Studio: international art (24.1902)

/

The Potters Art

"in the national gallery" by yoshio markino

(See London Studio- Talk)

painting upon porcelain ! There is a halo of
enchantment round the very thought of it in the
minds of many people. And yet, what sins
have been committed in its name! That a flower
vase should be complete, or in any sense worthy
of its function, without some naturalistic floral
decoration upon it, would not enter the minds of
many worthy people.

To consider the true purpose and function of
the flower vase, and so to construct and complete
it that it shall answer its purpose of holding and
displaying cut flowers to the greatest possible
advantage, is a subject to which but very few
European potters have deigned to turn their
attention. The old country dame still likes best
to see her roses in the old willow-pattern bowl,
and her gilliflowers or daffodils in the ancient

54

Toby jug—but then she lives in a world of
the past, as may be seen from the arrange-
ment of her cottage interior, with its red
brick floor, its open fire-place, its old oak
chest, long-case clock, rush-bottom chairs,
and the short white dimity blinds to its
diamond-pane windows. The latest produc-
tions from the great Staffordshire and Sevres
kilns are not for her, and she heeds not the
passing of fashion. But, perhaps, as we come
to consider the canons of good taste in
ceramics, the old lady will not be found to
be so far wrong after all in the selection of
her flower vases from her limited store.

For what are the first considerations to be
borne in mind by the potter in the making
of vessels suitable for the display of flowers ?
Not only must they be made capable of
holding water without allowing it to percolate
through, but care must be taken that, by
contrast of texture and colour, they do

"a london street" by yoshio markino

(See London SHidio- Talk)