DOI Heft:
No. 154 (January, 1906)
DOI Artikel:Scott, E. N.: The ceramic work of the Burslem Art School
DOI Seite / Zitierlink: https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.20713#0357
Ceramic IVork of the Bur stem Art School
ware. The method was adopted by him
not only because of its utility and practi-
cability, but also because of the delicate
and chaste effect obtained by the coloured
body of the ware being suggested through
the slightly translucent decoration. Re-
verting to the production of modelled
pottery, it should be explained that the
article having been designed in clay, an
elaborate set of moulds are made, and
from these the actual piece of ware is
either pressed or cast, being afterwards
fired and glazed.
Faience or large architectural ceramics
present numerous difficulties. Generally,
SGRAFFITO TILES
BY ALFRED PIPER
UNDERGLAZE PAINTED TILES BY F. ALLEN
the student models the work in the special clay
necessary for the purpose, fires it, and then glazes it
—a process which on the surface appears simple
enough. The difficulties and disappointments are
however many, for if he has insufficiently dried the
clay before firing, or allowed air-holes to remain in
it, the fire will assuredly shatter his work, and the
labour—perhaps of months—will be gone in a
moment. Faience designs are repeated by means
of moulds made from the original clay model.
Even from this cursory explanation of the
methods of designing and executing pottery, it will
be seen how many are the difficulties to be en-
countered—difficulties which could not be overcome
but for the fact that the majority of the students
are daily engaged in the ceramic industry and
consequently become acquainted with the technical
side of the work. In designing, the student has
to keep in mind the nature of his medium, and in
executing he has constantly to overcome technical
obstacles which may entirely mar his work. He
must allow for the vagaries ot pottery firing, cal-
culate such matters as contraction, and remember
the alteration which occurs in colour as the result
of firing. By unifying the work of designing and
executing, the best and most practical results are
obtained, for the appropriateness of the design and
the possibilities and limitations oi the medium
can only be judged by making the designing and
RAISED LINE TILES
BY S. H. KENT
339
ware. The method was adopted by him
not only because of its utility and practi-
cability, but also because of the delicate
and chaste effect obtained by the coloured
body of the ware being suggested through
the slightly translucent decoration. Re-
verting to the production of modelled
pottery, it should be explained that the
article having been designed in clay, an
elaborate set of moulds are made, and
from these the actual piece of ware is
either pressed or cast, being afterwards
fired and glazed.
Faience or large architectural ceramics
present numerous difficulties. Generally,
SGRAFFITO TILES
BY ALFRED PIPER
UNDERGLAZE PAINTED TILES BY F. ALLEN
the student models the work in the special clay
necessary for the purpose, fires it, and then glazes it
—a process which on the surface appears simple
enough. The difficulties and disappointments are
however many, for if he has insufficiently dried the
clay before firing, or allowed air-holes to remain in
it, the fire will assuredly shatter his work, and the
labour—perhaps of months—will be gone in a
moment. Faience designs are repeated by means
of moulds made from the original clay model.
Even from this cursory explanation of the
methods of designing and executing pottery, it will
be seen how many are the difficulties to be en-
countered—difficulties which could not be overcome
but for the fact that the majority of the students
are daily engaged in the ceramic industry and
consequently become acquainted with the technical
side of the work. In designing, the student has
to keep in mind the nature of his medium, and in
executing he has constantly to overcome technical
obstacles which may entirely mar his work. He
must allow for the vagaries ot pottery firing, cal-
culate such matters as contraction, and remember
the alteration which occurs in colour as the result
of firing. By unifying the work of designing and
executing, the best and most practical results are
obtained, for the appropriateness of the design and
the possibilities and limitations oi the medium
can only be judged by making the designing and
RAISED LINE TILES
BY S. H. KENT
339