The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1912-05-16
SOCIETY.
SOME CHOICE CHINA.

Looking in upon one of those char
ming little afternoon affairs called
teas where women folk may be seen
in pretty frocks of white and delicate
tints, where there are flowers and
rose shaded lights and shining silver
and fine linen and lace needlework
adjoining the mahogany, one may get
glimpse of some choice china, for the
Richmond hostess takes great pride in
the selections she has made or in the
treasure handed down to her.
Among the most valued pieces are
those of the variety called Lowestoft,
which so closely associates itself in
the mind with the gracious hospitali-
ty and serener ways of an earlier time
the days when the hostess who pre-
sided at her beautiful tea table of the
pie crust of the Chippendale type
poured her fragrant brew of Bohea in
to the handless cups giving her guests
a treasured "rat-tailed" spoon or a
"f1ddleback'' one to stir il with and
one fancies her as daintiness itself in
her soft silken gown of shimmering
lutestring or sprigged mousseline,
with its poises so nearly matching
those on her quantity shaped teapot
and helmet creamer. The mystery OF
it's origin also adds piquancy to our in
terest, for, as most Lowestoft collec-
tors know, there is no division of opin-
ion among it's admirers as to which
country can prove the claim of having
produced it, England or China.
Miss Constance Chisolm, in the
Baltimore Sun furnishes some inter
esting information about the beautiful
Lowestoft ware. She says:
while actual pieces of Lowestoft
must be seen in order to be sure of
knowing it-and when once seen it is
never thereafter mistaken for any 9TH
err ware-the fact remains that a good
first knowledge is best obtained from
the illustrations of Lowestoft shown in
the books on china which include it,,
because it's forms and decorations are
so distinctively its own, and so clearly
shown that the eye is soon trained to
identify it at sight.
Moreover, in illustrations many
more forms are shown than are apt
to be seen at any one time or place,
as outside or private collections and
museums the opportunity is limited of
finding more than a few pieces to-
gether.
But this preliminary study of
forms from the Photographic reproduc-
tons is by no means sufficient to ena-
BILE one to know the ware. 1t must not
only be seen but handled and every
detail noted. First of all, a picture
will never give any suggestion of the
fine pearly tint, like that of Chinese
porcelain, which is the background for
the characteristic Lowestoft decora-
ton and unlike the body color of any
old ware brought to the homes of our
ancestors.
THE designs We oftenest see are
flowers and springs in natural colors.
with borders in gold and colors, while
others have dark-blue bands, coats of
arms or monograms in gold. and some
times, according to n. Hudson, land
scapes in one color; though these last
named are not often seen, if at all, in
our section of the country, so far as
known
Blue was the only color used on
the earliest Lowestoft, the other col
ors being added after 1890. The pieces
oftenest seen are the squat, oval tea
pots with straight-up sides and twisted
handles that are heavily gilded; tall
{ chocolate pots. of the unique short
wasted type; sugar bowls; the fami
liar, yet rare, helmet creamer; flat
| tea caddies and plates. The spouts OF
pots are long and without any turnings