The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1933-03-06

lean product.
TINE bamboo motif used in
i later Majolica, for example
the handle on the pitcher illus
trated, is an inheritance from the
ancient custom of storing drugs
and spices in bamboo. This design
was employed when the original
Majolica was made for pharmacy
jars, which were called "Albarello,"
meaning little tree"
In Italy the house Of Nfedici can
be credited with encouraging the
development of Majolica, though
they may have wanted it for at
tractive poison containers.
When made in the United States,
this ware was not the true Stanni-
ferrous Faience. 1t was a white
pottery covered with colored gIazes
and given the trade name of Ma
jolica. Nevertheless, it deserves
notice on it's own merits, especial
ly for the pastel colorings which
are lovely.
The fact that it represents a
definite phase of pottery accom-
plishment entities it to a place in
the annals of American art.
AS usual when an artistic en-
deaVor is developed, at least an
echo of it occurs in Indiana. In
1887 James Bennett managed at
Troy, Ind, factory that probably
made some Majolica, since the
Bennett Brothers later became
famous for this ware.
Also in Evansville, A. M. Beck
IN 1882 built a pottery where
MaJolica was manufactured ex-
clusively, but he lived only two
years and the succeeding man
agement changed the product.
THE centennial at PHILADELPHIA
Il in 1876 stimulated the in
tereSt in pottery manufacture in
the United States, as the Ameri-
lean potters were inspired to ex-
Gel exhibits sent from the finest
factories in the world. James
Carr, of the New York City Pottery
Company, 1853-1889, sent a Ma
Jolica exhibit consisting of pitch
ers, sugar bowls, vases, match
boxes, compotes and centerpieces.
1t won a medal not only at the
centennial, but from the Amer
lean Institute of New York, and
was kept by the Pennsylvania Mu-
scum as a permanent collection.
Mr.. Carr sent an exhibit to the
Paris exposition in 1878, which also
won a medal.
Edwin and William Bennett,
younger brothers of James, had
factory in Baltimore in 1850,
where they made Majolica marked
E. and w. Bennett, Canton,
avenue, Baltimore. Edwin must
have continued making this ware
until after the Worlds Fair at
Chicago in $685. as his exhibit
there was the only one of its kind
in the American section. The fine
Clifton Majolica was made in
Baltimore also and is marked
plainly.
CHOULD you find pottery bear
~ ing the word "Etruscan," don't
get excited. 1t isn't one of the
precious pieces made in Etruria
about 600 B. c., but was made at
Phoenixville, Pa, at the period of
its general popularity The firm
of Griffen, Smith & Hill, 1890
1890, marked it's ware with an i'm
preston of the monogram G. S. H.
surrounded by the trade name
EtruScan Majolica, the monogram
alone, or the name of Etruscan or
Etrascan Majolica.
This company made some eX-
ceedingly beautiful pieces while
an artist named Broune was the
designer Coral, weeds and shells
were initiated and table services
were made in leaf form, the
moulds being taken from real
leaves.
The plate illustrated is of this
type, with the leaf center Of light
green, edged in yellow and the
border Of delicate lavender basket
weave.
Mrs. w. o. Dunlavy has some
pieces of EtruScan Majolica that
were wedding gifts to her mother.
Two Of the plates are fashioned
to resemble leaf in shape as well
as coloring. One has the delicate
brown tintS Of a fall leaf and the
other shades from yellow to green.
A pitcher decorated with fern
leaves follows the coloring of the
later piece and may have been
intended originally to accompany
it
The ancient origin and unques-
toned beauty of ajolica should
inspire collectors to true appre-
citation of the varieties made in
the United States, which. though
rare, are waiting to be found and
treasured.