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ion Potters Club Craftsman Associat
ion National Clay Society M u d Mixers
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ion Potters Club Craftsman Associat-
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ion Potters Club Craftsman Associat-
ion National Clay Society M u d Mixers
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Ceramics Guild H o b b y Kiln Associat-
ion Potters Club ~ ~ ~ A~nci~qr.
ion National Cla
Association Cer
CLUB RATESFOR ALL!
You don't have to belong to a club or group to enioy "club rates."
Potters G r o u p 1~ Our Special Introductory Subscription Offer makes a large saving
available to everyone. In effectmit gives individuals the advantage
Ceramics Guild i of group rates!
ion Potters Clul( You can save 25~/o on a subscription to Ceramics Monthly. The
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ion National CI~ amics for only $4.00. Take advantage of this offer while it is still in
effect. Send in the handy post card tucked in this issue. If someone
Association Cer! has already used it, send a note with your order to:
Potters G r o u p t Ceramics Monthly
3494 N. High Street
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ion Potters C l u ~rartsman ~ssoclat


ion National Clay Society M u d Mixers
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Potters G r o u p H o b b y Kiln Association
Ceramics Guild H o b b y Kiln Association
ion Potters Club Craftsman Associat
ion National Clay Society Mud Mixers
Association Ceramics Club Porcelain
ROGER'SNEWBARCLAYMODEL180
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Wheel, Kiln-Garde, Brushes, Etc. Mayco Underglazes.

FAIRCHILD CERAMIC STUDIO


MANUFACTURERS OF ROGERS ELECTRIC KILNS
712 Centre St. W.H. FAIRCHILD, Prop. Freeland, Pa.
APRIL 1953 I
'Duet' A Symphonyin Steel
with an
letters
Inspired Modern Touch!
Rescue Ceramics from "Minor A r t " But "wheel spun" pottery was made in the
Americas before pre,Columbian times. In
'Gentlemen : ancient Zapoteca (Mexico) pottery of pre,
. . . I have devoured both issues. Your Christian vintage a " s p u n " technique is
articles, photographs, layout are excellent. definitely noticeable.
I hope you will maintain this high standard. Makers of "ollas de barro cocido" (black
! This publication is something we have
needed, and it will help to get ceramics
earthenware) have spun vases, jars, and
bowls for over 2,000 years Ordinary wheels
out of that pigeon-hole classification of for throwing have a fixed axis, or point
"minor art." . . . I intend to make it re- upon or about which they turn. But the
quired reading for all my students. Zapoteca makes pottery forms by skill-
WILLIAM WYMAN fully revolving one convex bowl upon an-
Drake University other without any fixed axis. They call these
earthenware bowls "wheels."
Des Moines, Iowa One shallow bowl without a foot is
placed squarely upon the ground in an in,
"Free Form" Gets "Thumbs U p " verted position Another, just like the first,
is placed bottom-side down upon the other
Gentlemen : with a huge pinch pot placed inside it.
Congratulations on the fine feature article With the fingers on one hand grasping
on "Free Form" in the February issue. I will the edge of the upper bowl, and the other
be looking forward to receiving your maga- hand on the lip of the pot being formed
zine each month. (using wetted leather to smooth it), the
Wall Bracketsfor your wall Should like very much to have your
excellent informational bulletin on CERAMICS
upper bowl is spun rapidly. O f course, the
whole pot wasn't smoothed thus; only the
PRICE ................. $1.20 e a c h MONTHLY sent to each installation in the
F u r n i s h e d w i t h o u t tiles
lip was.
Sixth A r m y area. T h e A r m y crafts pro- Keep up the good work . . .
Shipping Weight ............ 10 oz. gram is a vital part of the Special Services W . B. FLETCHER
FLOWER POT MOLD recreational activities at these installations,
#810A ...................... $3.50 North Carolina College
and is providing opportunities for the serv-
Shipping Weight ........... 15 lbs. ice personnel to participate in and enjoy Durham, N. C.
creative crafts activity. Your fine magazine
is truly an up-to-the-minute source o f in- Let's SEE the Authors!
spiration for anyone who has enjoyed work-
ing with clay . . . Gentlemen :
CARMINE T . SENA . . would it not be v e r y a p p r o p r i a t e to
have a good photograph of the person who
Staff Crafts Director is writing each article? Your magazine is to
Headquarters Sixth A r m y be a friendly magazine so let's see the
San Francisco, Calif. people who are contributing . . .
PETER A . SLUSARSKI
Gentlemen : Greenfield Village Pottery
It is both a joyous and spiritual experi-
ence to receive your excellent CERAMICS Dearborn, Mich.
MONTHLY; you deserve our special thanks.
May I express my deep appreciation to Pictures Give the Picture
Trivets for your table you for Dorothy Perkins" article "'Free
Form," which is written in so elucidating Gentlemen :
This is exactly the type of magazine
PRICE ................. $1.00 e a c h and understandable a manner. This will be
F u r n i s h e d w i t h o u t tiles of great help to students of all ages but that'I" have been looking for; not too tech-
especially in adult ceramics classes T h e nical, not too arty, but with information
Shipping Weight ............ 14 oz. that is useful, lucid, and complete. Photo-
accompanying illustrations with the article
30% Discount on are fine. graphs are well reproduced, showing tex-
ALL HAVE PERM- Dozen Lots tures clearly--an important matter . . .
SYBIL RIGHTER
ANENT FINISH - - (ShippingWeight 4 ERNEST M . PITTARO
BLACK CANNOT Marblehead, Mass Flushing, N. Y.
SCRATCH, CHIP, Ibs. 12 oz.)
OR WEAR! 40% Discount on Design Delineation Desired Gentlemen :
Gross Lots . . I had to write a few lines to let you
Gentlemen : know how thrilled I am with the articles,
No C.O.D.mlnclude Postage when I think you have made a fine start with advertisements, etc. It is just the magazine
Ordering your new magazine. I wish to extend my I have been looking for, as I am only an
You Pay No Packing Charges! subscription to 27 months . . . . Keep up amateur potter and need lots of instruction
the good work and give us lots of material The articles are easy to understand and
J MAIL THIS COUPON J for the hobby potter with a low fire kiln, the various illustrations beautifully "put
good practical stuff that we can really use. out." I hope you keep it going Good luck
I Please send me the fallowing: I I'd like to see articles . . . on design by to you.
_ ~Wall Brackets at $1.20 ea. outstanding p e o p l e . . . ( M I s s ) D. C . STARER
J _ __Trivets at $1.00 ea. i Pomona, N. Y.
R U T H L. TAYLOR Alberta, Canada.

J _Flower Pot Mold at $3.50 ea. J # Coming up! A Toast


dozen gross i
Gentlemen:
I Name ........................ "Spinning" on the " W h e e l " Congratulations on your new magazine
I Address . . . . . . . . . . . . :- . . . . . . . . . . [ Gentlemen : This country has long needed a publication
Your second issue . . . raised a question devoted primarily to the creative arts in
City . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . State . . . . . . . . ceramics Surrounded by an intelligent and
in my mind concerning just what consists
capable staff I'm sure you will find the
I JOHN MARTIN Treasures It of a wheel t h r o w n pot. [See February
CERAMICS MONTHLY, Vignettes, Page 20].
W h e e l thrown pottery, as Europeans are
success you are after. May your publication
life be long and successful.
I 545 Valley Road, Dept. CM 4 EDWARD WINTER
j Upper Montclair, N.J. J familiar with it, was not known in the
Americas before the coming of Europeans. Cleveland, Ohio

2 CERAMICS MONTHLY
An Open Letter other words, don't ride an "ism"
for its own sake.
FURRY AS A
HE question was raised, "How can
T the average American in the 'Melt-
KITTEN'S E A R
ing Pot of the World,' with a choice
N all fairness and in line with the
I obvious integrity and worth of
of 20 or more traditions to learn from,
find his valid tradition?"
your articles, we feel that another Several provocative suggestions and
view of the Midwest Craftsmen's Semi- partial answers arose from the discus-
nar (CE~MlCS MON'rHLV, February) sion. " A man of one tradition has a
should be presented. narrow path but what he does is valid,"
Besides Leach, Hamada, and Yanagi ~Leach. He did not suggest that we
the program included American experts should copy any tradition but examine
in the various fields of marketing, ma- valid traditions to discover the prin-
terial and industrial resources, and c i p l e s - n o t techniques--and then out
education. The objectives of the Semi- of a deep awareness create that which
nat were:
is valid for us and our time.
1. The need for human complement He suggested that the American In-
to the machine age. 2. To effect a meet- dian and the Colonial potter are our Our New
ing of Eastern and Western cultures. best valid indigenous tradition and that
3. To report on the International Con- DECORATOR FROST
they handled simple materials appro-
ference of Craftsmen at St. Ives, priate to form and methods of execu-
England. tion with a high degree of craftsman- Used as a drip, or lald on in design
The first objective was interwoven ship. W e could explore and use our over UNFIRED glazes, FROST glves
throughout every activity; the second own native clays as they did, handling YOUR work the distinction of an ex-
through the comments, criticism, and them according to our contemporary hibition piece. Simple to use, amaz-
especially through the philosophy methods and philosophy but retain ingly lovely-and SO economical.
papers read by Dr. Yanagi; the third their direct and spontaneous force. Use it in combination with the
was handled mainly by Mr. Leach. All through the Seminar the aspect glorious, new
The International C on f e r e n c e of humility was emphasized. Humility
brought out the similarity of the prob- in evaluating the worth of your own BEACHSTONE GLAZES
lems of all craftsmen all over the work rather than the time and effort At last, they're YOURS. For the first
world. Leach believes the problems of expended. " W h y expect to be paid time, the ARTIST'S O W N GLAZES
techniques are of no use without ob- twice--in the enjoyment derived from have been released to YOU, the
ectives. W e in the West, he says, are the work and the selling price as well?" hobbyist who demands good taste
more and more putting means before Leach inquired. in ceramics. The glaze with the
aims. Some of the means specifically museum standard of quality and the
mentioned are: muted beauty of wet pebbles on the
1. The educational system--a re-
hearsal of learning techniques T HE P O T T E R should not assume
he is prepared to make a living or
sand. In misty flecked rose, grey-
greens, blues, silver greys and gold-
instead of craftsman-like under- even make good pots after a year of
en hues, they flow on like honey,
standing and handling of the classes in a school or a few weeks of
and at cone 06, emerge with the
media with a joy of work lessons from a master. It takes seven to
texture of petals themselves. Equally
that comes only from its com- ten years of constant practice to throw
effective on G R E E N W A R E OR
plete mastery. well. Up to that time most of your
BISQUE.
2. The "precious approach" where products are student works and should
Give YOUR pieces the glazes they
the attempt is made to always be priced and valued as such.
merit by getting your BEACHSTONE
create a unique and precious I might conclude by saying that
through the philosophy demonstrated KIT of FIVE full 4 oz. jars of Velva-
thing. Mr. Leach felt that it was
and discussed at this meeting we Ply BEACHSTONE colors, PLUS one
far better to learn to throw good jar of DECORATOR FROST. at
shapes, appropriate to material gained what could be termed a religious
experience. W e came away with a re- ONLY 4.50 plus postag~---(80c west
and function, with spontaneous
dedication to the basic principles ob- of Miss., 60c, east) Regular VELVA-
joy and skill acquired by repeti-
served in vital expressions of all ages. PLY KIT of 6 assorted colors, 3.50
tive practice of a premeditated
It takes eyes to see and a heart to feel plus postage. Be the first to send for
shape than to throw mechanically
but the soul of the pot is in an honest these truly superior ART glazes. You
precise "unique" ware squeezed
from an educated mind. collaboration between man and ma- will sooner or later, so why not TO-
terial. DAY7 (A Kay Harrison Laboratory
3. Experimentation - - Mr. L e a c h
W e in America have the freedom to Product.)
warned of the labyrinth of ex-
perimentation wherein a crafts- study the products of all nations. W e
have the right to look for the harmony
man could become lost. He ad-
vised experimentation only until of meaning, form, and method. W e can ,haKAY HARRISON,tud
os
one reaches a valid expression accept or reject the rhythms of ma- (Formerly Norwest Ceramics)
and then to develop that, giving terial and form of each culture as suits
8744. W. McNichols Rd.
variations upon the theme until our personal interests, and we can use
Detroit 21, Mich.
it is exhausted before attacking the products of scientific and mechani-
another experimental problem. cal aids, but we must keep that which Every ceramic need under one roof.
He said, "'Spread out only from is healthy to our own expression as a We lead the way in new ideas. Easy
yourself. If you find a proper culture. parking, Day and evening classes.
answer, then you may become a --HAROLD AND MARIA STUELAND UN 2-9222.
propagandist if you like." In Duluth, Minn.

APRIL 1953 3
l & l SCOOPSKILH FIELOWITH"I)HA-KILH
AHD F.XCLIJSI/F."I)YHIbGLOVI"F.LF.hlF.liIS ._.____....----
L : /

~ --------- _--~-----~

/4.

I - - K i l n interiors face-hardened to prevent dusting.


2 - Heat-lock recessed doors prevent loss of heat.
3 - Increased refractory provides better-than-ever
insulation.
4 - - K i l n finish is rust-proof. No corrosion or
oxidation.
5 - - L i f e t i m e case constructed of cold rolled steel.
6 - Two pyrometer holes for Thermocouples assure
accurate temperature control. 9 - - W i r e cord on plug-in models is UL approved.
7 - - O n e or more pilot lights on every Dyna-Kiln. 10--Heavy duty steel legs for free ventilation.
8 --Switches -- 3-heat type, UL approved, Guaran-
teed One Year. 11 - - T w o peepholes, including plugs.
12 --Automatic controls available for all Dyna-Kiln
NEW DYNA-~LOWELEMENT#OLDE~!$ models.
1 3 - Square shape provides more area than round
New Dyna-Glow Element Holders in or octagon kilns.
all Front Loading and Top Loading 14 -- All doors complete with sturdy hinges.
Models
New Dyna-Glow elements unconditionally 1 5 - - 3 7 standard Dyna-Kiln models -- 2050 ~ and
guaranteed for one year. Elements STAY 2300 models.
in place with Dyna-Glow Element hold-
ers. No dust. No flaking. No protrusions 1 6 - Dyna-Kiln, elements and switches Guaranteed
to damage wore. This exclusive develop- for One Year.
ment of L & L kiln research assures more
even temperatures than previously pos- 1 7 - - A I I models with elements on bottom have
sible. WRITE FOR DESCRIPTIVE LIT- hearth plate and posts.
ERATURE.

ACT NOW--SUPPLY LIMITED- SEE YOUR DE,fLEE

~ : : : ~ , , ~:::~:~ ~" ~:'~" ~ ;~'~ ~;~#:~! ~ #'-~ii~:~ 4 "~.~:~

4. CERAMICS MONTHLY
a letter from the editor

I would like to dwell on my favorite subjectm


Volume 1, Number 4 APRIL, 1953 you, the reader. At least one of youDnamely the
45 cents per copy first one!
We were quite amazed and embarrassed one
day last July, when we received an inquiry regard-
cover story ing a subscription to "Ceramics Monthly." Amazed
because we hadn't as yet publicized our forthcom-
I n n o v a t i o n s o n the W h c c l . . . ] . Sheldon Carey 12
ing venture and embarrassed be-
cause we hadn't then established ~ ~~
articles .ub.c,p,on re.e. We had
only been "open for business" for
Ceramics for Outdoor Living. . Harold Riegger 9 a short time, and we were still in
S h i v e r i n g in Glazes . . . . . . . . . Edgar Littlefield 17 the "running around in circles"
William De Morgan ......... Henry Bollman 18 stage.
C l o s e d Shapes i n F r e e F o r m . . D o r o t h y Perkins 19 The inquiry was from Mrs. Hor-
Dccoratc Tile ................ Henry Kleigh 28 ace J. Boesch Sr., Dayton, Ohio.
We have since asked her how she learned of
"Ceramics Monthly" so early. Here's the answer
in her own words: "My husband saw a small item
regular reading in the Dayton Daily News saying you and Mr. Davis
A d v e r t i s e r s I n d e x . . . 33 Itinerary .......... 7 had left the staff of the American Ceramic Society
to publish a ceramic art and craft magazine. He
A n s w e r s to Letters .......... 2
obtained your address from our Chamber of Com-
Questions ....... 27 New ~ Useful ... 6
merce. That was July, 1952, and when we learned
F r o m O u r R e a d e r s . . . 30 Profile .......... 22 the magazine was still six months off we wondered
Show Time ...... 32 if it would ever come. But sure enough January
came and so did 'Ceramics Monthly'."
Before we went to press wlth our first issue,
more than five thousand others had followed Mrs.
EDITOR ADVISORY EDITORS Boesch's example, but we feel quite partial to our
Louis G. Farber d. Sheldon Carey "number one subscriber" for starting the ball roll-
Edgar Littlefield ing. And we plan to keep her with us for a while,
ASSOCIATE EDITOR
Richard B. Petterson
Roger D. Bonham as a sort of lucky rabbit's foot. (We have entered
CONTRIBUTING EDITORS a continuously renewing subscription in her name.)
BUSINESS MANAGER Henry Bol[man A housewife with four children, Mrs. Boesch
Spencer L. Davis Dorothy W. Perkins
tells us, "1 am happy doing plain work as a hobby.
Kenneth E. Smith
I sell nothing; I give no lessons, as I realize I am
not qualified to do that. And if more people would
reafize that we would have more people interested
in ceramics!"
Ceramics Monthly is. published at the Lawhead Press, Inc., Athens, Ohio, We particularly like her philosophy for the
by Professional Publications, Inc., 3494 N. H.igh St., Columbus 14, Ohio.
Spencer L. Davis, President and Treasurer; Louis G. Farber, Vice President; future of "Ceramics Monthly": "Here is to when
P. S. Emery, Secretary. Price in U.S.A. and Possessions: one year, $4; two you reach the one million mark; then we will cele-
years, $7; three years $9. Canada and Pan America 50 cents a year additi6nal;
foreign countries add $I a year. brate. Righto?"
Advertising correspondence~ copy, and cuts should be sent to t h e Adver-
Righto and Amen!
tising Manager, Cr~^MIcs MOlVTHLY, 3494 N. High St., Columbus 14, Ohio. Yours cordially,
Application for entry as second-class matter pending. Printed in U.S.A.
Copyright by
Professional Publications, Inc.
All rights reserved.
COMPLETE...
LIHE OF POTTERY SUPPLIES
new & useful
FIRING ENAMELS should be easier and more successful
with the use of the new Bates adjustable trivet. The in-
Q U A L I T Y MATERIALS ventors, Kenneth F. Bates and A. H. Edgerton, say they
have designed the handy stand "to do the work of at least
AND EQUIPMENT five ordinary trivets of graded size."
FAST SERVICE The Bates trivet will accommodate anything from a tiny
earring enamel to a 7 inch bowl. Using the oversize
REASONABLE PRICES "wings" which are available, it will hold pieces up to 12
inches in diameter.
Four points of rim contact hold the piece to be fired
NEW NEW NEW securely, so that there will be no sliding or tipping when
placing it in the kiln. Thus the enamel can be fired without
BELLEEK SLIP CONE 6 marking or marring its surface.
White and 9 colors The stand is made of heavy gauge stainless steel and
brass.
Transparent Glaze-Cone 3- Will N o t Sag A free description circular may be obtained by writing
WHITEST AND MOST TRANSLUCENT Kenneth F. Bates, 7 E. 194th St., Euclid 19, Ohio. Please
Prices on Request mention this magazine.

~,~q"~ FOR FREE CATALOGUE OF "CLAY PLAY," a four-page article by Julia Hamlin Dun-
SUPPLIES AND E Q U I P M E N T can, has been reprinted from Family Circle Magazine, and
may be obtained free from the Pemco Corp., ~601 Eastern
Ave., Baltimore 24, Md.
The author, who is Sculpture and Ceramics Instructor
RODER at the Peoples' Art Center, Museum of Modern Art, New
York, offers the article to the whole family as a guidance
for starting on simple clay work, pottery, and ceramic
CERAMIC STUDIO sculpture.
1828 ARCH ST. PHILADELPHIA, PA. She presents her information in a question-and-answer
style, ranging in subject from "How early may a child use
clay and benefit from the experience?" to " W h a t about
glazing?"

OVERFIRED KILNS can be a thing of the


PROVEN past, claims the Kay Harrison Studios,
dealer of the Dawson Kiln Sitter. This is
a cleverly constructed device which oper-
By Industry ates directly from a pyrometric cone:
therefore, the kiln is turned of[ when
AVAILABLE maturity has been reached and not merely
at a certain temperature. It can be an
extremely valuable instrument to the busy
To All classroom teacher or housewife who
doesn't have time to watch the firing's
progress. The manufacturers contend it is
A COMPLETE LINE OF absolutely foolproof.
C E R A M I C SUPPLIES For further information, write to the
Kay Harrison Studios, 8744 W. McNichols Rd., Detroit 21,
and please mention CERAMICS MONTHLY.
G LAZES CLAYS
UNDERGLAZES BASIC MATERIALS REPRINTS of the article entitled "Teaching Teachers
Ceramics," which appeared in the now out-of-print
ENGOBES TOOLS & BRUSHES January issue of CERAMICS MONTHLY, may now be had
by writing the American A r t Clay Co., 4717 W. 16th
Write for Catalog 14A St., Indianapolis, Ind. A pre-registration card for the
Amaco-John Herron Art School Ceramic Workshop is
being enclosed with the reprints. Information regarding
the workshop is printed on the cover of the reprint.

S. PAULWARD,INC.
601 MissionStreet SYcamore 9-213l
If you have a product or a service you feel wil L be of
interest to the readers of "Ceramics Monehly, send
South Pasadena,California PYramid 1-2552 the pertinent information and illustrations (if available!
to the attention of the Editor, 'Ceramics Monthly,
3494 N. High St., Columbus 14, Ohio.

6 CERAMICS MONTHLY
itinerary
address notices of ceramic group meetings and shows to Itinerary
Editor, Ceramics Monthly, 3494 N. High St., Columbus, Ohio

WHERE TO SHOW Artists and craftsmen from Monroe


and 18 other New York counties may
CALIFORNIA, Sacramento enter. Pottery and sculpture acceptable.
May 20-June 28 Fee is $1 and prizes will be given. For
Kingsley Art Club's exhibition will be details write Isabel C. Herdle at the
at the Crocker Art Gallery. Residents Art Gallery, 490 University Ave.
of the Central Valleys may submit
sculpture and crafts. No fee; prizes ORECON, Portland
awarded. Entries and work due May M a y 13-June 20
8-9. For details contact Mrs. George The Fourth Annual Exhibition of
C. Brett, 2757 Curtis Way. Northwest Ceramics. Sponsored by the
CONNECTICUT, Norwalk Board of Directors of the Oregon
Ceramic Studio. There will be a jury.
June 6-July 6 and awards will be given. Pieces should FOR THE ~ ' ~
Residents or natives of New England reach the Studio April 13-27. Preview
may compete in the Silvermine Guild and reception 8 P.M. May 12. (See
of Artists All New England Show.
Sculpture accepted. Fee is $3; cash
Show Time this issue.) IN CERAMIC COLORS
prizes given. Entry cards and work
due May 18. For further information WHERE TO G O A R T I S T S SETS
contact Chairman Revington Arthur.
CALIFORNIA, Claremont . . consisting of twenty-five Over-
FLORIDA, Sarasota
T h r o u g h M a y 14
June 29-July 26 The 10th Annual Invitational Ceramic g l a z e or U n d e r g l a z e Selected
The Sarasota Summer Festival of the Exhibition of the West Coast will be
Arts will include a craft show. Tool colors in glass vials, bakelite screw
held at the Scripps College campus.
and equipment awards, as well as $750 Indoor and outdoor garden sculpture, caps. Ideal for the student or am-
in cash, to be given. (See Show Time, architectural ceramics, and special con-
this issue.) ateur potter
tainers for flower arrangements will be
INDIANA, Indianapolis displayed.
May 17-June 14 OVERGLAZE COLORS
FLORIDA, Clearwater
The Second Biennial Indiana Ceramic
Exhibition. At the John Herron Art T h r o u g h A p r i l 19 . . for all types of Overglaze dec-
Museum, Pennsylvania ~ 16th Sts. Exhl%ition of the 17th Ceramic Na- oration
Open to amateurs or professionals re- tional circuit show. At the Florida Gulf
siding in Indiana. Work must be orig, Coast Art Center.
inal, not class work, and done within UNDERGLAZE COLORS
the last two years. Prizes: $760. Entry Tallahassee
cards due April 27; work, April 28. April 29-May 24 . . complete pallette of colors for
Address W. D. Peat, Director of the Exhibition of the 17th Ceramic Na-
Museum. tional circuit show. At Florida State hand painting, spraying, banding
University. or printing. Pinks and Crimsons of
NEW YORK, Rochester
May 8-June 7 ILLINOIS, Chicago unequalled beauty.
The 1953 Rochester Finger Lakes Ex- Current
hibit will be at Memorial Art Gallery. "Good Design" show. At the Chicago
Merchandise Mart. GLAZE STAINS

Chicago . . of strong tinctorial strength,


April 21 ground to the same high degree of
The monthly meeting of the Chicago fineness as our superb line of Un-
Potters Guild will be at the Palmer
House at 7:30 v.M. Miss Dorothy derglaze Colors
Saunders is to speak on her experiences
with body stains; Miss Claudia Boyn-
ton will report, in the light of her BODY AND ENGOBE STAINS
knowledge of the artware field, on the
many home shows she has attended. . finely ground to insure perfect
blending with the clay body or slip.
Urbana
T h r o u g h April 12
"American Craftsmen-1953," part of OILS AND MEDIUMS
the annual Festival of Contemporary
Arts at the University of Illinois. DECALCOMANIA COLORS
Seventy-five works by 50 of the coun-
try's leading craftsmen. Installation at . . in both Underglaze and Over-
the Union Building.
glaze.
KANSAS, W i c h i t a
April 11-May 11
OUR COVER this month by Gordon
Kelth. Building "in the round" is a
term loosely used by the ceramist
--and even more so by author
Carey. See page 121
For living American craftsmen, the
Eighth National Decorative Arts,
Ceramics Exhibition at the Art Asso,
ciation Galleries. Ceramics, enamels,
and glass will be shown.
MASON
COLOR & CHEMICAL WORKS INC.
L.ST LIVERPOOL. OHIO
(Please turn to Page 31)

APRIL 1953 7
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8 CERAMICS MONTHLY
A T to make? It's a question

ceramics for at continually bobs up in the


ceramist's mind. Too often the answers
fall in the same category--something
for the house, perhaps an ash tray, a
bowl, or just a decorative pinch pot.
But now it's spring, and soon we'll be

OUTDOOR spending more and more time in the


yard and garden. So why not some
ceramics for outdoor living?
How often has the "patio prince"
of the household wanted something un-
usual and useful for the yard, say a

LIVING bird bath, a couple of planters or just


an ornament. Steamed up with pleasant
images of a future Garden of Eden,
which he'll inaugurate with a super-
barbecue supper, he goes shopping.
W h a t greets him but a silver gazing
ball on a concrete pedestal, or a painted
by HAROLD RIEGGER plaster duck, complete with a chain of
little ones toddling behind!
Not knowing what else to spend his
money on, he buys the gazing ball, and
with a clandestine pang of concern,
APRIL 1953 9
adapted to other service m gardens.
[ think that the pictures illustrating
PLAQUE and adjacent this article indicate that even in our
planter enhance this space
short six,week course we proved this
divider. With skillful alter-
to be true.
ation, the planter was ad-
apted from a section of
wet drain tile. Patio scene
I NtheT E class's
N T I O N A L L Y trying to keep
approach to the problem
fresh and even personal, suggestions for
on the preceding page projects were made in such general
shows how a corner of categories as eating, lighting, entertain-
your garden might look ment, structure, and ornament. This
with a number of ceramic pretty much kept the students from
objects designed for out- copying and forced them to face the
door living. The paving is problem with directness.
made from a haydite-con- Although we were hoping a manu-
crete mixture. Varied orna- facturer would take note of our experi-
ments attached to the bird ment, we primarily wanted to explore
bath are brightly glazed. and widen not only our own views but
The bird sculpture (right also attract a few lay people, con-
background) also was tractors, and architects.
made from structural clay W e made some of our work easier
materials. by getting wet drain tile right from
the machine as it was extruded, on our
visit to a local commercial pottery. This
was done in the case of roman brick.
installs the monstrosity out in front idea.) too. In the class studio these were cut.
where everyone can see it. Though he To make matters easier, one of Port- pierced, or otherwise modified to adapt
is outwardly proud, he has a suspicion land's best and most forward looking to the wlrious projects.
in the back of his mind that it leaves landscape architects, A r t h u r Erfeldt, A successful project done in the sum,
something to be desired aesthetically. was interested in our project and mer class, I thought, was the paving
wanted to work with us. brick. Of all the people who liked them,
During the course of several pleasant the architects and landscape architects
A LLrunning
these thoughts and images were
through my mind last lunches and evenings we laid our plans.
Students would visit a number of
were the most interested. The solution
to obtaining them was simple and
summer about the time I was due to
' g o to Portland, Ore., to teach another ceramic manufacturing plants in the direct. Roman tile were merely cut in
summer session in pottery. I hadn't vicinity; they would tour, besides, the a different way than usual, and the
decided yet what to teach, specifically. city's best examples of traditional and pieces were used as paving instead of in
It came to me that here was a chance contemporary residence gardens. Back walls. The manufacturer, in this case.
to continue a project that several of in the classroom the students would need only make a slight adjustment on
us professional potters in the San Fran- plan their projects fully, considering the extruding machine from which he
cisco Bay area had begun the year be- the manufacturing process of the ob- gllllll Ill$1111i~lllllgll IIII I$11glll11551 gill ggllll:

fore. In short, we'd make projects for jects they would use. A professional potter, Mr. Riegger
use in the garden or patio. (I owe You see, we believed that simple, divides his time between wor k at the
thanks to Edith Heath, our former functional clay forms like drain tile, Miltonvale (Kan. ) Potteries and teach-
President of the Association of San roman brick, flue tile, and the like ing a pottery workshop summers at the
Francisco Potters for fostering the could, with some imagination, be University of Oregon, Portland.

SERVING TABLE of roman brick is decorated in underglaze brown and


set in a frame of Oregon cedar. The table top is removable from wrought
iron legs. Far right, Author Riegger chats with employees at the drain
tile plant (Scholls Tile Co., Scholls Ferry, Ore.) where much of the ma-
terial far his group's outdoor ceramic projects was obtained.

10
makes roman brick and he'd have his
different paving brick. Of course, the
landscape architects envisaged interest-
ing walls in the garden, too, made of
units like these and larger.
Another interesting development to TABLE LAMP has hollowed
come out of the class was the paving out roman brick for o base.
block of haydite aggregate. This is The bulb is recessed in the
merely a cement mixture including base: a designed wire
bloated shale instead of the usual frame and plastic shade
pumice. W e found such block could complete the lamp.
be fired in a kiln without damage, so
one student decorated a number of
block using an ear syringe and glaze,
and made enough units to pave a patio

she was planning. W h a t else like this


might be done: glazed haydite block
for decorative walls in the garden, even GAY TABLE accessories
inside the home? set the scene for a summer
If you live near a commercial plant backyard picnic. At the
where you can get wet drain tile, or tip of the vine in the fore-
even if you don't, ceramics for outdoor ground is a candle food
living might be just the project for the warmer. Paving of the nook
hobby-craftsman, club and school is a roman brick. In picture
groups, or even professionals. More- at right, salad bowl and
over, here is the ceramist's chance t o cruets are on a metal
show that he can do something besides table fitted with glazed
"museum pieces." Certainly these porcelain rods, an ideal
ceramics with the "'human touch" will place to set hot dishes.
enrich summertime living in the out-
of-doors.

APRIL 1953 II
COVER
STORY

INNOVATIONS
on the W h e e l
by J. SHELDON CAREY

E were students struggling with a lump of clay on a


W potter's wheel and the professor said, "It would be
to your advantage to practice every moment that you have
to spare and learn to throw well." It was one of those
casual remarks that any teacher is likely to make for the
purpose of helping and encouraging the student.
That was nearly 20 years ago. I am still practicing
every moment I can. Why? Because I enjoy doing it. It's
still a thrill to take an inert ball of plastic clay and make
it grow, to take shape under the pressure and guidance of
my hands--developing the never-ending possibilities of
shapes and forms.
I have been asked many times where I get ideas for
my "'different" pots. For me, ideas come by doing. In the
art of throwing, as in driving a car, reflexes should be
automatic. You do things without thinking. If you have
trained yourself to respond correctly to each situation, then
centering the ball of clay, thinning the walls, touching the

12 CERAMICS MONTHLY
/

:i'Ii iii :i:ii: i:

inside gently to cause the walls of the pot to respond out- But ideas alone are not enough. A harmony of tex-
ward, all come spontaneously. ture, color, decoration, form, and weight must be combined
It is not always necessary to have an idea as to what in creating an honest pot. It is difficult to tell in words the
you are going to make. A painter will never have any paint- secret to that combination. For each potter the arrangement
ings if he doesn't paint continuously; neither will a potter is different. For the sincere potter, every pot he makes
have any pots if he doesn't keep potting. To wait six brings him closer to that perfect harmony. This idea might
months for an idea, then rush to your wheel to give birth be called part of my belief or religion of throwing.
to the thought, will never produce the beautiful form or
pot. At least, you will get none that compares with what
could be brought forth if your whole physical system were
T Ome,show how ideas for shapes and forms have come to
let us go back about a year. It has been a progres-
in tune. As the system goes smoothly, your mind becomes sive affair. The functional scoop form shown at the top
more alert, and ideas will come "'popping" forth. of Page 12, made for serving hot French bread out-of-doors,
was one of the first of a series. It was thrown in the con-
ventional manner in the shape of a tall pot. The handle
started out as the neck, with the mouth completely closed.
Mr. Carey is head of the Ceramic Division of the As soon as the clay was stiff enough to hold its form, the
Design Department, University of Kansas, Lawrence pot was turned on its side on the edge of the table with
K~nsas. the bottom against me. With a taut wire held in both

APRIL 1953 13
hands, one continuous cut was made by a downward
motion.
Then I tried making two cups (not shown) by throw-
ing a bottle shape with a long neck. By cutting the bottle
in half vertically with the wire, two cups were evolved,
complete with handles.
As I worked on the cups, the idea for a creamer and
sugar came to me. The illustrations on the left show the
successive steps used in making them. I started by throwing
a small bottle. The neck of the bottle was then cut at a
slant to form the spout. The same type of spout is used for
both creamer and sugar bowl. since sugar will flow quite
readily.
Since the finished pieces rest on their sides, the original
bottoms had to be removed, or at least finished, in some
way. This was accomplished by placing the bottles upside
down in a special bat and tooling the bottom to continue the
curved shape of the piece. After tooling was completed, the
piece was made to assume its new position by placing it on
a table and applying a slight pressure from above. The
area in contact with the table flattened out, of course, and
provided a new bottom and position.
Incidentally, an elaborate wheel head and bat such
as those shown in the illustrations, are not necessary. A
stiff piece of clay turned in the shape of a ring or a large
doughnut could support the bottle on any wheel head and
would prove serviceable.
The fine wire of a cheese cutter comes in handy to
make the openings in the pieces and allows you a free hand
for holding the form. A t one time I made a lid out of the
section that was cut off. However, it proved to be in the
way too often and was of very little value, so I discon-
tinued making them.
I wonder if similar shapes, only smaller, would not
make a good looking and functional salt and pepper set?
One could construct it in the same way I did the creamer
and sugar, only pull the neck longer, bend it a little for
the handle, turn it on its side and make holes in the area
that was cut away in the creamer and sugar. A cork could
be placed in the end of the handle after filling.

T HtheE same
foregoing forms and ideas were all made essentially
way; that is, throwing a symmetrical shape
on the wheel and afterward changing the shape by cutting
or other methods. Different innovations presented them-
selves to me when I started to think about pots with legs.
A pot with legs is not new. M a n y were made by
aboriginal potters. Although in some cases the legs were
: :.;~ :+~: . ; : " ~ "" E :~:~- ; - +"~.".~' chiefly decorative, most were made to support the clay
utensils in their daily use. A three-legged pot could be
made to sit level on almost any irregular surface. T h e y were
excellent for cooking purposes, because a large pot with legs
could be set in the coals of an open fire. W h e n the coals
burned away the pot would still be upright.
CREAMER AND SUGAR BOWL start out as small thrown
bottles. First, the neck of the bottle is cut to form the spout.
Then the bottle is placed in a special bat and the bottom
tooled~ firm pressure from above gives the pieces a new posi-
tion. Third, the filling openings are cut using a fine wire. Sugar
pours through the spout quite readily--no more wet spoons in
the sugar bowl!

14 CERAMICS MONTHLY
- ~)-y-
Exactly how the idea of making the legs first and
shaping the pot afterward came to me I do not recall. !
threw most of the first ones away and lost control of
others in an attempt to find out the limitations of the
process.
To throw a form with legs, a lump of clay is centered,
then opened all the way to the wheel head. In thinning the
walls, only the area from which the legs are to be made
need be considered. The thickness of the walls depends on
the size of the original lump of clay. They must be thick
enough to support all of the clay that will be above them
when the form is turned over.
When the walls are the proper thickness, the lip is
divided in three equal parts and scored. W i t h a wet finger
you gently push the lip and wall slightly inward equi-
distant from two of the three marks on the lip. Then the
wheel is turned one-third and the action repeated. This is
done a total of three times. It's easier to make the line ~ ~ ~!~iI ~ ~:~

;<+1 ~..~ . . . .
vertical if the wheel is turned each time and the line made
directly in front.

T Heasily
A T each leg be of equal length is important, and is
done if the three sides are worked inward in
unison. After the opening is closed, you run a finger along
each side, and press firmly. The lines of throwing can be
retained by following with an elephant ear sponge. The
legs should be completely finished at this time.
Finishing the rest of the pot presents some problems.
Since the piece is now to be turned over, the legs, which
must support the rest of the pot while it is being formed,
will have to be strengthened. The "trick" is to stiffen the
legs and at the same time keep the clay that is yet to be
worked in a soft condition.
The most successful method I have found is to allow
some water to remain in the bottom of the piece before you
form its legs and close it. This will keep the inside moist,
and a damp cloth around the lower region will keep the
outside in a like condition. The pot is allowed to turn
slowly in front of an electric fan. Thus the newly formed
legs which are not wrapped in damp cloths are slowly
dried to a leather hard state.
In about 20 minutes the legs should be stiff enough
to proceed. One of the most important points to keep in
mind during the subsequent forming processes is that the
legs must retain their newly-found rigidity. Since water will
tend to soften the clay, the subsequent throwing will have
to be done with as little water as possible. I use a thick slip
of clay on my hands as a lubricant and find it is less likely
to run down and weaken the legs. Note from the illustra- +

tions that there is no indication of any water on the wheel d

head or on the sides of the pot. As already mentioned, a few


drops either on the inside or outside of the piece, and you
find yourself in difficulties.
The pot is removed from the wheel by cutting with a

FORMS WITH LEGS are thrown "feet first." When the legs are
formed, the piece is inverted, anchored to the wheel again and
I
the shape completed. New throwing techniques must be learned
to prevent the piece from loosening from the wheel. A thick
~. ? 2
sllp is used as a hand lubricant. To hold down drag an the
piece, little hand area is used in final shaping (see right).

APRIL 1953 15
AUTHOR CAREY
gives the bottle be-
ing thrown (see
page preceding) its
wire, and the water on the inside is allowed to drain out.
final shape, then
When everything is ready and the wheel head is clean and throws the stopper
dry, the pot is placed in position and centered. If the separately. The fin-
original lip ran true and the legs were made of equal ished form |s at
length, there will be little trouble in centering. right.
Three U-shaped wads of clay are used to hold the pot
in position. Press downward and then pinch the sides of the
wads firmly against the legs.
During the final forming, a minimum of hand surface
touching the inside and outside walls will be helpful. Too
much drag and pressure of the hands on the walls may pull
a leg loose from the wheel; then anything can happen. use, they must be placed on a perfectly level surface, to
Along with this difficulty there is one satisfaction--there is prevent a rocking or unstable effect.)
no worry about the piece being too thick in the bottom. I prefer three-legged pots to four-legged ones. A form
That was taken care of when the area was thrown for the with three legs becomes sculptural, and as the piece is
feet. turned the line or profile changes. The supporting area of
Keeping in mind the importance of good form is vital the pot becomes so much more an important part of the
at this stage of throwing. Particular care must be taken to whole form.
be sure the contour is in harmony with the feet, and that
the line rising from the feet forms a sculptural part of O me, making forms such as I have illustrated might
the pot. T be compared to exploring a new area of land. Extreme
caution and care should be used, however. Eagerness to

I Nstopper
the particular bottle shown being made here, the
was created separately. A small ball of clay was
make pots with legs as a prime motive, disregarding the
form and the application and arrangement of the decor-
saved from the large one that was prepared for the bottle. ation, could be tragic.
It is of the same consistency as the large one, thus elimin- All in all, some of my pots please me more than others.
ating small problems in throwing and in the subsequent I have shown here some of those which I find particularly
shrinkage which might otherwise arise. interesting. If I am being influenced by a particular cul-
Calipers aid in measuring the diameter of the top of ture or group of cultures, I am not conscious of the fact.
the bottle. The measurement obtained is in turn transposed Certainly in the last 4,000 years some potters must have
to the cone. If the measurements are taken when the two made similar forms on the wheel, and it would please me
are of the same hardness, there will be little difficulty in to learn that someone else had considered these forms ira,
getting them to fit. Later, when the clay is leather hard, portant enough to make, too.
the neck of the stopper can be turned to fit the bottle These, then, are some of the pots I am throwing now.
exactly. I will continue to experiment and throw similar forms
Four-legged pots such as the one shown at the bottom until something happens--either to me or to one of my pots
of Page 12 can be made in precisely the same manner. (In - - t o intrigue me into doing something different.

16 CERAMICS MONTHLY
t'n( reasons for and how to remedy

Shivering in Glazes
by EDGAR LITTLEFIELD

I N(CERAMICS
the discussion of ordinary crazing
MONTHLY. February,
cooling the body of the ware undergoes
the greater contraction, the glaze finds
terial, is able to wrinkle; the glaze,
being relatively rigid, is denied the
19~3), it was shown how the fault may itself too large for the body, and a simple expedient of wrinkling, and as
be caused by a state of tension in the state of compression is established in a result large compressive stresses build
glaze, arising from the glaze having a the glaze. When an apple dries, shrink- up within it. W e then have a situation
greater coefficient of thermal expansion age occurs in both skin and pulp, but wherein every part of the glaze is push-
than that of the body on which it is that of the pulp is the greater. The ing vigorously against every other part.
fired. When the ware is cooled the skin is then too large and attempts to If this pushing, compressive stress is
contraction of the glaze is greater than adjust itself to the decreased volume of great enough, it will relieve itself by
that of the body; the glaze is stretched, the pulp by wrinkling. ruptures of various kinds, all known
and ruptures when its limit of elasticity The analogy is valid only up to the collectively as shivering.
is passed. point of making the adjustment. The One of the common types of shiver-
A less common but equally bother- skin of the apple, being a pliable ma, ing takes the form of flaking-off of the
some defect, called "shivering," may |ml||r|J|lu|l.|l||B|||l||||.|||l.l..|w|l||aJl
glaze at the mouth rims of pots, or at
occur when the coefficient of expansion Mr. Littlefield is Professor of Ce. any place where there is convex angu-
of the glaze is less than that of the ramie Art at Ohio State University, larity of surface. Such places apparently
body. Under this condition, since in Columbus, Ohio. are focal points for the compressive
stresses at work in the glaze (Figure 1).
If the reader has ever observed a group
of a dozen or so children w i n g with
each other for places around a square
table designed to accommodate six, he
will have seen that the children along
the straight sides held their places rather
easily while those at the corners were
pushed away from the table, because
I. SHIVERING may be the corners were the focal points of
considered the opposite pressure. Glaze flakes are forced from
of crazing in that it is a pot's points of angularity in much
caused by excessive the same way.
compression within the Under greater compressive stress an-
glaze rathertitan ten- other type of shivering may result. This
sion. The glaze is push- type takes the form of buckling and is
ing against ffself {indi- analogous to the behavior of a poorly
cated by white arrows) constructed concrete sidewalk on a hot
and may look forreliefS."" day. If the sidewalk has not been pro-
by flaking off at corners vided with joints designed to absorb the
and rims of the ~rare. expansion caused by the sun's heat, it
will buckle in order to make room for
its .increased length. A glaze may
bucklel in a similar way and in doing so
will lift itself, perhaps tearing out part
of the body in the process (Figure 2).
The most violent form of shivering
may take place when the compressive
(Please turn to Page 24)
APRIL 1953 17
WILLIAM DE MORGAN
by HENRY BOLLMAN

(1839-1917)

his ideas on art and literature won De Morgan a place in the


annals of bothmbut lost him three fortunes, second of two parts.

ILLIAM DE M O R G A N , the foreground to some weird ship of in- silver. Yet, all are monsters straight
W potter-novelist of the 19th Cen- genious construction which dominates
the scene.
from Wonderland, all seem to remind
one of a children's picture book.
tury, was a man who would not com-
promise between his art and business. In another design, a ship is rising Other plates by De Morgan have a
Art came first, always. His name now out of the water to stare at a vessel, charm more elusive. Opalescent plates,
ranks among the great, but his un- the bird figurehead of which returns which seem an iridescent compound of
yielding spirit cost him three fortunes the gaze with an uncanny suggestion of moonlight and rainbow. Silver plates,
during his 40 years as a potter--his, consciousness. In other sea pieces such which shade to blue; powder blue
his wife's, and his friends'. as he loved, the sea serpent and un- which shades to amber and mauve;
De Morgan originated a new couth creatures of the deep entwine or copper which glows with the radiance
imagery and new art out of the knowl- peer through patterned tracery ac- of metal, then pale like vanishing faL,3'
edge that it was the spirit of the 1 ?th centuating the mystery of things gold; in infinite color and design . . .
Century, not the technical mysteries, marine. those are some of the De Morgan
that brought about the Renaissance. On a dish of different suggestion, in colors.
The element in his work which eluded coloring like the soft haze of some De Morgan described his lustre pro-
all imitators, the stamp of an individual forest primeval, a dragon, all shimmer- cess as follows:
genius, could not be conveyed even by ing azure and silver scales, sits biting "1. The wondrous varied beauty of
his generous willingness to share the its tail amid interlacing purple grapes. lustre depends on the decomposition of
results of his labors with all strivers. Fantastic beasts, with an anatomy a metallic salt, usually copper or silver.
It is the psychology of the man as all their own and a sinister menace "'2. The salt is made into a paint
an artist, even more than the tech- wholly convincing, are as instinct x,qth by means of a gum fluid and lamp-
nical triumph of the potter as a crafts- life and motion as are the faithful re- black. The latter is used to enable the
man, which makes the appeal of his productions of nature painted by such painter to see distinctly the design.
things. For in that work we read the an artist as Landseer. "3. The design is painted on the
character of the writer, the mingling Prancing horses, graceful stags, smooth enamel or glaze after the glaze
of pottery and fantasy with idealism. charging bulls, fierce tigers, playful has been fired.
He had inexhaustible imagination, irre- elephants, distorted into grotesque out- "4. I use tin glaze, as I find it sensi-
pressible humor. The graceful, sweep- line, and utilized either as a central tive to lustre work.
ing lines, the delicate curves, the intri- idea or as part of a scheme of decor- "7. After the design, painted on the
cate ornamentation are all subordinates ation, vie with birds of equally bizarre glaze, is dry the pot or dish is fired
of some idea which seems half just and conception. again.
half vision from the fairyland of child- Owls and vultures glow redly, like a "6. In the old Persian tiles, wood
hood. materialization of the ruddy flames provided all the heat. With a coke or
On one of his pieces goggle-eyed fish, into which pottery was once thrust. gas kiln, at a given moment, when the
swimming in stiff procession through Eagles there are, every plume of which heat has produced a certain tint and
curving waves, provide the essential shades to a glory of changing color. glow of an incandescent effect, burn-
~Ul|eaHn|oue|gego0000ium0|elul0uuln|0ia01ueuuoluufl Peacocks, the pompous conceit of ing chips of wood are put inside the
The author owns and operates the which provoked laughter; storks, in kiln; then the minute and heated par-
prim array; ducks striding through a tides of carbon in the smoke combine
Henry Bollman Potteries, East Glou- tangle of trailing foliage, with out- with the oxygen of the salt, setting free
cester, M a s s . spread wings, glinting in gold and (Please turn to Page 26)

18 CERAMICS MONTHLY
closed
shapes
In

free form by DOROTHY W. PERKINS

T HE first two articles of this series


were concerned with inspiration
that the greater diameter or volume
of a form should be above, rather than
cven though their locations are not in
the upper portions of the forms.
for asymmetric forms and the making below, the horizontal center for the
of open pressed shapes. The building most grace and the most pleasing form. a SECOND consideration in the
of closed forms is, in a sense, a con- Does this hold true in building asym- establishment of form is interior
tinuation of the making of open pressed metric forms--or in any forms, for volume control. If the designer can
shapes. that matter? It can perhaps be said that think of the interior volume as a force
Beyond the actual building of the such hard and fast rules have lost their exerting outward pressure, he will not
form, what is desired and what may be hold on contemporary designers. This tend to compress or stint the particular
accomplished in the way of design in relaxing of rules does not give the volume involved. He may consider the
closed forms? What, if anything, can designer license to produce ugly forms, wails of the piece as a "skin" over the
be kept in mind in initial design as although such forms are often the re- internal volume. It is the designer's
wdl as while the work is progressing? sult. It does, however, give the de- privilege to move the walls of a form in-
Perhaps the primary factor in design- signer more latitude in his expression. ward or outward, but if he so constricts
ing--as in building--a dosed asym- A form's greatest volume, then, may the inner volume of the form that it
metric form is the unwieldy or clumsy fall either above or bdow the hori- appears compressed against its will, the
aspect previously referred to. zontal center, according to the de- resultant piece may seem "pinched" or
How is the clumsy aspect to be signer's wish. It may be noticed that "'stinted." Just as nature's forms--seed
avoided? It is sometimes felt by potters in the accompanying illustrations the pods, for instance--are dictated by
greater volume in many of the forms that which is going on inside the form,
falls below, and yet the designers have so are asymmetric pottery forms dic-
striven to avoid clumsiness. That the tated by the character and expression
The author is Ceramic Instructor in forms are not clumsy in aspect lies in of inner volumes.
the Division of Fine Arts of the Rhode the control of the lines leading from
Island School of Design, Providence,
R.L
their bases to the areas of greatest
volume. Thus the areas of greatest I Tnessmayisbedesirable;
said that a certain "full-
and yet if fullness
volume do not seem to sag or droop-- were the only requisite, every form
APRIL 1953 19
forms from the table surface, enabling leisurely inclusion of negative areas
the eye to travel upward with the form. may be stressed if a sense of placidity
In the building of asymmetric forms is desired.
the challenge in the use of negative Either of these characteristics may

r
areas is even more pronounced than in be easily over-stressed. Too much
the case of thrown ware. This is as strong opposition in negative and posi-
true for the observer of the finished tives may result in an over-active, too
form as it is for the maker. Because of energetic, restless form. Too little oppo-
the multiple aspects of asymmetric sition-- too much ease in transitions--
forms, there are many compositions may result in a wishy-washy, tired,
within the structure. The advance and over-relaxed form. It may probably be
retreat of line and plane, of contour said that a judicious use and balance
and volume, need to be considered from between the two will result in the most
every possible viewpoint. The designer pleasing form.
has many problems in one. W e have discussed, then, three prin-
In building "free" closed forms, cipal factors to be kept in mind during
there are often negative areas partially the designing and executing of closed
enclosed by the positive form. The in- asymmetric forms: the avoidance of a
clusion of these areas in the entire de, clumsy aspect: inner volume expres,
sign calls for meditation, so that they sion and control: and, finally, the
will not appear to be parts of the com- judicious employment of negative areas
position from only one view, but will as contrasted with the positive.
play their parts from any angle.

y OU may be familiar with diagrams, T HE actual building of


asymmetric forms may be
closed
accom-
photographs and moving pictures plished by one of several methods. It
which show the effects produced by the is possible to build a form, independent
passage of air over a form such as an of a mold, by the use of coils, strips
airplane, automobile, or the sail of a of clay, or pieces of clay. However,
boat. Studies made from such graphic the mechanical difficulties which may
arise through such methods--slumping,
cracking, or splitting if the work con-
tinues too rapidly--may be minimized
if the work is started in an open press
mold. Any open press mold of the type
shown and described in last month's
article may be used.
The mold provides a quick method
would evolve as a perfect sphere, or at of building the lower portion of the
least as a very full ovoid form. The desired form, as well as providing a
designer of a closed asymmetric form, ~'cradle" to hold the form as it grows
then, needs to pay close attention to upward. Page 21 shows a form which
inner volumes, controlling them but has not, as yet, been removed from the
not denying them, expressing them but mold. As this form is to be a hanging
not allowing them to rule absolutely. bottle, with no flattened base, the mold
The controlled expression of inner is particularly of advantage in holding
volumes is of importance: it is of im- it upright during the forming process.
portance regardless of the general shape
which is evolving--be it a tall, thin
form or a short, very full form.
A third consideration in designing
closed asymmetric forms is that of
negative areas. Positive areas may be
considered as those formed by the
actual material in use--in this case, the information help the designers of today
clay. Negative areas are, then, those to lower wind resistance in the forms
areas vital to the design and the form, they are designing. When the forms
but not made of clay. This is another oppose the flow of air, turbulences are
way of saying that the space around set up in the air stream As wind re-
the form or partially enclosed by the sistance is decreased the air flows easily
form needs to be used as constructively and placidly over the form. So it is
as the clay itself. with the "flow" of negative areas
The intelligent use of negative areas around a positive form. Constricted
has always been considered--conscious- openings, sharp changes of plane may
ly or n o t - - b y potters in designing good be used if a sense of strong opposition
thrown forms. This use has been most or physical action is desired. More
noticeable in the areas formed between
the horizontal surface upon which the
pieces may rest and the side walls of
the lower portions of the forms. The CLOSED FORM at top left is by Arthur Roy,
significance given to these areas de- that above by Lyle Perkins, the one at right
termines the "spring" of the pottery by Warren Maxfield.

20 CERAMICS MONTHLY
Providing that the clay being used Clays For Asymmetric Building also be made by calcining (firing to red
is one which can be worked over for a heat) commercial coarse-grained clays
considerable length of time, the form There are several characteristics
which are particularly desirable in a such as fire clays, common clays, shale
may be left in the "cradle" until the clays, etc. Airfloated clays are usually
upper portions have been roughly estab- clay or clay body (combinations of
various clays) to be used for pressing too fine for this purpose.
lished. The form may then be removed Adding either sawdust or coffee
from the mold and the outside of the or free building. These qualities are
also desirable in a clay used for ceramic grounds to a clay body opens it. Both
bottom portions worked over to remove burn out in firing, adding texture to
any small crevices left by the initial sculpture. Mechanical problems in the
two processes are very similar. the finished work. Since they do burn
pressing operation. out, their loss, leaving small openings,
Just as in making open pressed forms, First, it is desirable to use a clay
which dries at a fairly rapid rate--so all through the piece, lessens its finished
a single mold will suffice for the start- weight. This is often advantageous in
ing of many different closed forms. that long delays are not necessitated
while the forms stiffen. Second, a clay large forms, although it is somewhat
Each closed form desired does not need offset by the accompanying loss of
it specially made mold, since the possi- which does not have a tendency to
crack while drying is desirable. Third, strength in the dry, unfired state, as
bilities of alteration in not only the well as often in the fired state. As
upper portions of the forms but in the a clay which will permit re-wetting if
the piece becomes too dry for work- much as 2(} per cent (by dry weight)
bases themselves :ire virtually limitless. grog or sand may be added to a clay to
W h e n the bottom portion of the ability, or for the adding on of parts,
is desirable. These qualities are more open it. The addition of any one of the
form has bee,: made in the mold, up- suggested materials will affect the plas-
ward building may be continued by the characteristic of a coarse-grained clay
than of a fine-grained clay. ticity of the body; therefore, will have
use of coils, strips of clay, or bits of some effect upon its workability. The
clay. Regardless of the method used, more added material, the less plastic
each successive addition must be well
worked into the preceding portion, and M Ogood
S T clays which are especially
for throwing are plastic and
the clay. H o w much may or should be
added, therefore, depends upon the
needs to be thinned as it is worked in. part of their plasticity is due to fine workability of the clay itself. If addi-
One of the most common faults of grain. They are not, therefore, best tions make the body too difficult to
large asymmetric forms is too much suited to pressing unless they are work, 1-3 per cent Bentonite may be
weight, so that the finished forms are "opened" by the addition of "'grog" added to increase plasticity.
unwieldly in appearance as well as (crushed fired clay), sand, or some Texture may also be added to a body
physically. It is therefore wise to thin naturally coarse - grained material. by the addition of granular coloring
the waUs of the work as it progresses. "'Opening" the clay in this way per- oxides, such as illmenite, rutile, or
This is particularly true in forms which mits water to leave the work more manganese. Metallic filings, such as
are growing to an upper opening so easily so that cracking is not so likely those of iron or copper, may also be
small that the hand cannot be put in- to occur during either drying or firing. used. If desirable, a beach sand often
side for later reworking of the walls. Light colored grog may be made contains some metallic impurities which
It is also important that the inside easily by crushing soft insulating brick, will give the body dark flecks.
surface be well worked as the form then screening it to the desired particle There are clay bodies made especially
progresses, so that there is no possibility size. Red grog may be made in the for pressing and ceramic sculpture.
of openings being left between addi- same way from common red clay bisque They usually fire to cone 04, which is
tions--openings which could well de- or common red brick. It is easier to within the range of low-fire electric
velop into disastrous cracks. crush well-weathered brick. Grog may kilns and have proved most satis-
factory.
A PLASTER MOLD provides a convenient This is a third article in a series
method of forming the lower portion of this on free form. N e x t subject: sculptural
piece, also acts as a cradle to hold it as it forms.
grows upward. Bottle by Elaine Friedwald.

BOTTLE by Warren Maxfield above, that at


right by Arthur Roy.

APRIL 1953 21
A SELF-PROFILE

Henry Bollman

" ' ~ / ' I T A L I T Y , " would be my answer the bachelor was the only accurate the film executive on his trips here
V to the question, " ' W h a t are you part of that designation. Of the arts, and there, and thus gained practical
trying to express in ceramics?" I acquired just a polite acquaintance experience in scenario writing.
I stress vitality, because it covers a with the major ones, and with a few of Before long, 1 moved on to another
number of the things which most the minors, including ceramics. It was company in the position of "'writer,"
American pottery lacks . . . and needs. because the lectures in Greek art came though my knowledge of that profes-
It is a characteristic which is hard m at a convenient time of the day that I sion was largely that of an observer.
define, but its presence is quickly evi- found myself, on graduation, with a However, in one way or another I
dent, and its absence all too conspicu- fair knowledge of the ceramics of An- gained experience, and then came
ous. Pottery without it is lifeless and cient Greece. I came to know the splen- W o r l d W a r I, which swept me away
banal. It floods the shelves of our over- did collection of Greek vases in the to France, to the front, and right into
burdened shops, in desolate array. Boston Museum with some intimacy, the center of a gas attack, near Chateau
M y own approach to pottery making especially the ones in which the satyrs Thierry, which ultimately invalided mc
is almost opposite that of William De pursue maidens round and round, in home, at the end of the war. Just why
Morgan, the English potter, chrono- most interesting ways; and now and I was designated a first lieutenant in
logically speaking. He spent the first then pursue each other. the field of action I shall never under-
40 years of his life potting, and the last These courses in the ceramics of an- stand, being a most unmilitary person.
ten years writing novels. I reversed the cient peoples, including Egyptian, Through the gay 20s and the deso-
order, and carried on a writing career Etruscan, Babylonian, and Sumerian, late 30s, and right up to the second
of sorts during my early life, and now, left me with a not too solid back- W o r l d W a r , I continued with film
in what may be my last decade, I have ground of ceramic history. activities of several sorts, mostly in the
turned to ceramics. After leaving college, I went to New field of what we now call "documen-
I suppose that I had what is called York City, with no very fixed ideas as taries," but which were at that time
a formal education in the liberal arts, to a career, although the Greek vases simply "educationals."
but at the time I was at Harvard, remained always in the back of my In collaboration with my wife we
during the grand, free days of Presi- head. wrote a book on the practical use of
dent Eliot, you would not call it for- "Through a set of curious chances," this kind of visual education, called
mal, or well organized by the present as W . S. Gilbert puts it, I landed, not Motion Pictures for Community
rigid standards. Your whole college "'in the county jail, as did the Lord Needs, published by Henry Holt & Co.
course was elective, and you either High Executioner," but in a motion In 1945 I suffered a physical set-back
"sank" or "swam" without benefit of picture company as assistant to a which required me to take a long rest.
faculty adviser. Most students "sank," producer. During that time I decided to take up
intellectually, but a small percentage where I left off with the Greek vases,
"swam." and it included men like T. S. I S H O U L D explain here that while so long ago; in other words to study
Eliot, Eugene O'Neil, Heywood Broun, at college, I contrived, I don't know ceramics seriously. During this "rest
Robert Benchley, Franklin D. Roose- how, to take a course in shorthand and period" I took several courses in pot-
veit, and others, of approximately my typewriting at a business college; pos. tery and sculpture; and then in 1946
collegiate era. On the whole, it was a sibly as a hedge against the possible I opened my own studio on our pro-
good kind of education for a future failure of the A.B. degree, in the perty in East Gloucester, Mass., where
potter. future. 1 have continued to work since that
I received that vague degree known This training enabled me to qualify time.
as bachelor of arts; but at that time, as secretarial assistant. I accompanied (Please turn to Page 25)

22 CERAMICS MONTHLY
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APRIL 1953 23
Shivering in Glazes (Begins on Page 17)
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2. BUCKLING of the glaze may
occur (much like the buckling of a
sidewalk on a hot clay) when even
force in the glaze is so great, or the greater stress is present and the
body is so weak, that the body is torn glaze tries to make room for its in-
HOUSE of CERAMICS apart. In considering this type of creased length.
3295 JACKSON AVE. shivering one must recognize that a
state of compression in the glaze causes
MEMPHIS 12, T E N N .
the body to be placed under tension.
3. EXTREME cases of compression in
If the body is weak, due either to im-
the glaze can even cause the body
maturity or to excessive thinness of
to crack. Compression in the glaze
wall, it may not be able to resist the
(white arrows) causes tension in the
Modeling on The
action of the glaze and will allow itself
body (black arrows), and the body
to be pulled apart ( F i g u r e 3).
Kingspin Wheel may pull apart.
~ ~ See it at your
dealers or write
for free illus-
C Odifficult
R R E C T I O N of shivering is not
and can usually be accom-
trated folder. plished by slightly increasing the co-
efficient of expansion of the glaze, this
GLAZE
being done by referring to a table
Make professional appearing models of coetScients of thermal expansion
on the new Kingspln wheels with the
attached height trimmer. Rest cutting (CEm~ICS MONTI-tLX', February,
or" forming tools on trimmer, turn knurled 19 53) and replacing small amounts of
stem with other hand, Use wheel as a low-expansion oxides with oxides of
lathe to turn perfectly formed green- higher expansion. This often will take
ware, fingers may also be steadied on the form of slightly increasing the
trimmer to form beautiful hand work.
Beautiful china painting may be done
amount of raw materials supplying
on wheel by first centering piece using such high-expansion oxides as potash
needle as indicator. This is done by set- (K~O) and soda, (Na,O) while at the
ting the piece near the center of table same time making slight reductions in
while revolving with knurled stem bring the flint.
needle so that it nearly touches piece,
turn table so that piece is farthest from Shivering is often caused by over-
needle and slide it half the distance firing the glaze, thus allowing it to ab-
to needle, after a few tries it con be sorb from the body enough silica to
centered iust right. Next place needle lower its coefficient of expansion to the
in suitable position to rest brush, by
turning knurled stem perfect bands can danger point. Lowering the maturing
be painted. Advanced painters can cre- point by one cone may entirely elimin-
ate unique designs by using needle as ate shivering.
guide for the bottom of their design, Bodies of high flint content are likely
thus keeping design uniform.
to induce shivering in glazes used on
DEALERS WANTED--try at our risk them, because they present so much
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silica for absorption by the glaze. A re-
duction in the amount of flint in the
mfg. by GILMOUR CAMPBELL body is an excellent means of correct-
Engineering- Developement. Sales ing shivering if it can be done without
14258 Maiden Dept. C12 Detroit, Mich. affecting some particular desirable pro-
perty of the body in question.

24- CERAMICS MONTHLY


Henry Bollman significance in appraising tile artistic
values. The technique of production
one technique over the other. Always
I return to this subject of vitality;
(Begins on Page 22) should be secondary to the basic idea to and with that word, I imply emotional
R O M 1919 to 1952, my wife was be expressed. There is no special merit impact, and even spirituality. Yes,
F my devoted associate and collabor-
or demerit in a wheel-turned pot, or in
a cast piece. Whenever I hear a potter
pottery can be spiritual.
In conclusion, I suggest the words
ator in most of my activities. She
speak with scorn of casting, I feel that of Hamlet, "To be or not to be"; to
worked with me as editor and co-
he has not advanced far in his art. He live or not to live, that is the question.
author on films; and later, during the
is still thinking in terms of techniques; Shall our American pottery be, at best,
pottery days, she developed and per- and has not arrived at the level of
fected uniquely charming ways of dec- beautiful, but lifeless; showy, but
ideas. meaningless? Or, will some ceramic
orating tiles. Her career as a success-
ful ceramic artist was terminated by a saviour lead us to another Renaissance,
with a new kind of pottery that both
fatal automobile accident in 19~2.
Through all of our 33 happy years to- B Utakes
T the real death of the pot often
place when it comes to decor- lives and serves; enlivens and ennobles;
brightens and cheers; inspires and awak,
gether, she was an unfailing source of ation. Sometimes such a potter can
encouragement, inspiration, and con- breath life into his design; but he ens; opens grand vistas of form and
structive criticism, without which I snuffs it out when, or if, he sits down bright horizons of color; captures the
could have accomplished little. at the decorating wheel. rhythm of the wheel, the tranquility
I am continuing my work as a pro- I say "if" he decorates by hand . . . of the clay, the aspiration of the artist,
ducing craftsman in my studio-by-the- because more often than not, the wheel the practicality of the craftsman, the
sea, on a hillside, overlooking Glou- expert does not attempt hand decor- love of the devotee, and the harmony
cester harbor. M y output is about ation, but depends on colored glazes to of life itself?
evenly divided between pottery and do his decorating for him, without Walter Russell, the sculptor, in de-
tiles. In both these media I combine the benefit of brush work, or planned scribing his attitude toward his work,
methods of the individual workman design. says, "'I learned to cross the threshold
with some of the techniques of large Colored glazes, however interesting of my studio with reverence, as though
scale production. This system enables they may be in combination, cause I were entering a shrine set apart for
me to sell individualized pieces at about as much harm as good to the pro- me to become co-creator with the Uni-
reasonable prices. gress of ceramic art. They are so versal Thinker of all things."
In addition to production work, I cheap, quick and easy, and so flashy This point of view would carry the
conduct classes in practical pottery. and saleable, that they tempt the pot- modern ceramist to that high eminence
The distinction which some people ter away from doing something better. in his art which the Great American
make between pots hand-formed and However, I have no quarrel with Potter-to-be should approve; and above
those mechanically shaped has always such glazes, or with any other system all, it would result in pottery which
seemed to me unimportant and without of decoration, as such; nor do I favor has vitality.

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APRIL 1953 25
William De Morgan black of different depths.
Jewel-like birds fly across a blue-
the ceramic work of De Morgan, we
are not concerned with his remarkable
(Begins on Page 18) black sky. Pallid fish shine through literary output, except to note that he
green water. Turquoise and purple followed his first with several equally
the metal which is left in a finely flowers star wooded lawns. A Python fine novels, including Alice-For-Short,
divided state, fixed on the glaze glitters in his forest lair . . . those are Somehow Good, The Old Madhouse, It
surface." a few impressions of the ceramic art Never Can Happen Again, A n Affair
genius of De Morgan. of Dishonor, A Likely Story, When
Ghost Meets Ghost, and Old Man's
E Xtiles,
P L A I N I N G how
De Morgan
he decorated
wrote: "The I~,EN in 1905, at the age of 67, Youth.
He died of influenza in 1917 . . .
painting is executed, not on the neuritis ended his drawing, he
tiles, but on thin paper. The color began a new career as a novelist. He January 1 ~.
used is the ordinary underglaze color. started at a time of life before which So there, in two all too brief articles,
The paper is attached to the tile, such writers as Dickens, Balzac, Field- is a sketch of one of the grand figures
face down; the pattern reversing and ing, and Zola had long been dead. He of the Victorian age. I hope I have
the paper burns away under the glaze. was destined to live ten years more, and been able to remind my fellow ceram-
"'There has been some confusion of during that time to win world fame as ists that William De Morgan did more
ideas in connection with this process "the 20th Century Dickens." than any one man to raise ceramics
and printing, as in ordinary etched He began writing simply to occupy from a mere craft to one of the major
plate printing. The tiles printed in my his mind, while he was forced to adjust arts of our time.
way are painted, line by line, tint by himself to unwonted idleness. He was It is too bad, from a potter's point
tint, just as much as pictures in exhi- also ill with influenza when his wife of view, that his first 40 years as a
bitions, and are just as little to be brought him a piece of a manuscript ceramist were so overshadowed by his
described as prints as such pictures consisting of two chapters of a novel last ten as a great novelist. He never
would be, after they have been relieved which he had started in 1901, and put took his authorship very seriously, de-
and transferred to another canvas." aside. She had rescued it from the spite world acclaim. To the end of his
The coloring of De Morgan's ware waste basket and now persuaded him to life, he was hoping against hope to re-
had what a critic called "an Eastern continue work on it, while in bed. open his factory and continue with his
force and depth." The polychromatic He became engrossed with the task, ceramics.
pieces were a magnificent dark blue: and poured out about 250,000 words
and real malachite green. He also used of a novel which he named Joseph (This is the second of two
a manganese purple of that uneven Vance. He called it "an ill-written auto- articles on the life of William
atmospheric quality familiar to Eastern biography." The book became an over- De Morgan. See Ceramics
art. He sometimes used an Indian red; night bestseller. Monthly, March, 1953, for the
orange and pure lemon yellow; and Since this article is a profile of only first. )

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an excellent position to handle all orders
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Red sable p o i n t . . . . . . . size 815-00 .28 each
Red sable p o i n t . . . . . . . size 815-1 .33 each
Red sable p o i n t . . . . . . . size 815-8 .44 each
F i n e s t Camel H a i r F l a t s size 7842-~ .40 each
F i n e s t Camel H a i r F l a t s size 7842-3/8 .45 each
F i n e s t Camel H a i r F l a t s size 7842-t/~ .55 each
S q u a r e s h a d e r quills ___size 297-2 .30 each
S q u a r e s h a d e r quills ___size 297-7 .60 each
P o i n t e d , s h o r t s , quills __size 298-2 .28 each
Pointed, s h o r t s , quills __size 298-7 .40 each
OUR OWN ORIGINAL MODELS
Finest molds at wholesale prices.
Excellent discounts to studios and dealers Sales limited to established studios,
potteries, manufacturers and schools.
WE PAY POSTAGE--MINIMUM ORDER $1.00
Catalogue and price list on request
Model and mold shop established 194.1.
Open Monday to Saturday inclusive.
the HOUSEof CERAMICS MODEL - BLOCK - CASE - MOLDS
235 WASHINGTON ST. HAVERHILL, MASS. 838 Genessee St. Trenton 10, N~I.
Corner of Dayton St.

26 CERAMICS MONTHLY
cooling in small electric kilns. Where actual pieces of the
brick do not fall out, cracks are best left without cement.

answers The very porous nature of insulating brick makes it ditt~-


cult for the cement to hold even during drying.
It's evident that the cements you have used lack the

to proper bond after firing. Most electric kiln manufacturers


and refractory brick manufacturers can provide you with
the suitable cement. When a cement is to be applied, wet
the surface to be repaired, make a thick paste of the cement

questions with water, trowel it onto both edges and hold the pieces
in place until set. After about 24 hours of drying, the kiln
may be fired. The cement will become hard and should
stay in place.

Q. Can a terra, cotta clay or any clay,grog mixture


CONDUCTED BY KEN SMITH
be used for anything except modeling?
A. Yes, if the grog used in the clay is fine, it may b:
used as a casting slip. If the slip is properly deflocculated,
Q. How long does one need to keep a ceramic piece the grog will not settle out but stay in suspension, causing
at its firing temperature? For example, once the tempera- no trouble. Such a body can also be thrown on the wheel.
ture is reached, can the current be shut off and the kiln The grog may b~ a bit rough on the hands but two or
cooled naturally to room temperature? three fingers from an old leather glove can be worn as
A. When the kiln reaches the desired maximum temp- protection. Terra-cotta clays are also good for making
erature (or cone down), it should be immediately turned faience tiles.
off. If the usual studio electric kiln is left on for more than
a few minutes after the proper cone is down, the tempera- Q. W h e r e can I obtain a wax emulsion for use in the
ture will increase rapidly and may cause an overfiring of wax,resist process of decoration?
the ware and o f the kiln. It is best to let a kiln cool off A. A good wax emulsion manufactured by the Socony-
gradually overnight. In general, it is best for any firin~ Vacuum Co. is advertised in industrial ceramic and chem-
to have a gradual heat rise to the end-point and a natural ical publications. However, it may be difficult to obtain
cooling period at least as long as the firing cycle. this product in small amounts. A good material for this
same purpose is liquid latex (although the technique dif-
Q. Do you know of a simple formula for a jet black fers), which may be obtained in any amounts at most art
underglaze color? materials dealers.
A. A .true black is difficult to obtain. An acceptable
black underglaze can be obtained by ballmilling, wet, eight
parts iron chromate with one part cobalt oxide for three
hours. After drying, an additional 30 minutes of dry grind- NOW! A MODERN, PRECISION WHEEL
ing completes the preparation. To a small amount of the
powder add just enough French fat oil to moisten it. The
preparation can be applied to either bone dry or bisque ware.

Q. Is it necessary to enamel metal pieces on both


sides?
A. It is not necessary to "counter enamel," but the
advantages of doing so outweigh the disadvantages. In the
first place, a piece of metal enameled on both sides has a
more finished look. Also, when both sides are enameled,
the strain is relieved and helps prevent the enamel from
cracking and chipping. The counter enamel can be fired
at the same time as the face and thus prevent oxidation
of the metal, which eliminates a laborious cleaning job. Professie
Special stilts can be obtained for placing the piece in the F o o t P e d a l m p ~ u ~u~,t~u~
kiln and will leave only very tiny scars where the counter New modern design--precision built--for school, studio o1'
enameled side rests. home. Express yourself. Create your own designs. Mech-
anism completely enclosed for safety--and to protect from
Q. I am using an electric kiln, and from time to time moisture and clay. Equipped with both fixed speed and
variable speed control. Foot pedal control affords instant,
cracks appear between the brick. I have mended them with smooth range 30 to 180 r.p.m. Adjustable armrests. Easy
various materials; but after several firings, the mended to operate---even for handicapped persons. Big 10" throw-
places will crack again. Can you suggest a more permanent ing head, with built-in joggles for self centering; reverses
way to make such repairs? for casting plaster bats. Large 18" x 18" throwing table
permits work of any scope; wedging wire attached. Easily
A. Fine cracks often will show up in the light-weight removable water container fits inside housing. Heavy bronze
insulating brick used in electric kilns. Generally it's to be bushings pre-lubricated for years of hard wear. Use any
expected, because of thermal shock of the fast heating and hp motor (not incl.). Shipped fully assembled--just
mount wheel and motor on any working surface. Designed,
manufactured and fully guaranteed by Master Mechanic
Mfg. Co. Wt. 45 lbs. List price, $125. Factory price, $64.95
J Direct your questions to Questions Editor, "Ceramics plus shipping. Time payment plan available. Free descrip-
Monthly," 3494 N. High St., Columbus 14, Ohio. Please tive circular mailed on request.
Motor, ~ hp 115 V.A.C. Specially priced when ordered with
enclose a stamped reply envelope. Questions of general Master Potter's Wheel, $16.50.
interest will appear in this column. MASTER MECHANIC MFG. CO., Dept.34C, Burlington,Wis.
APRIL 1953 27
LAMP PARTS for the classroom, hobby craftsman, and professiona
Everything you need!
for potter finger painting is a fine way to
MAKING REPAIRING
CONVERTING
SEND FOR OUR NEW CATALOG
Thousands of parts of every description,
illustrated, described, priced
Decorate Tile
We sell and ship 1 or 1000 pieces
ANGELO BROTHERS
IS06-8-I0 Ritner St., Philadelphia 45, Pa.

"Play with clay the ANKRAFT way"


- - Day and E v e n i n g Classes - -
Teacher's courses - - P o t t e r y , P o r c e l a i n
A N J O Masquerade . . . P A J A Tools
Superfire . . . Cress K i l n s . . . S u p p l i e s
P r i c e list on request
Studios use letterheads for discounts
ANKRAFT CERAMIC STUDIO
919 Crysler, Independence, Missouri

Lix-Crax Ceramic Cement


Mends in ALL Stages of Production
The Best C e r a m i c Mender on the M a r k e t
SOLD THRU DEALERS ONLY
Write for Our Discount Sheet
LIX-CRAX
403 S. Hancock~C:olorado Springs, Colo. by HENRY KLEIGH

E V E R Y T H I N G ! Yes, E v e r y t h i n g for the


C e r a m i c Hobby
BUFFALO CERAMIC SUPPLY CENTER
76 A l l e n St. Buffalo 2. N. Y.
Distributors for "PRE-TESTED" Ceramic E C O R A T E D TILE have a multi- from finger painting. It differs, of
Supplies.
Send for o u r New C a t a l o g and T i p s . . . . 15c
D tude of uses around the home. You course, in that we use ceramic colors,
are probably familiar with them as hot which are made permanent through the
pads, as wall decorations, and in table heat of the kiln.
tops. Tile also find use as lamp bases Only a very few tools and materials
CLAY and for facing fire places. A wide ;ire required, just those shown in the
U n t r e a t e d . D i r e c t f r o m claybank.
E x c e l l e n t q u a l i t y . F i r e s r e d - - C o n e 06-03 variety of other interesting uses can illustrations below: a six- by six-inch
Can also be used f o r A l b a n y slip
25 lbs. @ $1.25 Shipped
be thought of with little difficulty. glazed tile, spatula, mortar and pestle,
50 lbs. @ 2.25 express Tile are quite simple to decorate and package of overglaze color, and bottle
100 Ibs. @ 4.25 collect
Special prices on l a r g e r q u a n t i t i e s can be easily fired. Thus tile decorating of overglaze mixing medium (to take
DUTCHESS JUNCTION CLAYBANK
P.O. Box 463, Beacon, N. Y.
is an excellent medium for classroom the place of fat oil and turpentine).
work, and finds favor with hobby For this technique, no brushes are
craftsmen as well as professional needed.
ceramists. As shown in the illustrations, over-
When writing to advertisers The technique used here is derived glaze color is put into the pestle, and a
please mention
"Ceramics Monthly"
BASIC PROCEDURE in finger painting is to put the amount of color needed in the mortar,
add a few drops of underglaze medium and mix using the pestle, then spread the combination

SUPERIOR
STAR STILTS
Stick Proof
Metal Points

Unnoticeable Stilt Marks


Kiln Wash Eliminated
See Your Dealer or Write for Folder
CHARLES H. DRAVING, Mfr.
Box 26-B-Feasterville, Po.

28
!77 ! ....... ""

i , . . . . ~5~? 7;i:

W. A. MAURER C O M P A N Y
316-318 WEST GRAND AVE.
C H I C A G O 10, ILLINOIS

C o m p l e t e supplies for the china


decorator. Importers of Bavarian
and Japanese while china from
such factories as:
Hutschenreuther Schumann
Tirschenreuth HerteI-Jacobs
Eschenbach Winterling
few drops of mixing medium :ire added. be carefully inspected. Minute cracks Arzberg Norltake
The combination is ground with the barely perceptible to the eye may be Nagoya Seitosho
mortar until reduced to a smooth paste. present; they will expand during the MOST COMPLETE LINE OF
W i t h the spatula it is spread evenly on firing and the tile itself may crack. INSTRUCTION BOOKS:
the tile, after which the design is made, Also, the tiny cracks may give you a
using only the fingers. crazed appearance in the decoration. FIRING OF CHINA & POTTERY
After the decoration is finished, the HANDBOOK FOR THE C H I N A DEC-
F T E R firing a number of tile, ORATOR
tile should be allowed to dry com-
pletely -permitting no dust to settle on
A you will see that the kiln itself ENAMEL DECORATIONS AND PASTE
WORK ON CHINA
plays an important part in the final
it! It is then fired to the temperature appearance of the decoration. There LUSTER APPLICATION ON C H I N A
required by the overglaze color. may be a slight overfiring and fading
Firing is a crucial part of the pro- in some of the colors, which produce a IMPORTED ~)UlLL BRUSHES,
cess. If the tile are overfired, the colors shading and soft effect. This effect can DECALS AND COLORS.
will fade; if underfired, they will not be used to advantage--in other words, LaCROIX, FRY'S, MAURER'S AND
develop a hard glossy surface, and will you can learn to "'paint with heat." LIMOGES OVERGLAZE COLORS.
chip easily. The basic principle in "painting with
Furthermore, some colors require heat" is that you first must fire to the Ask for Catalog C--:--Free on request
more heat than others. Red is the most minimum temperature necessary to
sensitive and demands a low tempera- achieve durability and a firm finish.
ture very accurately controlled. Black, Second, you should fire a little beyond
on the other hand, has a wide firing the minimum, into the area of possible
range, and therefore is best to use at overfiring. It is in the "extra heat range"
first for experimenting. that interesting changes occur in the CERAMIC
The firing of the overglazes should glazes. They blend and fade slightly [.ACES and NETS
WHEEL LACES
commence very slowly, allowing at least and produce fascinating designs with- A l l Widths
two hours to reach 900 degrees Fahren- out altering the main outlines. S. COLE CO.
heit. This permits the oil and carbon- Colors and other materials for tile P.O. Box 827
Main Post Office, Los Angeles 53, Cal.
aceous materials to burn off gradually decoration can be obtained from any Please Write for Our Free Catalog
without creating bubbles or roughness ceramic supplier. It is usually advis-
in the surface. The kiln door should be able to buy all of the overglazes from
left open slightly during the early fir- the same source so that they will com-
ing period to permit the gases to plement each other with respect to tem-
escape. perature requirements and other speci-
In the kiln it is advisable to rest the fications. Remember, purchase tiles that 1723 Paxton S t . , Harrisburg. Pa. =.:
tile directly on the shelf rather than have been glazed and not merely bisque " SUPPLIES--MOLDS--KILNS .=
on stilts. fired. If your supplier doesn't handle := Greenware--Bisque from Calif. & East- ==
'- ern Molds - - Zirco & Renaissance .=
Before decorating, each tile sh()uld them, try your local tile contractor. == Glazes--China Paints & Lustres--Mrs. i
Helms Dresden Craft Supplies.
II IIIIII I IIII I III IIIII IIt11111 IIIIII III III IIIIII I I IIIIIIIII II III IIIII IIIt1~

evenly on the tile, finally with your finger make the desired design. Some examples of what
can be done with the technique are shown above.

SUPERIOR
STAR STILTS
Stick Proof
Metal Points

G o o d Support for Boxes


and Flat W a r e
See Your Dealer or Write [or Folder
- j

CHARLES H. D R A V I N G , Mfr.
Box 26-8-Feasterville, Pa.

29
JANAN
ELECTRIC POTTER'S WHEEL
N

Cif

Glaze Sieve cabinet is lined with metal, making it a


Clamp a piece of brass mesh cloth damp box.
between embroidery hoops to make a Glaze jars are clearly labeled and
small, sturdy glaze sieve. placed on a shelf apart from the other
v materials. Glazed samples are near at
--Mrs. John Gallaway
Indianapolis, Ind. hand to show how the colors will ap-
pear after firing.
--Robert J. Schaefer
Organization is Time Buffalo, N. Y.
iiii/!i Organization of a suitable area for
working with ceramics in the school Greenware Buying C h e c k l i s t
sometimes is a knotty problem. The A few of the common faults of com-
difficulty was particularly acute in our mercially cast greenware should be
school (Williamsville Central School, pointed out as an aid to the beginning
Only S120.00 F.O.B. Plainfield Buffalo, N. Y.), because we teach some hobby craftsman. True, most of the
The Potter's Wheel with years of proven 30 adults in night school in addition greenware for sale will be free from
performance in schools and colleges to the regular day school load. In the defects. But if the buyer knows what to
throughout the country. Variable speeds
(0 to 180 R.P.M.). Foot pedal control. look for, he can be assured of having
Large 10" throwing head. All rotating a perfect piece every time.
parts in oilite bearings. Height 36", Be sure the casting is thick enough.
pan 16x23x31/2" deep. Use I/4 h.p. Remember, the piece will have to be
motor (not incl.) Machine gray finish-
attractive red enamel top. Price with trimmed and sponged and will, besides,
motor and switch installed $145.00. Send undergo drying and firing shrinkage.
for literature. A very thin piece will be difficult to
danan Instrument Co. handle; it can easily warp during dry-
P. o. Box 89 Dept. C-3--Plalnfield N.J. ing and firing. At best, it will be quite
fragile when completed.
Look for small cracks on all pro-
jections such as arms, legs, necks of
figures, and under the handles of cups
and mugs. Minute cracks along seams
are common, and you should not allow
the supplier to tell you they can be
patched or that the glaze will cover
them.
Hollow handles on mugs, cups,
creamers, and other items that you will
want to use as food containers are
particularly objectionable. The handles
photograph I've shown some of the are excellent breeding places for germs,
ideas we incorporated into our "lay- since it's difficult to clean them after
out." Perhaps these might provide some use. The caster can easily plug the
help to other teachers with a similar handles so that there is no opening in
situation, or to the home craftsman. the inside of the utensil, and you
Suitable to accommodate approxi- should insist that he does.
mately 10-15 students, the main work Warpage is another item you should
"PIRATE HEAD" area consists of a discarded laboratory check for, particularly on lids or flat
bench from the chemistry department. ware. And don't buy a casting if you
Novelty Ash Tray The top shelf has been cut down to have to cut off the shoulder of the
(61/2" x 41/2" Two Piece Mold facilitate easy access to the equipment lip openings before the lid will fit.
by students and clear vision for lessons More discrimination on the part of
Smoke Rises Through Nostrils and demonstrations. A tool rack which buyers will do its part in helping to
Makes Clever Convel'sation Piece is easily accessible from both sides of eliminate much of the inferior green-
the bench was built over the middle ware (and suppliers) from the market.
Mold Price $4.00 drain trough. --J. H. Saling
Storage bins with rollers were con- Thurston Ceramic Studio
Plus I0% Packing Charge structed to fit underneath the table Columbus, Ohio
F.O.B. Port Arthur. Tex. top. The bins were made of three-
quarter inch plywood, so that they
would be sturdy enough to be used as Suggestions, facts, and other items
McDANIEL Wald co. seats for the students. The original of interest to ceramisfs will be welcome
P. O. Box 3086 Port Arthur, Texas drawers and cabinet space are utilized to this column. Sender will be paid for
fur storage of student projects. One each item used.--Ed.

30 CERAMICS MONTHLY
SUPERIOR itinerary Wholesale
COMPLETE LINE
Retail

STAR STILTS (Begins on Page 7) OF


Stick Proof CERAMIC SUPPLIES
KENTUCKY, Louisville
Metal Points April 1-29 Everything for the Ceramic Hobbyist
The 26th Kentucky ~ Southern In- Write for free catalogue
High Stilts for Box-Lids diana Exhibition at the J. B. Speed PROMPT MAIL ORDER SERVICE
Enameling etc. Art Museum. Sculpture and crafts by Special Discounts to Schools
residents or natives of those areas.
See Your Deoler or Write for Folder Madge Tummins Ceramic Studio
MARYLAND, Hagerstown
April 1-30 "The Oldest in Texas"
CHARLES H. DRAVING, Mfr.
Box 26-B-Feasterville, Pa. Cumberland Valley Artists 21st Annual P. O. Box 717 Grand Prairie, Texas
will take place at the Washington
County Museum of Fine Arts. Present
and former residents of the Cumber-
PERSONALIZE YOUR WARE WITH land Valley area showing. All mediums
Swobodas' ALF-A-BET-MOLD will be represented.
Block letters for use with any period
$2.00 Postpaid MASSACHUSETTS, Lincoln
Write for illustrated circular April 5-May 10
A show entitled "'Massachusetts Crafts
S W O B O D A S ' PRESS MOLDS Today," sponsored by the Massachu-
Box ~35 Dept. 5, Reseda, Calif. setts Association of Handicraft Groups,
will be at the de Cordova and Dana
Museum and Park. All craftsmen in the
RETAIL WHOLESALE state--permanent, summer, and tem-
porary residents--represented.
Anderson's Ceramic Supplies
M a n u f a c t u r e r s of
A r t a n d Gloss G l a z e s 06-04 a n d
MissouRi, St. Louis
45 Colors o f S U R E - T O N E L i q u i d April 6-11
Underglaze
for the H o b b y i s t a n d Hobby S u p p l i e r The National A r t Education Associ-
- - P r i c e L i s t on r e q u e s t - - ation will hold its Second National
R oute 1 Box 207 Martinez, Calif. Convention at Hotel Jefferson. Theme:
"Art and Human Values." Exhibition
of materials and equipment.
( . . .
ENGLISH CHINA CLAY Springfield ovd,,oo,e at the leading ceramic :
FOR WHITE WARE
100 lb. bags only at $4.25 Exp. Coll. April 1-25 supply houses acrbs~ the nation !
ENGLISH BALL CLAY The Springfield A r t Museum's 23rd i
FOR STRENGTH AND PLASTICITY Annual Exhibit is for artists living and SEND FOR FREE CATALOG
100 lb. bogs only at $4.25 Exp. Coll. workin~ in Arkansas, Kansas, Okla, CRAFTOOLS,INC. 401 BROADWAY,.N.Y. 13, N.Y,
P l e a s e Enclose Check Or M o n e y Order homa, P~ebraska, Iowa, and Missouri.
MOORE AND MUNGER Among work being shown are sculpture
33 Rector St., N . Y . 6, N . Y .
and ceramics.
NEaRASKA, Omaha MODEL KILNS
DESIGNS FOR CHINA PAINTERS April 1-26 MODEL CERAMICS, INC.
A n n o u n c i n g a new set of 1 dozen
attractive patterns for china paint- Mid-west Biennial Exhibition of Utili- MANUFACTURERS & DISTRIBUTORS
ing. Color instructions. Postpaid tarian Design. A t Joslyn A r t Museum. OF CERAMIC SUPPLIES
$1.05 p e r dozen. For craftsmen and designers from 722 N. Main St. Akron, Ohio
W a t e r color s k e t c h e s f or c olor g u i d e
Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota,
$1.00 each
Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, N. & 8.
POLLOCK STUDIO Dakota, and Wyoming. Both ceramics
436 W. T a b o r Rd. P h i l a d e l p h i a 20. P a . and enamels being shown.
When writing to advertisers
NEW JERSEY,Asbury Park please mention
May 13-17 "Ceramics Monthly"
The Eastern Ceramic and Hobby Show
is your of 1953 will be staged at Convention
Jane Snead Hall. For further details contact Jerry
Kiln Element Gasque, 77 Ridgecrest Ave., Staten
BURNED OUT'/ Island, N. Y. PENNSYLVANIA, Indiana
April 15-May 26
NEW YORK, K e n m o r e The Annual Art Exhibition of the
If your Jane
Snead K i l n E l e - May 3 Indiana State Teachers College will be
m e n is n o t w o r k - Annual exhibit of the Kenmore put on by the Student Cooperative
i n g then only Jane Snead C e r a m i c Studios can Ceramic Guild will take place at the Association. Sculpture to be shown.
fix it.
No one else has the facilities or know-how to YWCA, on Delaware Ave., from 3 to
make a correct Jane Snead Heating Element. 9 P.M. Open to the public. (See Show TEXAS, B e a u m o n t
We are the only house that can service them Time, next issue.) M a y 3-31
properly.
Just tell us what number Jane Snead Kiln you Beaumont Art Museum, 1035 Calder
have. We will make up an element to fit your New York Ave., will present its second annual
kiln. April 2-26
Kiln E l e m e n t s come in three s i z e s : show, to which sculpture has been
~4--$7.00 ~6---$8.00 ~7~$14.50 The National Academy of Design, accepted. Texas, Louisiana, and Missis-
F.O.B. Bridgeport 1083 Fifth Ave., will hold its 128th sippi artists competing.
A S K U S A B O U T LARGER SIZES
Annual Exhibition for all artists. Sculp-
ture will be shown. Dallas
April 23-26
New York The Southwest Ceramics and Hobby
April 19-May 10 Show of 1953 at the Science Building,
Riverside Museum will present the Fair Park. For show details write Lur.
Sixth Annual of Knickerbocker Artists. line Pattillos, Exhibit Chairman, 4407.
Sculpture to be shown. A Parry Ave.

APRIL 1953 31
SUZANETTE /
an e x c i t i n g
t Show Time
Florida Vacation Plus Ceramics First Prize of $30 and Second Prize of
The sunny state of Florida stands to $10, respectively, in the ceramics di-
be in the minds of many ceramists this vision.
June for more than one reason, aside Mr. Staffel's stoneware bowl is shown
from thoughts of vacationing there. on this page.
One of those reasons is the Summer Open to craftsmen in a 65-mile ra-
% Festival of the Arts which will be in
progress at Sarasota from June 29
through July 26. The Festival will have
a Crafts Show as a major activity, and
ceramics will of course be included.
The crafts section will have $750 in
cash and tool and equipment prizes to
s u z a n e t t e , dish m o l d D 9 3 ~ " W i d e __$1.65
w r o u g h t i r o n s t a n d 9 tp h i g h . . . . . . . . . . 2.95 offer.
in l o t s o f 6 or m o r e . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.50 The crafts division, show officials
t u - s u dish m o l d B - 2 7 J A " w i d e . . . . . . . . 3.75
w r o u g h t i r o n s t a n d (2 dish) 9 " H i . . . . 1.95 inform us, will "'afford an opportunity
in l o t s o f 6 or m o r e . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.50 for learning the uses of native ma-
--Usual mold discounts on molds only--
S e n d 25c f o r i l l u s t r a t e d c a t a l o g o f out" terials and to study techniques as well
many exciting and original designs, as new tools and equipment."
S A H U A R O MOLDS Incidentally, the Festival could easily
P. O. Box 133, Sla. A STONEWARE BOWL in blue and gray by
S t u d i o 560 C o l l e g e A v e . Palo Alto, Cal. be turned into a chance to kill two Rudolf Staffel of Philadelphia, who was award-
birds with one stone, since there will be ed a first prize in the regional crafts competl-
special prices on accommodations and tlon at the city's Art Alliance.
entertainment facilities for devotees of
the arts during the show period. For dius of Philadelphia, the contest drew
NEW INEXPENSIVE details write to Kenneth Hilliard, 1,000 articles from the 150 persons
KILN Crafts Show Director, Washington who entered the five divisions.
Blvd. at Laurel, P. O. Box 792,
Ideal for Sarasota. Pitt Petri Award
Designed for the firing
of enamels that have The 19th Annual Western New York
been applie~l to one side
of a metal piece. Pieces
Another Florida Exhibition Exhibition, held at the Albright Art
up to 43/s " in diameter In fact, you might coup an extra Gallery in Buffalo, is now memory, too.
and 11/2'' high may be
fired in this kilo. bird in Florida in June by attending But fortunately, we have a picture (on
Reaches enameling x ~ ] the First Annual Ceramic Exhibition, this page) of the piece that won for its
temperatures quickly
Sturdy and simple
to be at Lowe Gallery, University of creator the Pitt Petri Award of $50
COI]Sl1 uct ion Miami, Coral Gables. Sponsored by the "'for an outstanding piece of ceramics."
Low cost, trouble Ceramic League of Miami, this com- Executed by Linn Phelan, the piece
#r . . . . . p c r a t i o n F R EE petitive exhibition is to extend from is his blue-green and yellow "Plate--
'Enameling on June 15 to July 15. Sgraffito and Overglaze."
Copper and Pottery, porcelain, sculpture, and
Other Metals' Forty-four pieces of ceramic work
by Thomas E.
enamels will be exhibited and classi- were among the entries to the exhi-
Thompson fied by the Committee for Selection bition, and the jury chose nine of pot-
T h i s illustrated 40- and Awards. Standards will be "fresh-
page book answers tery and four of sculpture for showing.
your questions ness of concept, excellence of design,
about fascinating
metal enameling and mastery of craftsmanship."
. . techniques,
lools, and equip-
Cash and purchase awards in the
{llellt, types of various classifications are to be an-
enameling, f i r i n g .
finishing, etc. nounced later.
NOW AVAILABLE Jurors for the exhibition will be
Complete Rancje of Enamel Colors Miska Petersham, Ft. Lauderdale;
Small Copper Trays .lames M. Smith, Miami; and A. J.
M a n y articles - - enameled pins, belt buckles,
buttons, ash trays, small bowls - - can be Spencer, St. Petersburg.
illade. Teachers fled etlameling a medium of
expression with functional as wed a~- creative For entry information write Mrs.
qualities. Juanita May, 1953 Tiger Tail Ave.,
WRITE TO Miami.
Thomas C. ThompsonCo. Philadelphia Regional Results
,
IS39 Deerfield Rd., Dept. C.M. "PLATE--Sgrafflto and Overglaze" won the
Highland Park, Ill. Well, things have quieted down for Pitt Petri Award at the 19th Annual Western
craftsmen in the Philadelphia area now New York Exhibition for Linn Phelan, Almond,
that the Regional Crafts Exhibition, N.Y.
I When writing to advertisers put on by the Quaker City's Art Al-
liance, is over. Quiet except for the Ceramics of the Northwest
please mention
"Ceramics Monthly"
coins jingling in the jeans of Rudolf If artists living and working in
Staffel and Richard E. Jacobs, who won Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Wash-
32 CERAMICS MONTHLY
ington wish to enter the Fourth An-
n u a l Exhibition of Northwest Ceramics, Index
t h e y had best get their work in the
mail soon. The sponsors of the Exhi, of
bition, the Oregon Ceramic Studio in
Portland, Ore., advise that the pieces Advertisers
must be in the hands of the jury be- April 1953
tween April 13 and 27.
Pottery, ceramic sculpture, and
Anderson's Ceramic Supplies . . . . . . . . . 31
enamels will be accepted.
Angelo Brothers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
On the eve of the show's opening
Ankraft Ceramic Studio . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
there will be a preview and reception
Buffalo Ceramic Supply . . . . . . ~. . . . . . 28
a t 8 P.M.; that's Tuesday, May 12.
Campbell, Gilmour . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
T h e show itself will begin May 13,
Cole, S., Co . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
e n d June 20.
Craftools, Inc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
There will be six awards given this
Delta Brush Manufacturing Corp . . . . . . 23
year, adding up to $275, plus two
Draying, Charles H . . . . . . . . . . . . 28, 29, 31
honorable mentions. The Portland Art
Dutchess Junction Claybank . . . . . . . . . . 28
Museum will be interested in consider-
ing purchases from the Exhibition, too. Fairchild Ceramic Studio . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Ferro Corp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $
Conditions of entry state that the
Exhibition will accept original work Harrison, Kay, Studios . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
only, produced no more than 12 months Holland Mold Shop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
House of Ceramics (Mass.) . . . . . . . . . . 26
before the official date of entry. Cera-
mists may submit three pieces in each House of Ceramics (Tenn.) . . . . . . . . . . 24
classification; a fee of $2 is charged for Janan Instrument Co . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
each division entered. Lawrence Kiln & Furnace Corp . . . . . . . C-4
For entry details contact Mrs. Lydia L;x-Crax . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Herrick Hodge, Oregon Ceramic Stu- L & L Manufacturing Co . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-
dio, 3934 S. Corbett Ave., Portland. McDaniel Mold Co . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Martin, John, Treasures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Mason Color & Chemical Works . . . . . . 7
Illinois Exhibition to Tour Master Mechonic Mfg. Co 27 . . . . . . . . . . .

Maurer, W . A., Co . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Perhaps officials of the forthcoming
Maven, E. P., Co 25
Sarasota Festival of the Arts (see . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Model Ceramics, Inc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31


above) could have gleaned some hints
Moore and Munger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
from the recently ended Illinois Fes-
tival of Contemporary Arts. Paragon Industries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Pollock Studio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Some 25 well-known ceramic artists
entered 48 pieces of pottery and enam- Re-Ward .......................... 23
els in the invitational show. A large Roder Ceramic Studio . . . 6 . . . . . . . . . . . .

Sahuaro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Schmid, Ludwig . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Snead, Jane, Ceramic Studio 31 . . . . . . .

PERHAPS T O U R I N G in the traveling exhibit


Swoboda's . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
of the Illinois invitational will be the pieces
shown above. "Storage Jar" (top) is by Thompson, Thomas C., Co . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Peter Voulkos, Archie Bray Foundation; the Tummins, Madge, Ceramic Studio . . . . 31
three jars by Frans Wildenhaln, Rochester, Vollmers Ceramic Studio . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
N.Y. Ward, S. Paul . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

percentage of the works were sold.


Three pictures of pieces that appeared Museum, Indianapolis, Ind., is set for
in the exhibition are shown here. May 17 through June 14. But don't
Roy Ginstrom, Chairman of the wait "til then to get started on some-
Crafts Exhibition, tells us that plans thing to send; April 27 is the last day
are being formulated for a tour of the entry forms will be honored by the
exhibit under the auspices of the Museum, April 28 the final date for
Smithsonian Institution Traveling Ex- work submission.
hibition Service. Of course, the Indiana Biennial is
All participating craftsmen will be limited to ceramists in that state, but
given an opportunity to enter works in both amateurs and professionals are
the traveling exhibit, which is to tour welcome to enter. The officials have
for one year. stipulated, though, that entries must be
the original work of the exhibitor, not
class work, and made within the last
Second Hoosier Biennial two years.
The first Biennial Indiana Ceramic The jurors, Carlton Ball of the Uni-
Exhibition must have been successful, versity of Southern Illinois, and Harold
because the sponsor (the Mary Howes Nash of the University of Cincinnati,
TEAMWORK by Carlton Ball and Aaron
Bohrod resulted in the creation of this stone-
Woodsmall Foundation) is planning a have five prizes in each class to award.
ware iar for the Illinois Invltational. Mr. Ball second for next month. The exhibition, (Look for the names and pictures of
did the forming, Mr. Bohrod the decorating. which is to be at the John Herron Art the winners in Show Time soon.)
APRIL 1953 33
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