30 
liERAMIC STUDIO 
STONEWARE MILET 
FRENCH POTTERY 
WE have received some time ago in answer to inquiries 
about the latest work of French potters, a letter from 
Dr. Chaussegros, who was formerly a resident of New York 
and is an enthusiastic experimenter in pottery work. Dr. 
Chaussegros writes : 
" I have been too busy lately to give much time to pot- 
tery, but I hope to soon be able to do some more underglaze 
decoration, which in my opinion is far superior in general 
effect and for the harmony of colors to overglaze painting. 
"Gres flamme (flamed stoneware) has been in great 
vogue for the last few years. It is remarkable for deli- 
cate tones and harmony of color. It brings good prices, 
although, not being very showy, it does not appeal to the 
STONEWARE 
general public, but only to cultured people having a certain 
artistic education. 
" The lustres of different colors which Clement Massier 
has so cleverly used, and he has many imitators, are, I think, 
obtained from gold, Massier's lustres are at any rate. How- 
ever, copper mixed with the glaze as protoxide and heated in a 
sufficiently reducing atmosphere, gives a great variety of 
colors and iridescent effects of every shade. I sent a sample 
of red lustre of copper to Mr. Volkmar last year, and you 
mentioned it in KERAMIC STUDIO, but took it for red of cop. 
per. Red of copper can be obtained with the same glaze 
mixture, if the pieces are in contact with the flame, but this 
contact must be avoided to obtain red lustre of copper. 
"The decoration of faiences demi grand feu (medium 
hard fire), which gives such a variety of beautiful colors, 
especially the fine turquoise tones obtained with copper, is 
nearly out of fashion. T. Decks faiences which were' so 
much in vogue a few years ago, had only a silver medal in the 
last Exposition, because they were demi grand feu, and only 
grand feu faiences are wanted. I think that this is an exces- 
sive fad, and I am told that the demi grand feu decoration 
has a good chance to become again fashionable after a while. 
" Interior decoration with faience tiling is done now on 
an enormous scale. These tiles are fired grand feu. Decor- 
ation with old tapestries is left almost entirely to cafes and 
other public establishments and is replaced by beautiful 
keramic decorations, some of these tilings being very large 
and decorated with all kinds of subjects. It is certainly a 
cleaner, more durable and hygienic decoration than tapes- 
tries, which are nests of dust and germs. 
"As to overglaze painting, it is limited to ordinary table 
ware, coffee cups, a few small vases in the Vienna style, but 
very, very little of it. Underglaze decoration is the proper 
medium for the Neostyle or Art Nouveau which is so much 
liked at present. 
" Are tastes the same in the United States, especially in 
New York? What are they 
doing^in lustres and in gres 
flammes? Are lustres manu- 
factured in New York and do 
they make them from copper 
or gold ? Are gres flammes 
selling well, and what are the 
wares most in demand ?" 
To these questions of 
Dr. Chaussegros we can only 
answer that we know of very 
little done so far in this country 
on the lines followed by 
French potters. Rookwoodand 
Grueby wares are not grand 
feu faiences, neither are Volk- 
mar's faiences, among indivi- 
dual workers. It is claimed 
that Mr. Tiffany, the maker of 
the beautiful Favrile glass, is 
experimenting in pottery, and 
it is very probable that he is 
not following beaten paths 
and that we will see sooner or 
later some striking and artis- 
tic potteries come out of his 
kilns. But so far nobody knows 
A. DAMMOTJSE 
