206 
KERAMC STUDIO 
hibition brought out hearty words of commendation and en- 
couraged us to plunge into the work for 1900 with unabated 
zeal and the determination that the exhibit of 1900 shall sur- 
pass the present one even without the incentive of the watch- 
word for 1899 "Paris-" "Appreciation" can force us to con- 
quer difficulties that would be almost insurmountable otherwise. 
Mabel C. Dibble 
After reading Miss Dibble's most entertaining and in- 
structive letter from Chicago, the editors would like to quote 
from the criticism of James William Pattison and also to sav 
that Miss Dibble's modesty prevents her describing her own 
work, which ranks with the best of the club. We heard from 
an artist and critic that her chrysanthemum vase which was 
large and in Chinese treatment was indeed a " noble thing," 
there being blossoms of different colors. Miss Dibble showed 
courage in attempting it, but the result was harmonious and 
artistic, showing her skill as well as thought and study, there- 
by mastering her subject. 
W: M 
wK&x ^ 
EI 
ip ^M 
pfc i 
iH 
.MRS. F. W. SESSIONS. GRACE H. PECK. MABEL C. DIBBLE. 
Mr. Pattison says: These artists seek to reach over the 
departing centuries and touch the lyre of the ancients, that 
some sweet melodies may be re-awakened to their edification 
and ours. All history of art is studded with adapted gems 
from the ancients. If the result in this case shall take upon 
itself the personality and character of Americanism all is well. 
But all things here are not Oriental by any means. 
The blackberry vase of Mrs. Stewart is purely indigenous 
and an original composition. The object is simple in shape 
(how restful is simplicity), only a bulging bottle, undertoned 
in lustre of color that the author calls "Yellow." No matter 
about the name; it is the sort of yellow that tries to be grey 
green, and it sets off well the blackberry leaves profusely dis- 
tributed. The white blossoms are formally grouped, and the 
dark berries likewise. A neat band keeps the horizontal line 
to sustain all this elaboration. What is good in it is the skill- 
ful way in which the design keeps its place and forms a series 
of parts that go round and round, each doing its special work 
in the whole. 
This artist's "Dandelion Placque" (also for J^aris) is an- 
other original design, and correct, even if the blossoms are 
"original," as well as the arrangement. Had the flowers been 
kept to the yellow, that we suspect dandelions owning, the 
rest of the placque would have had to have the same tone. 
As it is the artist is designing in blues and catches the field 
flowers named only for the sake of form. Of course they 
suggest the German corn flowers. 
In speaking of Mrs. Frazee's Peacock vase (Persian) he 
says "It is one of the most important articles in the room. 
It goes to Paris and the French will like it. I select this 
because of its individuality, as well as for the ingenuity dis- 
played in conventionalization of peacock forms. The shape 
of the vase is maintained perfectly, the architectural charac- 
teristics are well understood and the combinations of color 
quiet and still very rich. One must see this work to under- 
stand its beauty. 
Mrs. Humphrey sends to Paris a plate. Its center is 
plain (as are all the plates here) only the rim is treated. 
Several bands of varying warm red of excellent quality circle 
this rim, but are cut by panels of mat-gold, the whole tenderly 
broken by green leaves. 
"Throughout the room one finds evidence of careful 
training in the suitableness of applied form and attention to 
the sentiment of decoration, rather than to realism. Perhaps 
nothing is more generally admitted at this moment than the 
good sense in ti eating all such things as an architect would 
do it. For is this not architecture?" 
SUGGESTION FOR VASE IN POPPIES 
BACKGROUND, yellow brown lustre; neck of vase in dark 
brown, Poppies in gold outlined in black. In second fire 
shade Poppies with ruby lustre and stems and leaves with 
light and dark green lustre, or 
Light green background, dark green neck, Poppies in 
white shaded with pearl grey and white rose outline, in black 
or gold, or Poppies and leaves in brown on a celadon ground, 
the neck of vase a darker brown. 
