The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1925-05-14
FIRST TO CREATE BATHS
IN WEI VET

Ii developed that Mrs. Roberts
was the first to create batiks in
velvet The ancients of China pro-
duced batiks in silks, but there is
no record of velvet batiks ever hav-
ing been produced. 1t had previous.
| ly been considered that the heavy
fabric of velvets could not be treat
ed in the batiking process. But
Mrs. Roberts devoted herself UNI
tiringly to experiments with velvet
fabrics until she accomplished that
which was thought to be impos-
sible.
was referred to an article by
Donald, Corley in the international
Studio" under the title of "Ethel
Wallace-Gay Primitive Extracts
from this article, which was pro-
fusely illustrated with examples of
her work, can more aptly convey
the idea of these creations.
New wine in old bottles" is
the opening sentence in this ar
ticle, aud refers to the advanced
work she has done in this realm
Of art. "Her materials are rough
lengths of silk and ellis of fine
velvets. They are opulent in
scale and dimension. and to the
ancient craft of the batik she brings
new processes and enrichments and
delicacies of application and of
feeling"
at is with sense of discovery
that one finds SO ardent an explorer
as Ethel Wallace, whose batiks are
made in the original way, with a
wax "resist'" often washed out and
replaced with fresh coating of hot
wax, and each tone or color achiev-
ed by dipping in a carefully COM
pounded dye-color, She says of her
work in batik: ut is an expert
ment to see how far one may go
with medium that has had little
honor done to it.
Briefly, the process embodies first
the painting-in Of designs, whether
in human figures or inanimate OBJ
iects, on the surface Of the fabric.
Melted wax is then applied over
the surfaces which are NOT to
be colored. The fabric is then pas
sed thru dye of the color desired
for the exposed surfaces.
Then the wax is removed. New
wax is applied to the surfaces al
ready colored, and the fabric is
passed thru dye of another color,
and so on until all the figures and
designs have been colored according
to the plan for the finished batik.
This process creates, to quote again
from the international Studio"
Sophisticated coloring, at once a
blending of the patina of old marble
and the sharpness of broken fruit,
the dimness of faded frescoes, the
whole shot through with the keen
brilliance of jewel lights"
Charles F. Ramsey, New Hope
artist, and Calleia Enright, Span
ish artist of New York City, have
been assisting Mrs. Roberts during
the last few weeks in the COM
position of a group of designs IN
curtains and hangings for the inter-
Tor decorations of fashionable New
York residence. | had the pleasure
Of seeing the finished batiks before
they left the studio. And it is my
| sincere belief that | have never
seen such lavish colors in such pleas
ing ntricacies of designs as We're
portrayed in these fabrics.
BEGAN EXPERIMENTS in
RECORD BUILDING
It is interesting to note that
| Ethel Wallace had her first studio
in the Record Building on Coryell
street where the offices of this pa
per are now located. 1t was here
She made the primary experiments
which later led to her success and
recognition in New York City. She
has gone far in realm of art
which has depth of feeling and
a wealth of coloring already mel
lowed by the ancients who first
produced it, and enriched by her
in a deeping and broading sense of
expression seldom found.