A Colorado Industry 
VASES MADE AT THE VAN BRIGGI.E POTTERY 
which he had designed and thought out in 
the summer came forth from the fire, tangi¬ 
ble and beautiful. Those were exciting davs ! 
H ere was a man in wretched health, fighting 
constantly against circumstances, without 
sufficient financial means to carry on his 
work as he would like, yet possessing the 
secret ol a fine glaze and the power to make 
beautiful objects of art. At this critical 
moment there came to his aid one who had 
long been interested in his work, Mrs. Bel¬ 
lamy Storer, who, when she saw the results 
of the experiments, gave such encourage¬ 
ment to the young potter that he was led to 
take a small cottage and turn it into a work¬ 
shop. To see this domestic looking cottage 
shaded in the summer-time by trees and 
bright with lawn and flowers, one hardly 
expects, upon 
stepping with¬ 
in the door, to 
hear the hum 
of machinery 
and find busy 
workshops, all 
as yet very 
primitive in 
appearance. 
In August 
of 1901 the 
first piece was 
thrown upon 
the potter’s 
wheel. The 
working force 
166 
at that time consisted of Mr. Van Briggle 
himself, an expert turner and thrower from 
Ohio, and a boy of all work. From that 
time until now, when the force consists of 
twelve, Mr. Van Briggle has been the head 
of every department, instructing his men 
on every point and adapting old methods 
to new conditions, always more or less of 
a problem. The workshop has been really 
a kindergarten, for there were no funds at 
hand for importing skilled workmen from 
the East; but men and boys of intelligence 
are now coming into the shops and as the 
work progresses the interest in it grows deeper. 
Lately Mr. Van Briggle has started a draw¬ 
ing school after hours, to which not only the 
young men of the decorating department 
come, but several from the workshops as 
well. They 
draw from cast 
and life, and 
the work will 
prove of value 
and interest in 
every depart- 
ment, in de- 
v e 1 o p i n g ap¬ 
preciation for 
line and pro¬ 
portion, two 
things of tre¬ 
mendous value 
in the throw¬ 
ing room. The 
untrained eye 
SOME RECENT VAN BRIGGLE WARE 
