Vol. XII. No. 9 
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK 
January, J 911 
E present this month a most 
attractive plate by Miss Mabel 
Dibble, of (Chicago, one time mem- 
ber of the famous Atlan Club and 
at the [present time craftsman 
member of the Boston Arts and 
Crafts Society. This dainty de- 
sign can be used either for fruit 
or service plate and will be found 
charming in color effect on the 
white linen of the table. 
We have the pleasure of announcing for next month a 
naturalistic number by Mrs. Kathryn Cherry. We feel that 
it is a great favor for one so advanced in decorative work to 
make this concession to those who have not yet achieved 
a love for the conventionalized decoration. The color study 
will be of Yellow California Poppies. The inside pages will 
be filled with studies of flowers and dainty adaptations to 
table service both of the natural flowers and the semi-con- 
ventional. These are "by way of being called" compromises, 
for while not strictly conventionalized the arrangement fol- 
low s the rules of design. We are sure of the hearty approval 
of all our good flower lovers and especially of those who have 
to paint things that will sell, and yet who do not want 
to debase their art. 
Miss Ehler's lesson will be omitted next month, as will 
also Mr. Rhead's Pottery Lesson, as we wish to give as 
much space as possible to our naturalistic sisters. They 
will be continued, however, in March, though we will give 
first an article from the French potter, Franchet, on "the 
painting of tin enamelled pottery" for studio workers. 
This will be followed by an able article by Mr. Frederick H. 
Rhead, on the American clays and materials suitable for 
this work. Those who have seen and love the quaint 
naive pottery of Brittany or Delft, will hail with delight 
this opportunity for the work to be introduced among 
craftsman potters in America. 
* 
We have in preparation for future color studies besides 
the flower subjects already announced and others being 
made, two subjects that we feel will be greatly appreciated 
by our readers. One is a decorative landscape by Miss Maud 
Mason and we are hoping to persuade her to let us have 
some black and white material to accompany it in the 
interior of the magazine. The other is a child's head by Mr. 
Charles C. Curran, the well known painter of children out 
of doors. Our good figure painters on porcelain have been 
somewhat neglected in the selection of color studies, for 
original figure studies are hard to get. We shall ask Mrs. Vance 
Phillips, who is the authority on figure painting on porcelain, 
to write the treatment of this study for our keramic 
workers, and we can assure them that a treat awaits them 
both in the study and in the good instruction that Mrs. 
Phillips always gives. 
* 
We are planning a California number at an early date. 
We have had it in mind for some time but promised designs 
did not materialize. We would ask all our good California 
friends to come to the front and send us material for selec- 
tion. We have quite a lot of California subjects but not 
enough for an entire issue. 
* 
After the holidays comes a lull in the studio work and 
the teachers have a little time to draw their breath and look 
about. Now is the time to work up material brought in with 
the summer's study, and see if one's standard can not be 
put a notch higher, see what others are doing and wherein 
they excel and try your own work beside theirs. It is the 
real, the woodwork that pays most in the end, though "faked" 
and unprincipled work may seem to be the fashion for a 
time. And the taste of keramic workers is developing 
daily and with marvellous rapidity. 
We will ask again that all our designers sign their name 
and address plainly on the back of their designs and that 
they always send treatments with designs and attached to 
them if possible. We have the greatest difficulty in keeping 
track of these two points due to the carelessness of designers. 
Moreover, we would remind our designers again not to send 
their designs in colors or anything but a good black and 
white wash on a smooth paper ; unless the colored design is 
accompanied by a black and white for reproduction, we can 
rarely use it as the colors photograph out of value. How- 
ever, those who do not understand the mineral colors can 
send a color scheme in water color to accompany their 
black and white drawing. The Chinese India Ink and 
Semple's white (when necessary) are the best for these 
wash drawings. For pen and ink work, use one of the good 
bottle waterproof inks, such as Higgins', Devoe's, Bourgeoi's 
and a good quality of Bristol Board. 
We regret to announce the death of Miss Osgood, of the 
Osgood Art School of New York. Her name is associated 
with ceramic work since the very earliest days of amateur 
painting on porcelains, and she, with her sister, had perhaps 
done more to disseminate a knowledge of the technical use 
of ceramic material than any one else in the profession. We 
extend our heartfelt sympathies to her sister and the many 
pupils of the Osgood School in all parts of the country. 
What sort of a design competition would you like ? Let 
us hear from you. How would a table service do? or some 
special sets, like fruits sets, fish sets, nut sets, etc., etc.? 
As soon as we are able to clear out our present stock of 
designs we are going to make some fine competitions and get 
all new stuff. 
In the December number we published two illustrations 
without signatures because the artist had neglected to put 
her name plainly on the designs submitted. These were the 
"box with scroll effect" and "mistletoe box" published on 
page 1 70, the work of Miss Wilhelmine Lenggenhagen of 
New York City. 
