182 
KERAMIC STUDIO 
POLYCHROME RHODIAN PLATES IN THE CLUNY MUSEUM, PARIS 
MAUD M. MASON Page EmT0R 
218 East 59th Street, New York City 
FOR OUR INSPIRATION 
T FIND that the selection of some one example of the most 
-■- beautiful in ceramics is not so easy a matter as I thought, 
owing to the wealth of material available. I feel that I can 
only shuffle some dozen photographs and select the one that 
happens to come out on top! 
This month it proves to be two beautiful old Polychrome 
Rhodian Plates that are in the Cluny Museum in Paris. The 
left one with the floral motif pleases me particularly for its 
charm of line arrangement which swings so delightfully into 
the form of the plate and with the masses of leaves and flowers 
making a fine well balanced design. The large dominating 
central leaf form is especially charming in its treatment and 
breaks the other lines in a most satisfactory manner. The 
decoration is in full rich color — reds, blues and greens. 
The motif of the other design may be one of the many 
classic ships of ancient story, sailing in a stiff breeze on a rol- 
ling sea. It is full of life and movement, expressive of gayety 
and joyousness. The border decoration frames this design 
admirably, being well spaced and interesting in the contrast 
of large and small masses of light, and harmonious in its move- 
ment of line with the center decoration. The color scheme of 
this plate is in blues, greens and with greenish black outlines. 
These photographs are not given with the expectation 
that they will be copied (although that might be done with 
profit), but to help acquaint our friends in remote towns with 
some of the treasures in ceramics that are in the Museums. 
» w 
PLATE, BIRD MOTIF 
T^HIS plate is decorated with the Mason soft enamels. 
-*- The design was planned for a Belleek or other soft glazed 
plate. When this design is repeated in a set it gives a very 
gay and pleasing effect. The circular motif is a convenient 
one to repeat effectively on bowls, biscuit jars, and other pieces 
that may make up the set, if properly related with suitable 
bands, etc. For the soft glazed plate the following enamels 
were used: greens, Willow Green; black, Black Enamel; 
yellow, Citron Yellow, or equal parts Soft and Imperial Yellow; 
violet, Red Violet; reds, Vermillion. 
The decoration will probably need retouching unless con- 
siderable experience has been had in laying enamels, and they 
may be gone over on soft glazes as often as necessary to attain 
the desired result. The effect of any enamel is much more 
artistic, however, if kept very low in relief. An obviously 
thick raised effect tends to vulgarize them, while no medium 
is so satisfying and charming as enamels when used with dis- 
cretion. 
