Studio: international art (2.1894)

Pdte stir Pdte

quently, very limited. With the body in use at Chinese vase in the Ceramic Museum of Sevres.

Messrs. Minton's, on the contrary, a great variety M. Riocreux, then curator of the Museum,

of colours can be obtained. It is a sort of Parian ; admired so much the harmonious contrasts formed

the elements entering into its composition are the by the celadon ground of this vase and the thick

FROM A PLAQUE BY M. L. SOLON

same as those used for hard porcelain, but mixed white flowers embossed upon it, that he induced

in different proportions. Most complicated kinds one of the modellers at the factory, Mr. Fishback,

of forms can be produced in that body; the biscuit to undertake the necessary trials, in view of

is at first thoroughly fired, and during this ope- obtaining similar effects with the Sevres porcelain,

ration the pieces can be properly supported in all Curiously enough, no notice was taken of the fact

their weak points ; the glazing is subsequently that, in that particular vase, the celadon tint of the

proceeded with at a much lower temperature. It is field was due to a greenish glaze which was neatly

not so with hard porcelain : the highest degree laid between the raised parts, and did not lie at all

of heat has to be reached to bring the glaze into under the reliefs, as it was at first supposed. Under

fusion; supports cannot be used, as they would this misconception, experiments were made upon a

stick to the piece, and therefore only a certain body coloured in the mass with a small quantity of

class of shapes can be attempted. oxide of chrome. The light green ground appear-

The regular English china-body, so well adapted ing in delicate shades through the white wherever
to surface painting, may also be employed; but, as this had been thinly applied, gave a much more
most of the oxides which succeed when used in pleasant result than was even anticipated, and,
connection with the Parian are attacked by the indeed, the successful management of those trans-
phosphate of lime contained in the china-body, parencies now constitutes the principal charm of
this latter gives only unsatisfactory results. the process.

I often wondered whether good effects could not Simple as the method of proceeding has now

be produced by a cheap imitation of " Pate sur become, one must not imagine that the difficulties

Pate," made in Germany by means of opaque glass of the first experiments were easily mastered. The

applied on a transparent ground—if an artist were white clay, thickly applied upon a dry surface,

to give his careful attention to its development. would not adhere to the ground, but insisted on

The notion of a new decoration on porcelain, curling up or falling off in the firing. To guard

consisting in the application of white reliefs upon against such accidents, vases were kept in the wet

coloured grounds, was not derived, as one might state as long as the work of decoration was being

surmise, from Wedgwood jasper ware, but from a prosecuted. In this way was prevented the too