I must agree with George and Megan - Ceramics in America is a wonderful
publication - while I could be accused of self-promotion (I have a short
piece in the current volume) I am speaking more of all the volume to date
- well written pieces with outstanding illustrations.

Silas Hurry
HSMC

> 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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>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>