American homes and gardens (1911) (17965386900)

Title: American homes and gardens
Identifier: americanhomesgar81911newy (find matches)
Year: 1905 (1900s)
Authors:
Subjects: Architecture, Domestic; Landscape gardening
Publisher: New York : Munn and Co
Contributing Library: Smithsonian Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: Biodiversity Heritage Library



Text Appearing Before Image:
A teapot of Boettger ware Saucer of Boettger ware brations of the 200th anniversary. The King distributed among the officials and veteran employees of the works, a number of orders and other personal distinctions, alike commemorative of the event and in recognition of the faithful and efficient services, while the festal programme carried out was at once appropriate and highly interesting. In the morning of June 6, 1910, in the great court of the works, there was a festal performance; at noon divine service in the city church; later a banquet in the Albrechts- burg for the dignitaries and in the Burgkeller for other guests, general social intercourse, reception of the King and royal family, greeting of the King at the place of fes- tivities, and artistic representation by members of the court; and final general conviviality, concert, choral music, dancing, etc. But to resume the thread of our story of the rise and progress of the famous establishment, to which, after 200 years, the world still looks as academically connected with the rise and progress of one of its favorite arts, Boettger, who occupies in his relation to the development of the Saxon porcelain industry a position comparably only with that held in France by Bernard Palissey or in England by Josiah Wedgewood, was installed, with Mining-Councillor Xehmitz as his associate, as director of the Royal Por- celain Works at Meissen, an office he continued to hold until his decease in 1719. For some time, the manufacture of the redstone ware chiefly occupied his attention, and here were turned out many creditable specimens of his work, including mugs, bowls, tea and coffee pots, cups and saucers, knife-handles, figures and some more pretentious articles in the shape of large vases. But the production of this ware, successful as it proved and remunerative as it was to his royal patron, A cup of Boettger ware A sugar basin of Boettger ware did not satisfy him. Having frankly acknowledged his lack of knowledge, in regard to gold making, he was allowed to continue his researches into the manufacture of porcelain, and they were finally rewarded with a considerable measure of success. Towards the close of 1709 or the beginning of 1710, he had produced his first real porcelain specimens, crude, it is true, in form, but having the delicacy of sub- stance and the semi-translucent quality characteristic of the finest Oriental porcelain and the attainment of which had been, for so many centuries, the despair of the Euro- pean potters. In 1713 he produced his first fired goods, with underglaze decoration, and in 1715 followed his first hard porcelain. Very soon, the original Boettger redstone ware, gave way to the really artistic products the new process made possible and on the development of which, the fame of Meissen, as the Royal Porcelain Factory rests. The most artistic Oriental models were at first closely followed in style and effect, if not in many instances actually copied and so successfully that it was and is impossible to dis- tinguish, without the closest scrutiny, between choice speci- mens of Meissen ware of this period and the finest pro- ductions of Oriental potteries. Fine table services, orna- ments and purely artistic creations won fame for the royal potteries on the Elbe under Boettger's direction, although the commercial results of the enterprise were decidedly handicapped by the constant demands made upon the establishment by the royal founder, who imposed upon it the most exorbitant commissions for the ornamentation of his residences, presentations to friends and allies, etc. At this time some of the choicest and most unique specimens of Meissen ware originated, mostly in response to royal commands and some of the leading plastic and
Text Appearing After Image:
A bird (Toucan) of Boettger ware Types of Eighteenth Century porcelain A brace of falcons (kestrels)