Vol. Ill, No. 6 
NEW YORK AND SYRACUSE 
October J 90 J 
"T^jffTl S THE fall season begins there is always the 
question " What are the most saleable articles 
to paint for the holidays, or for a studio exhi- 
bition ?" Of course one finds a lot of mean- 
ingless trash of odds and ends that is sent to 
this country for decoration with the many 
beautiful and useful things that at once attract 
the connoisseur, and it is here that the decorator shows his 
or her taste and individuality in selection. By all means 
avoid buying china that has a design upon it in relief, as 
plain, smooth surfaces are far preferable for overglaze decora- 
tion, besides giving the decorator the chance of exercising 
originality without being bound to the potter's idea of 
what the decoration should be. It is quite right to elaborate 
upon the structural lines that the potter gives, but the mean- 
ingless relief work hampers, confuses and discourages the 
decorator. 
We find a great improvement in the comparatively new 
shapes shown in the shops (as the catalogues of our adver. 
tisers prove), and one has no difficulty now in selecting 
articles that are really good. For the holidays there will be 
all the required articles for the writing desk; large and gen- 
erous ink wells that are very practical, instead of the useless 
toys that were formerly exhibited ; with the ink wells are all 
the needful accessories. Then there are articles for the toilet 
table, which may be elaborately or simply decorated, but 
always making useful and attractive presents, especially so 
the boxes. Candlesticks are numerous and are ever accept- 
able and saleable. A beautiful setting for a dinner table is 
to have a tall, single candlestick in front of each plate, with a 
tiny vase of flowers between ; and a large loving cup or 
jardiniere filled with loose flowers in the centre of the table. 
While these so far have been in silver, there is no reason 
why they should not be in porcelain ; and how very attrac- 
tively they could be decorated with some of the rich designs 
that have been given in the KERAMIC STUDIO. 
The writer had the pleasure of seeing a round table of a 
dozen covers arranged in this manner; it was charming in 
every particular; at the same time there was the jealous 
thought of the keramist, "why silver?" Dinner plates are 
larger than the ordinary decorators use, a ten inch plate 
gives more dignity and eloquence to the table. Nothing 
could be more acceptable than plates or cups and saucers 
when artistically decorated ; there are many dainty and fas- 
cinating styles, but one can never go amiss when selecting 
the good, plain, old fashioned shapes. Another useful 
article is the large and plain bonbonniere which is appro- 
priate in any room. The smaller ones are very attractive 
also, and may be simple or so exquisite in decoration as to be 
a gem in a cabinet collection of treasures. Picture frames 
are not so much used as novelties, they were always clumsy 
and comparatively unsaleable, owing to their fragility. 
Another useful article is a small water pitcher and tray ; 
and we suggest our colored study of Miss Dibble's pitcher 
(April supplement, 1901), as an extraordinarily good example 
of the way one should be decorated; there are two or three 
sizes of this same pitcher now in the shops, which will be 
found very saleable after the decoration is applied. It is 
rather difficult to find a good tea pot, such as will hold five or 
six cups, the plainer shapes are preferable; a beautifully 
decorated one is not to be resisted. The same may be said 
of chocolate sets, which seem always in demand. The 
KERAMIC STUDIO wishes great success the coming season to 
all those who are seriously studying and are trying to do 
good things for the coming sales and exhibitions. Our advice 
is to keep the work simple. 
AMERICAN CERAMIC SOCIETY 
THE American Ceramic Society was formed a few years ago 
with a view to applying scientific researches to the 
Ceramic industry. A great many of the prominent potters, 
tile makers and others interested in this industry in the vari- 
ous parts of the country are members or associate members of 
this Society. 
The American Ceramic Society desires to announce to 
those interested in the clay industries, that the Society de. 
sires to offer a prize, consisting of Seger's Collected Writings 
on Ceramics, published in two volumes and valued at $15, to 
be given to the person producing the best design for a seal to 
be used on the Society's publications and papers. 
The design may symbolize some phase of the work com- 
mon to all clay working operations, and does not represent 
one single clay industry or may be an Allegorical design, in 
which Science or Progress is represented as elevating the 
crude labor of the primitive clay worker into an art. 
The seal completed must not exceed two inches in 
diameter, and, though preferably circular, may have any other 
form. If the design could be of such a nature that a much 
reduced copy of it could be made up in metal to be worn as 
the Society's pin or emblem, it would be a strong additional 
reason for its acceptance. The design must be in black and 
white so as to be capable of reproduction by a common print- 
ing process. 
The sole reservation made by the Society to competitors 
for this prize is that they must all be citizens of the United 
States. The time offered for this competition is exceedingly 
short. The design must be submitted prior to October 15th 
to receive consideration. 
Address all correspondence on the subject to Prof. Ed- 
ward Orton, Jr., Secretary, Columbus, Ohio. 
The first number of our "Old China" magazine will be 
out October 1st. To subscribers of KERAMIC STUDIO who 
wish to give an additional subscription to " Old China" we 
will make the special offer of one year subscription to both 
magazines for $4.00. 
