78 
RERAMIC STUDIO 
They will obtain a very interesting excised decoration by do- 
ing what did the old Italo-Greek potters, that is, by using com- 
mon potteries firing at rather low temperatm-es, 800° C. or so. 
No. 16. Recenl applicaiion of primitive process. Chinese egg shell porcelain lant- 
ern in tlie Salting collection. London. K'ang H.si period, 1662-1722. 
Excised and perforated decoration. These e.xcised Chinese lanterns are 
rare and extremely valuable, the most .simple ones bringing at auction 
several thousand do ars. They are all painted over the glaze -ivith the low 
Are enamels of the famlUe rose or famille verte. But however perfect the 
overglaze painting, their great technical merit Ues in the fine, difflcult 
excised work in the thin paste. 
ago by Mrs. Adelaide A. Robineau, a porcelain vase with a 
scarab decoration beautifully excised by this clever artist.* 
But porcelain work is not within the means of all artists. 
Many must use a material less difficult to handle and fire. 
*As Mr. Franchet mentions Mrs. Robineau's excised work, we illustrate 
one of her recent porcelains (the scarab vase was illustrated in August 1911 
Keramic Studio), also some interesting old Chinese porcelains of the same 
kind, excised and perforated. Hand perforation is only a development of 
incised or excised decoration, the cutting being continued until perforation. 
When the perforations are filled with glaze, the result, after firing is what is 
known as the rice pattern of the Chinese. Very interesting and beautiful 
open work or perforated porcelains have been made in modern times in 
European factories, Worcester, Sevres, Dresden, etc. But these are made in 
moulds, consequently by a mechanical process and pieces are repeated. Ex- 
cised and hand perforated pieces such as the Chinese lanterns or the recent 
work of Mrs. Robineau are of an absolutely different character. 
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No. IS. Modern industrial process. Worcester porcelain vase. Perforated decora- 
tion made by mould work. By courtesy of John H. Drake, Syracuse, N. Y. 
The excising may be done either on raw or on biscuit. 
In the first case there is danger of slight deformation of the 
design, especially with bodies rich in alumina which shrink 
heavily in firing. Glaze may be applied either on raw or pre- 
ferably on biscuit. Glazes applied on biscuit will have to be 
mixed with gum tragacanth or fucus. Great care will have to 
be given to this glazing, so that glazes used on the etched back- 
ground will not mix with those of the relief design. With 
the great variety of combinations which may be obtained from 
modern glazes, it will be realized that this process offers a large 
field for beautiful decorative effects. 
(to be continued) 
^ ^ 
No. 17. Recent process. Chinese porcelain vase of K'ang Hsi period with rice 
pattern. The incised design is perforated and the perforations are filled 
with glaze. 
BORDER— MARGARET LATHAM 
Treatment by Jessie M. Bard 
OUTLINE design and dust outline with Dark Blue for 
Dusting then clean edges and fire. Second firing — oil 
the wide spaces and dust with Water Green No. 2. 
