My copy arrived yesterday and I spent a good hour just looking at the
images. Amazing. Never, ever underestimate the value of a good
photographer!

I can't wait to read the articles. In my past experience with this series,
the article content is at least equal to the quality of the images. Amazon
does, indeed, offer a pretty discount, and free shipping. This series is
easily worth the ~$40 a year.

--Megan Springate.

>       Congratulations to Robert Hunter and the Chipstone Foundation for
> another finely edited and produced edition of Ceramics in America 2005!
> This is the fifth annual volume in the series and every volume has
> provided
> well-researched articles with new insights that are accompanied by superb
> color photographs by Gavin Ashworth.  Ceramics in America 2005 is focuses
> on salt-glazed stoneware from factory sites located in New York,
> Virginia,
> Maryland, New Jersey and Ohio.  Much of the American salt-glaze
> stoneware,
> as most of you know is not marked, and thus it is quite wonderful to see
> the range of wares from the pottery sites.  In addition to the pottery
> wasters a large number of marked and dated vessels were illustrated from
> private collections which go a long way to help gain a better feeling for
> the chronology of these wares.  Along with these articles on the American
> stoneware is an article by Ivor Noël Hume has an article on the
> sprig-molded brown salt-glaze stoneware of English potter John Bacon.  If
> your research involves stoneware, this is an important volume to add to
> your library.
>
>       My favorite article in this issue of Ceramics in America is by John
> Austin on the English designer and potter Palin Thorley.  This article
> combines information from interviews with Mr. Thorley, pictures of pieces
> designed by him and some of the artwork involved.  His career began as an
> apprenticed painter at Wedgwood’s in 1906.  He later became art
> designer
> and decoration director at the Simpson pottery in Staffordshire.   Around
> 1924 he was hired as the Art Director at Allerton and Sons in Longport,
> Staffordshire.  Mr. Thorley describes meeting a Mrs. Wooley who was still
> painting lusterware in 1925 at the age of 86.  She had begun working at
> Allerton’s at age eight and had always painted lusterware.  When asked
> who
> taught her she said, “Old Diana taught me.”  This suggests that Mrs.
> Wooley
> was a “second generation” painter of lusterware that was probably
> introduced in around 1810.  In 1927 Palin Thorley immigrated to the
> United
> States where he was employed as an art director by some East Liverpool
> potteries.  John Austin’s article provides a rare insight into the way
> English and American potteries worked and it is a very good read.
>
>       In addition to the above articles the journal contains a number of
> “New Discoveries” edited by Merry Abbitt Outlaw.  These are short
> descriptions of interesting ceramics finds and new data on wares and
> pattern.  This issue has thirteen new discoveries pieces on topics that
> include delft, printed wares, importer’s marks, more stoneware and
> architectural terra cotta.
>
>       Amy C. Earls edits the book review section and compiles an annual
> bibliography of recent ceramic books, articles and exhibits.  Eight books
> and one exhibit are reviewed in the Ceramics in America 2005.
>
>       Ceramics in America provides a healthy mix of contributions by
> archaeologists, curators, collectors and social historians.  The pay
> $1,500
> for articles and $100 for new finds contributions as well as paying for
> book reviews.  The journal is published by the Chipstone Foundation and
> printed by the University Press of New England.  The list price is
> $60.00,
> but it can be gotten with a nice discount from amazon.com.  You may want
> to
> visit www.chipstone.org to see some previous articles online.
>
> Peace,
> George L. Miller
> URS Corporation
> 437 High Street
> Burlington, New Jersey 08016
>
>
>
>
>
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