New Britain herald., 1928-04-07
BAT|K WORK DATES
 BACK l,500 YEARS
Plalnvi!le Woman, Expert at Art, Delights Connoisseurs

Bauk work commands rather high prices but the artist earns ever,
 cent Of the money, according to Mrs. Theona Peck Harris of Red.
 stone hill, Plainville. who has re- cently come into prominence as the result of the instantaneous favor found by her work at a private ex- hlbltion held recently in New York 1 city.
 The batik method of decorating 1 materials such as silk, linen, cotton
 and velvet. is very old art, Mrs.
 Harris says. It was practiced by the Chinese same 1500 years ago. The l present revival comes through Hol-
 land from its East Indian colony of
 Java. The Dutch painters studied
 their technique on their island pos
 session and soon had all Europe in- 1 fatuated with the great diversity of effects of real artistic value obtain- l able through this decorative me
 dium.
 | How IL Is Done
 Batik is a dyeing process in which
 the design is stopped out by | means of wax applied, in hot liouid I form, 10 the material to be dyed, 1 The hot wax is put on with brush
 or 'tjanting.' a small copper dip-
 per-shaped tool having a long fine l spout through which the heated wax l flows.
 1 The wax, saturating the material ln lines and masses. prevents the dye from attacking the fiber and holding the color while inc material IS dipped in Water-diluted dye. In this way many WaXings and dyeings are made, and an intricate design may be worked out. When complet- ed the wax is dissolved and washed ou. in gasoline baths.
 For richness of color and artistic effect few if any means of orna- mentlng materials can compete with ba11k. Since the present style of in terror decoration of houses asks fewer pictures and more tapestries, batik mural hangings have come into their own and the demand for them among the best class of dec orators in the large cities such as New York and Boston is increasing. The decorative effect of these sim ple colorful pieces. hung on plain wall spaces, is most charming, and people of tastes are quickly realizing their value. They command rather high prices, but as the process is slow, difficult and full of pitfalls to the unskilled. the artists who make them we'll earn the money that they bring.
 Wins Recognition in New York
 Mrs. Harris is typical example of inc prophet unhonored in his own country. Although she has resided m Plainville for number of years the majority Of her friends either did not know or did not realize the value of her work, and it was not until her batiks had aroused the en- fhuslasm of connoisscurs in New ork city that she received the hon. or due her from the people of her home town. Her own modesty was largely responsible for the tardi- hess of her fame. for she herself did not believe that the outside world would be interested in her batiks 1 and paintings.
 After much urging she finally | consented to a private exhibit in New York, and she was probably | as much surprised at the reception | Of her work as the critics were at i her genius. A woman who had | known her but l. minutes gave her a valuable old sheet which had | been owned by General Gansvoort | of Revolutionary fame and directed 1 her to make an historic scene upon 1 if. She was invited to be guest of l honor at a tea and to show her york again next month. She was re- | quested to reserve space at the In- l dustrlal Arts exposition to be held in !, October at the Hotel Astor.
 Many Reproduce Pinnacle Rocks
 Then Plainvile recognized her, and her work was shown this week 1 at a meeting of the Plainvile Wo- mans club, while the reports of | those who had attended led others to seek private yieWings. Governor John II. Trumbull was one of those | W ho thus honorea Mrs. Harris, while ! his brother. Henry Trumbull. is re- | ported 10 be considering asking her 10 paint the famous Pinnacle rocks on his farm.
 Her paintings are landscapes, done mostly in New Hampshire. The hatlk work, however, is most fHnci- iul and original, representing a great wealth of subjects. All done in gor- seous and intricate color schemes, these include young Lochinvar, q tiger stalking in the jungle, q me- 1ieNal flower girl. beautiful pea 2oCk and q marvellous fan-sha bed 1"aping girl' which met with i'm mediate acclaim and has already Jeen sold.
 
 SETS OWN BROKEN LEG,
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