230 
PLERAMIC STUDIO 
Tea Set — A. E. Baggs— Handicraft Shop, Marblehead, Mass. 
THE CERAMIC CRAFTS AT THE NATIONAL SOCIETY OF 
CRAFTSMEN EXHIBITION. 
CONSIDERING the number of individual potters at 
work all over the country and the national character 
expected of the exhibits, from the sponsorship of the Na- 
tional Arts Club and the aims of the Society itself, the 
ceramic exhibit was somewhat of a disappointment. What- 
ever the reasons may be, it is certain that many of the best 
workers were not represented at all, and few of the exhibit- 
ing potters were adequately represented — while of the over- 
glaze decorators, not only may the same be said, but it 
must be added that most of what was exhibited had already 
been shown in the same galleries. 
While it does not seem kind for criticism to be made by 
those who have not borne the brunt of the work — and while 
the difficulties of getting together a good exhibition in the 
present condition of handicrafts in this country are fully 
appreciated — it is to be sincerely regretted that the juries 
could not be composed in every case, of persons well enough 
versed in their particular craft to be competent to sit in 
judgment on even the best and able to discriminate between 
what was fit for a school exhibit and what for a "Compara- 
tive Exhibition of the modern crafts with the best to be ob- 
tained of ancient crafts." A few choice things from every 
good craftsman would be of inestimable educational value, 
while a larger exhibit of good, bad and indifferent, may show 
the kind-heartedness, or the inexperience of the different 
juries, but is very confusing to the general public who come 
to the exhibition to learn to discriminate between hand- 
work and machine wrought. One could not blame much 
the lady who remarked that she "preferred an article 
designed by an artist and well made by machinery to one 
designed by a tyro and executed badly by the same." 
Nevertheless there were several good new things in 
ceramics and some good things which had been seen before 
but could bear being seen again. 
The work of Russel Crooke, potter, which aroused so 
much interest at the last exhibition of the N. Y. S. K. A. 
was in this category as well as that of Mrs. Sara Wood 
Safford, the Misses Mason, Mrs. Anna Leonard and others 
of the overglaze decorators. Doubtless the latter are reserving 
their new work for the next exhibition of the Keramic Society. 
The best new work in ceramics was undoubtedly that 
sent by the Handicraft Shop of Marblehead, Mass., of 
which Mr. Arthur E. Baggs is guiding spirit. The forms are 
simple and good, the designs also are restrained and in good 
taste. The colors are soft and subdued, yet varied, with a 
pleasant matt texture. The designs are in flat glazes with 
incised outlines— showing a good control of the medium — 
an altogether noteworthy exhibit. 
The tea set, in brown and olive with landscape motif 
was exceedingly attractive, the handle of the teapot was 
finished with rattan in much the same fashion as the Jap- 
anese employ. The tiles were unusually nice and were 
evidently popular as most were sold — as w r ere many of the 
other pieces. Many of the best pieces were impossible to 
photograph since they were in two tones so near in value as 
to lose the design in a reproduction. We understand that 
the handicraft shops were started to give employment and, 
by the way, health to nervous invalids. We doubt if a 
saner and more, practical treatment can be found. Evi- 
dently the plan is a success for there is no sign of nerves, or 
lack of nerve, in this pottery. 
The new Grueby tiles have raised designs in a rather 
antique effect both of design and color which is a cream 
with brownish edges, something of an old ivory tone. 
The Newcomb College Pottery was good, as ever, in 
much the same style, nothing particularly new, but always 
in good taste. 
Mr. Walley's jars and bowls in browns and greens, matt 
and bronze effects, were good and harmonious for their pur- 
pose of holding flowers and flower pots. Mr. Volkmar's 
familiar work also greeted one like an old friend. There was 
a small case of the Robineau porcelains in matt and crystal- 
line glazes with carved designs but the new feature of inter- 
est in this exhibit was a collection of sixteen experimental 
pieces in flamme" reds of copper from the dark purplish 
browns through the various shades of reds, and peach blow. 
These are the experiments in glaze and firing of Mr. Robin- 
eau, Mrs. Robineau making the vases only. W T hile few 
pieces were perfect, they represented the preliminary work 
in this line and before long it is hoped that perfect pieces 
may be exhibited. 
Of the overglaze w r ork which has not already been il- 
lustrated in Keramic Studio, perhaps the most interesting 
was the exhibit of Miss Matilda Middleton of Chicago. The 
flat enamel work was exquisitely executed, especially in 
the Satsuma coffee pot which was a marvel of painstaking 
and sympathetic execution. The sandwich set of large and 
small plates was also charmingly designed and executed. 
Next in interest, or rather, equally of interest in a different 
way were the quaint reproductions of old English porcelains 
by Miss May McCrystle, also of Chicago. Miss Dorothea 
W arren of New York showed some fine copies of old Chinese 
plates, and Mrs. Anna Leonard a few new things in an 
agreeable combination of blues, greens and gold. A few 
of the other good new things are shown in the illustrations. 
It is to be regretted that nothing was shown by Mr. Marshal 
Fry, and nothing new by Mrs. Safford or the Misses 
Mason. 
