Japanese love to twist into vases or
cigar mugs. the back Of the neck be
Ing scoopcd out to provide the nood.
| ful hollow Between him and the
painter Of delicate china great gulf
lies. II is, ! think, only OF late years,
since the opening Of 80 many indus
trial schools. that women have boon
employed on this work. which seems
so appropriate for them, though dell
cacy OF touch comes naturally 10 all
classes OF Japanese. the long wrist
training required for their chlltraphy
proving Of immense value In paint.
Ing The brush II held. like the writ.
ing "fudo." moro In the hand than
In the fingers. and In almost upright,
giving thus d clearueBs and value "a
the stroke quite unattainahlo by our
slantcd point For china painting
Imagination and sense Of color arc
needed. ms well hs great BnpplcneBs
Of wrist The more olaboratclymould
ed pieces give the note where natural
objects are represented, but In the
purely fnnclful designs tho taste oi
the decorator has full scope, unfor
tunately. In tho department Of ccfam
les, aa IN so many others. much
beauty has been Anrfihccd 10 meet th'
approval Of the foreign market I'm
mcnac labor IN expended on objects
which are clumsy In shape and crude
In color. The European passion foi
crowdlng on ornament n directly con
trary to the Japanese canonn. just ~
our rooms, crammed with costly. but
lnoongruous, brloabrac. cxclto no nd
mIratlon In people who only BRING out
one beautiful thing at time. careful,
selecting that which is most appropfi
nte 10 the season and oecaalun, dlBpin,
Il 60 tho best advantage, and change
II for another before It's aspect car
weary the eye with tho sense o
samenesH.
. MRS. HUGH FRASER