40 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. vol. (?0. 



HISTORY OF THE CERAMIC ART. 



Clay working is one of the arts most widespread in space and 

 time. The industry has had part in all phases of material progress, 

 and the imperishable products of the clay worker form one of the 

 most valuable indices of the stages of civilization. Included under 

 the head of ceramics are glass and enamel, which appear to have 

 developed with the facilities of increasing heat in ceramic and 

 metallurgical processes. 



The ceramic art includes the production of all objects formed by 

 modeling, molding, and baking clay. The classes of products are 

 vessels, statuary, architectural details, and miscellaneous objects of 

 almost endless variety. This art has been practiced by nearly all 

 peoples that have passed into what is known as the upper status of 

 savagery. The beginnings were extremely simple, but the highest 

 products are marvels of industrial and esthetic achievement. 



Thie history of this art, from its inception to its fullest develop- 

 ment, is illustrated here in epitome by two series of exhibits, one 

 comprising the products and the other the implements and appliances 

 of manufacture. The principal series begins with the rudest forms 

 of earthenware and ends with porcelain. The second begins with 

 archaic modeling tools and closes with the wheel and the mold. Fir- 

 ing devices are omitted for want of room, and no attempt is made 

 to present the varied and interesting phenomena of embellishment. 



One form of pottery — the vase — is taken to represent the entire 

 range of products. 



Short series of objects representing glass and enamel are placed 

 with ceramics proper, bearing the relations of offshoots from the 

 main stem. 



Although no single people has passed through precisely the stages 

 of progress here indicated, the pottery industry of all civilized na- 

 tions must have had a somewhat analogous succession of phases. 

 These series, therefore, illustrate with reasonable accuracy the general 

 history of the art as practiced by mankind, and especially indicate 

 something of the growth and conquests of the human mind. 



FIRST STEPS IN CERAMICS. 



Plate 44. 



Zun.i Indian women making fottery vases. — The woman is the 

 potter among very primitive peoples. She digs the clay, cleanses 

 and mixes it, and when the paste acquires the proper consistency 

 rolls it and builds the vessel. The rolls are added to the edges of the 

 incipient vessel and pressed into place, one after another, until the 

 desired heisrht is reached. Paddles and other tools are used in 



