322 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



lisli in branches of the art which tliey have seriously undertaken. 

 Our copies of certain European wares are fully equal to the origi- 

 nals, and in some directions are superior. It only requires the 

 proper appreciation and encouragement of the public to furnish 

 the incentive to a broader application of the principles which have 

 been mastered by American artists, in order to produce the best 

 that has been attempted by the older French, Italian, and German 

 schools. In our reproductions of the thin Belleek ware of Ireland, 

 the Limoges faience of the Havilands, and specialties of other 

 Continental factories, we not only equal them, but often excel 

 them, in delicacy of form and beauty of glaze and decoration. 

 Our relief tiles surpass in artistic merit anytliing yjroduced abroad 

 of a similar character, having won the first premium over British 

 wares long before we brought them to their present state of per- 

 fection. Our architectural terra cottas have, within the past few 

 years, left England behind, and, could the absurd prejudice against 

 home art and native work be overcome, America would soon lead 

 the world in ceramic fabrics of every nature. Auiericans are 

 commencing to discriminate between the meritorious and the 

 meretrici<)us, and to decide in favor of American goods. Having 

 the richest mines in the world, from which the best materials are 





Fig. 52. — Militai^y Panel, 6. A. R. Memorial Hall, Wilkesbaree, Pa. 

 New York Architectural Terra ('otta Company. 



procured, the most talented artists, and the most highly cultured 

 public, there is no reason why we should not compete with the 

 entire globe in the manufacture of artistic pottery and jjorcelain. 

 It has been repeatedly stated that our artists are imitative, rather 

 than inventive ; but while this may, to a certain extent, be true, 

 and some of our potters have been content to creditably reproduce 

 the well-known wares of foreign schools, others have directed 

 their attention to the perfection of distinctively original prod- 

 ucts, which, for richness of glazing, excellence of body, and 

 beauty of conception, will rank Avith the best productions of Eu- 

 rope. The inventive genius of American jjotters has a vast and 

 practically limitless field for experimenting, and the art schools 

 which have sprung up in our principal cities may in time produce 

 a second Robbia, a worthy successor to Palissy, or an emulator 

 of that prince of potters, Josiali Wedgwood. 



