ON THE DECORATIVE ART APPLIED TO GARDEN POTS. 
49 
ON THE APPLICATION OF THE DECORATIVE ART TO GARDEN POTS. 
By Mr. John Spencer , Bowood. 
If we may judge by the prevailing taste of the present day, we are midway in what may 
be termed the transition state from the plain matter-of-fact principles, which have 
hitherto principally guided us both in business and decoration, — to that period when the 
highest efforts of artistic skill are brought to bear, not only on purely decorative objects, 
but also on more common articles. That such a period has arrived in the history of 
all nations who have been celebrated for refinement and civilisation, there is abundant 
testimony to prove. No one can for a moment behold the restored treasures of the ancient 
Egyptians — the relics of Etrurian pottery- ware — or the matchless sculpture of the Greeks 
and early Romans, without being forcibly convinced, how highly the decorative art was 
prized by them, and of the high degree of refinement requisite, to design, execute, and 
appreciate objects, which, generally speaking, we, as a nation, are only beginning to 
understand and value. I need scarcely refer to the mediaeval ages for corroborative proof. 
The decoration of tapestry, the embellishment of missals, and the carving with which the 
most trifling articles were enriched, all bespeak an appreciation of the ornamental and 
decorative styles, in an age not otherwise remarkable for the refinements of civilised life. 
At the present time, in our own country, and more or less in others, the attempt at 
restoring the true decorative style, both on objects justly considered within the pale of the 
fine arts, and on those more common utensils pertaining to our daily wants, which have 
hitherto been considered unworthy of such distinction, is daily pushing itself into notice. 
We may hail this as unmistakeable evidence, that an appreciation of the beautiful and 
decorative in art, is fast pervading society at large. 
I have been led into making the above remarks on reflecting what might be done by way 
of improving the appearance of that most useful, common, and certainly at present, most 
unornamental piece of pottery, “ the Garden Pot." Gardeners have hitherto been content 
with it, in its plain unpretending form — and it may fairly be questioned whether any 
utensil employed either in gardening or agriculture has passed through the hands of so 
many generations with its primitive form so little altered, as the subject of my present 
remarks. It is true, Mr. Forsyth some years ago recommended to have them glazed, or 
varnished — for which piece of advice he was unanimously voted an innovator, and I believe 
the plan was never put into practice. Some modification in its form, too, has been brought 
into notice, in the shape of the “ West Kent Garden Pot ; ” but these, in so far as 
ornament is concerned, are not a whit before the original patterns. Again, lately, a 
substitute has been invented for our old friends, in the shape of “ Slate Tubs,” — now, I 
had always an inkling that these latter would be a great improvement, as regards appear- 
ance at least, to the common garden-pot ; but after seeing a stage of plants growing 
in these “ miniature orange tubs,” I was so struck with their prim formal appearance, — 
producing impressions so unfavourable to my preconceived ideas of beauty, that I deter- 
mined, in my own mind, they would never succeed, where taste was called in question. 
Perhaps some of your readers may not be aware how far the decorative art may be 
carried into effect on the common flower-pot, and the wide field it opens for design in 
their embellishment ; several attempts have been made, one of which has come under my 
notice, and as they have stood with comparative safety for twelve years to my knowledge, 
I am enabled to speak as to their durability — and the pots I am now about describing, 
were, I believe, made at Sherborne, and are of a large size. They are (to all appearance) 
made of the common pottery clay, in moulds. The rim of the pots at top and bottom are 
embossed with foliage and flowers, and festoons of the same, in high relief, are carried 
round the sides. There is likewise an elaborate border towards the bottom in the same 
style, The foliage, &c., has all the sharpness of outline, so valued in sculptured relievo. 
Altogether, they are the most decorative article I ever saw made for plants. Now, it has 
vol. i. — NO. II. h 
