76 
hlEramic studio 
No. 13. Recent application of primitive process. Chinese white porcelain bowl. 
Kang Hsi period, 1662-1722. Excised decoration. From tlie Avery 
collection m the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New Yorlc. 
before the inlaying, and fill the incisions with enamels maturing 
in the low muffle firing. 
The inlaying must always be level with the background, 
never raised higher. 
Excised Decoration 
We have seen that inlaid decoration was born from in- 
cised decoration. 
Excised decoration is quite different. It is obtained by 
scraping away the background until the design stands out in 
relief. 
Although it may seem strange at first, it is impossible to 
obtain by mould work exactly the same decorative effect. 
Excised decoration was practiced nearly 2000 years ago 
by the Italo-Greek potters. It may be considered as nearly 
Beceni application of primitive process. Chinese white porcolain vase 
K'ang Hsi period, 1662-1722. Excised perforated decoration From 
the Avery collection in the MetropoUtan Museum of Art, New York 
completely abandoned to-day, not for reasons of an aesthetic 
order, but for purely economical causes. 
The National Manufactory of Sevres attempted about 
1894 to use this interesting process of decoration, but by a 
purely mechanical method. The design was traced on the 
body of the vase with some kind of a resist varnish, very ad- 
hesive and acid proof, then the vase was immersed in a diluted 
fluorhydric acid bath, the acid attacking the parts not covered 
with the resist. When the background was thus etched out 
to a depth of about two millimeters, the vase was thoroughly 
washed, the varnish was removed, and the excised decoration 
appeared in relief on the etched backgi-ound. 
As an example of excised decoration made, not by me- 
chanical means, but entirely by hand, I could not do better 
than to mention the truly remarkable vase executed two years 
Modern application of primitive process. Porcelain lantern by 
Adelaide Alsop-Robineau. Excised and perforated decoration 
The Satyr figures are in pate sur pate relief work. It would be 
Impossible to reproduce such a piece by mould work 
Modern process. Stone-gJazed stoneware. Designed and executed by a 
student of the Pennsylvania School of Fine Arts. Excised and modeled 
decoration. The piece thrown on the wheel, was modeled on the fresh 
clay, tlie minor features pressed in with a circular stamp, and the lines 
scored m wnh a pointed tool. .All modern work of this kind on low fire 
pottery bodies or stoneware wiU naturally be done while the piece is wet, 
as It IS so much easier and quicker. The decorative effect is however 
somewhat different from work on the drj' paste. On porcelain which can- 
not be worked damp the work must be done on the dry paste and is infi- 
nitely more difficult and slow. 
