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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