THE POTTER’S ART.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2381, 23 December 1908, Page 6

THE POTTER’S ART.

A UNIQUE DISPLAY. “Like clay in the hands of the potter,” says the text, for the fashioning of clay into various designs -by the potter is one of the oldest of crafts,. •In the tombs of Egypt, ißabylpn,' and Assyria ancient samples of the product of the potter’s wheel are being recovered, but in no country in the world has pottery-making reached such a .state of artistic perfection as in England. Pottery is an art, the highest and finest of arts, and the o-alleries of Europe are well filled with choice samples of Domlton, "Worcester, und Crown Derby ware. In the International Exhibition heal at Christchurch no exhibit was more admired than the Loyal Doulton exhibit for •upon the stall were, among other samples, a handsome flambeau vase decorated with bunches of roses by the great artist, Laby,and which was purchased for 500 guineas for the Sydney Art Gallery, and some unique designs in flower bowls that found buyers in the Dominion. There is a lar"e gallery of high art Royal Doulton, Loyal Worcester, and Crown Derbv China in Gisborne, at the corner of Gladstone Load and Grey Street, for the proprietor, Mr. E. G. A. Reynolds is a connoisseur of pottery, and he is -always delighted to show his wares to those who appreciate art. For the Christmas season ho has opened up a dirge consignment direct from the Loyal Doulton potteries at Bursloni and Lambeth, and a visit of inspection to bis shop is a treat. Most of the paintings on the china are from the brush and palletto of the artists Laby, Lowley, Wood, and Nokes, and the color schemes of the landscapes, groups of figures, and bunches of fruit-and flowers show the bunds of the master workman. One tall vase of graceful contour is decorated in flambeau. The sun has set; the sky is a brilliant red; in the foreground is a deep snow tinted at points with the sun rays; in the distance a dark, dense wood stands out in contmst against the brilliant sky, and the central objects are groups of sheep wending their way to the fold before the night sets in. The whole is a •perfect composition of-color, and is a landscape painted by hand and permanently burnt into the china. On softer tints are some excellent' Dutch landscapes painted upon vases and flower bowls of dainty design. The pictures show the characteristic windmill, the winding river, and quaintly costumed Dutch peojde. Coaching scenes, in which horses and figures are beautifully defined, also attract the attention; but perhaps the highest -art is in the perfect reproduction of flowers and fruit. Itis in : sucli work that the artists Laby •and Nokes ex-cell, and the samples in Mr. Reynold's shop are some of their best work. Bunches of delicately tinted roses, carnations, daffodils, orchids —whose brilliant colors and wonderful formation are correctly caught—grapes and berries stand out in such color relief that they afford the eye a treat. The vases are all sizes and shapes and it must be remembered that a Loyal Doulton vase is not a mere ornament. It is an ornament and work of art in one. Still there is utility Loyal Doulton ware as well, sugars, creams, bedroom sets, decorated with quaint figure studies, mugs, ciaps and saucers, jugs and a host of useful articles, all hand-painted. The colors are burnt into the articles by a secret process -and are absolutely permanent, while the china is of the finest quality and does not easily break.

The Royal Worcester potteries are equally famous with the Royal Dou-1-ton, and in Worcester wore an equally wide selection has been made. The Royal Worcester vases are not so frequently painted with landscapes, but the artists equal, if they do not excell, the Boulton artists in the wonderful, coloring they produce in their representations of birds, flowers and fruit. The beautiful blending of rich blues and greens in the tails •and necks of peacocks majestically strutting about a garden, the browns, and bright colors of pheasants, the delicate curl of rose leaves, carnations, and daffodils are wonderful samples of color-work, and rank as highly artistic painting. In Royal Worcester iMr. Reynolds has in stock fine tea sets and dinner sets in every variety of design, a feature of the ■articles comprising the sets being that each has a different flower design, yet there is such little difference that they combine to make a perfect whole. Crown Derby China stands alone among pottery for novelty of design and richness of color. The Crown Derby artists do not deal in landscapes or figure work, but the ornamentation is of special and varied design of mazarine blue, burnished gold, and various shades of red upon a pure white ground. The purity of the coloring is remarkable; the china is of finest quality, and the articles in "stock are useful as well as ornamental.

Then Mr,. Reynolds has a wide range of china from the famous potteries of Josiah Wetlgewood, . whose speciality is the reproduction of figures and designs in cameo fashion upon a dark blue ground. Foley china is another speciality that calls the attention of the visitor, while Ireland’s finest potery-ware, Belleek china, is also largely stocked. Bohemian glass in ruby, rich greens, rose, and other colors are ■well displayed, but the show of crystal cut-glass is most exquisite, while Mr. Reynolds has not forgoton to lay in a supply of genuine Venetian glass and Japanese china in choice patterns. Besides the better class of goods, there are also lines to suit the lighter, pocket; hut the shop, from 'beginning to end, is an art gallery of china.

People who have visited the potteries in England and have seen the process of manufacture 1 stated that the prices in Gisborne are very low compared with the labor that is expended upon the art productions. Mr. Reynolds, it may be added, imports direct and supplies customers and dealers all over the Dominion.