Vol. V, No. 8 
SYRACUSE NEW YORK 
December 1903 
T is interesting to mark the in- 
fluence of Mr. Hugo Froehlich's 
lessons in design as illustrated by 
the work submitted for the fall 
competition. There is beyond a 
doubt a decided irajjrovement in 
the general aspect of the designs 
which can be clearly traced to this 
inspiration. The spring competi- 
tors will have the added advantage 
of the lessons on color which will be given in the succeeding 
articles l^v Mr. Froehlich. 
We give in this number reduced illustrations of some of 
the designs having received mentions in our competition, so 
that all readers of the magazine may derive some benefit from 
the criticism. Most of these designs will be reproduced later 
on, in full size and with treatment. 
i^ 
Mr. Binn's articles o^^ Clajr in the Studio will be given the 
alternate months with Mr. Froehlich's articles on Design in 
order to leave more room for practical designs for beginners. 
Mr. Bimi's next articles will appear in January and March. 
Mr. Froehlich's in February and April, and so on. This will 
give students a month to work out the problems on design. 
DESIGN COMPETITION 
SINCE the Keramic Studio first instituted its yearly compe- 
tition, a steady improvement has been observed in designs 
submitted but never has the advance been so marked and so 
gratifying as in this fall's competition. In fact it has been a 
puzzling matter to select the best from so many interesting 
and meritorious efforts as were classed under the head of 
" motif applied to four forms. " 
The Conventional Studies in color averaged better than 
last spring, although no one study was as entirely satisfactory 
as the Wild Carrot Studj^ of Miss Mason or the Peacock Study 
of Mr. Rhead. 
The drawing and composition showed an advance along 
these lines, but in color and finish the work was not up to the 
standard. 
The requirements of a Conventional study in black and 
white were not well understood by many of the competitors, 
but a few good examples is all that is needed to set our designers 
at work in the right direction with good results another year. 
This was better understood in the color studies^ but 
another year will show improvement in the color itself, espec- 
ially after Mr. Froehlich's articles on color which will be given 
before the next competition. 
The naturalistic studies did not average as well as the 
others, whether from a falling off of interest in naturalistic 
treatment of subjects or from failure of our better workers to 
see that a good naturalistic study is the best foundation for a 
good conventionalization, we cannot say. 
The prizes were awarded as follows: 
NATURALISTIC 
First Prize— Mrs. Elizabeth Brame Van Kirk, Whatcom, 
Wash. 
Second Prize — Edith Catherine Flumphrej^s, Kensington, 
London, Eng. 
Mentions — MarN^ V. Thayer, Holbrook, Mass.; Mrs. Emma A. 
Ervin, Denver, Colo.; Russell Goodwin, Ma rblehead, Mass. 
adaptation of motif to four forms 
First Prize — EmiW Hcsselmeycr, San Francisco, Cal. 
Second Prize — Alice Joslin, Jamaica Plains, Mass. 
Third Prize — Lucia A. Soule, Boston. Mass. 
Mentions — ^Margaret Overbeck, Greencastle, Indiana; Arthur 
Kidd, London, Eng.; Ahce Witt Sloan, Charleston, S. C; 
Edith Alma Ross, Davenport, Iowa; Mary G. Simpson, 
London, Eng. ; Mary Overbeck, Cambridge Citj^, Indiana ; 
Austin Rosser, Butler, Missouri; Beatrice Brooks, Lon- 
don, Eng.; Harriet B. LIurd, Bridgeport, Conn.; Yvetta 
Stock, Paris, France. 
CONVENTIONAL STUDIES IN COLOR 
First Prize — Russell Goodwin, Marblehead, Mass. 
Second Prize — Hannah Overbeck, Cambridge Citj^, Ind. 
Mentions — Mrs. Emma A. Ervin, Denver, Colo.; Margaret 
Overbeck, Greencastle, Ind.; Carrie E. Williams, Dunk- 
irk, N. Y.; Ahce B. Sharrard, Louisville, Ky.; Mar- 
garet J. Postgate, Brooklyn, N. Y. 
conventional studies in BLACK AND WHITE 
First Prize — Edith Alma Ross, Davenport, Iowa. 
Second Prize — Edith Alma Ross, Davenport, Iowa. 
Mention — Margaret Overbeck, Greencastle, Ind.; Hannah B. 
Overbeck, Cambridge City, Ind.; Jennie Hanson, New^ 
liaven. Conn. 
The first prize design for set, by Miss Llesselmeyer is a 
singular^ refined and dignified as well as clever convention- 
alization. The outline drawing of the Harebell motif sub- 
mitted with it was not as carefully executed as should be but 
certainty the application to the four forms was a most thought- 
ful piece of work. The width of band as compared with the 
forms decorated is particularly fine, as is the graceful flow of line. 
The second prize design by Miss JosHn is not so rich in 
imagination but is a clever and appropriate handling of a 
simple motif. The third prize design by Miss Soule is a 
beautifully executed piece of work, the decorative unit also is 
well conceived but the band divisions being so near the center 
of some of the forms are not so good as might be and the triang- 
ular effect of the quiet spaces left between units is not well 
considered, the lines of bowl and pitcher are exceptionally 
good. Taken from every point of view, proportions, suit- 
ability of decoration, shapes of dishes, originality, these 
three sets .are the most satisfactor3^ Many other sets 
have individual pieces of as great and in some cases perhaps 
greater merit, but the entire set of four pieces does not average 
so well. We have found ten other sets with individual pieces 
worthy of special mention and most of the unmentioned sets 
are not without merit. 
Taken altogether however, we feel that an interesting 
and progressive lot of designs has been submitted and from 
the giving of the little cuts with criticisms we trust that the 
work of next year may profit. 
The general effect of the set submitted by Miss Ross is 
unique and pleasing, the proportions of the bands, the outlines 
