The Palatka news and advertiser., 1917-09-21

much besides mumWleS, haFe 'O'
not? And so far, l haven't a sin
gle piece from the Nile
"The man smiled again, still all do
ference. ~
"'How can you sell this for so small
sum- Ill.,
"'We bought it at bargain the
man explained (He spoke truly. All
Niloak is bought at bargain.)
when she had gone and the vase
had been dispatched to well-knowh
address, caught the salesman eye
"How could you?' | demanded re-
proachfully.
~ beg you pardon?' The manner
showed surprise. ,,, =
"'How could you let her think 1t
came from Egypt I repeated. i
"The man after searching Iook
dropped his Fifth Avenue formaIlty
and treated me to truly human grim
You are familiar with Niloak?
"'Rather! l am from Arkansas:
".And tell it, here in New York;
"'Boast of it!' Whereupon we
both laughed. ,.
"'You see,' he apologized, contrltte,,
w. If I had corrected Madame would
mortally have offended
"And lost her CUSTOM l agreed,
forgiving him. 4 admit it does sound
like it might have come from the
Nile" ,,,
Each piece of Nloak is moulded by
the hand of an artist, is classic IN
it's simplicity and individual in It's
beauty. therefore it is not surprising
that it finds eager buyers in New
York and also in other large cities
and art ccnters of the world
Refusing to lower their standard by
employing inferior craftsmen, by re-
sorting to the deplorable but quick
method of "casting," or by selling m
, even single defective piece an un-
,, worthy product, the Niloak pottcrs
have never been able to supply the
demand made upon them, and every
shipment to each buyer is limited.
, The fascination Of color that p lays
over the smooth surface OF Niloak IN
it's many changing hues is varied 6Y
> the caprice of firing, but there are al
= wavs shifting blues like waters un,
der Italian skies: tawny browns and
!, colds of distant hills in autumn; and
, in the newer pieces, isolated splash
!, es of rose red that sweep across a
), howl or vase like careGsing tongues
= of living fame. This accidental pat
tern, in no two pieces ever the same
q produces an ornamentatlon faf more
q suited to the purpose OF pottery ah'
q to a soft, dull and unglazed surface
= than could be any painted pictures,
+ Niloak potters are expressing Am
J. erican life. They have made thei!
+ art a democratic art; Incorporating !
!. into the larger consciousness OF tn
6 neonle, Yet. in making their art use
i, full and pratical they hive avoided tn
+, commonplace. In making everyda
n. things beautiful and expressive the
# have lifted common things into IN
TO realm of art. They make not onI
70 the vase. bowl, jar, condlest1ck 20 ce
I'd light the eye as ornaments, out OF ;,
l. neutral clay they mould as CAREFUL
and with as sincere regard 4or tfat
e. and beauty, the lug, muo and tray fc
n kitchen use. Niloak is simple an
or identified, gracious and friendly, res
q, full and satisfying, mutely teachLn
Of what America has vet. to learn, tt
es trnn value of the frank and hone
~ work of PEOPLES hands, as set ov'
n against the inartistic outputs
nd mere machines. =.
No process in any handicraft
,t- more beautiful than that of nott'
nd moulding vessel on a wheel, b
an cause of the case with which the pla
en- tic clay responds to the master-touc:
,at taking form in endless variety WI
IT, the thought and changing mood OF u
,e- potter. jeremiah writes of the ra
he id grace with which a vessel OF cii
M is made. Homer compares the rhyth
al, cf dancing to the measured and mn:
yn cal epin of potter's wheel. |
,ad Fpvptians likened the potter to t
,on Creator Himself, as did Omar
,tv For l remember stopping by t
rm way
In. To watch Potter humping
ts.' wet clay.
And has not such a story from
Down mans successive generatio
ing roll'd
IN Of such a cIod OF Satufale" ealIH
mo Cast by the Maker into Rum
nd, mould?"
o1 The pottcr's wheel, famed in poet
and song. was early adopted by
ancieats as a means Of moulding tn
oh+ vessels. and is, except where MAJ
iors factu,crs resort to the abomina
practice of casting with little har
. The potter's wheel of today. 1t c'
- sfsts Of vertical axle with a lal
\ wooden disk for the potters :
which kept revolving an upper d
SIN on which the clay is moulded by
ps, potter's hands When dry the p
and tc~v is finished and fired.
.cte Unfortunately a complaint can
- made against finishing" inasmuch
Il III sometimes by it the freedom and sp
&c. Of touch given by the potters h;
$3.50 is injured, if not, on occasion, Il
i is not practicable in so short
article to deal in detail with the me
cd Of moulding. of "wed"ing'
"waging" of clay. of "throwiHg'
"tulning." of "building" large pie
OF polishing and glazing, however