Mrs. Herdman On Pottery

MRS. HERDMAN ON POTTERY

THE LADIES' UNION LISTEN TO INTERESTING PAPAR

On "American Pottery" and a History of Its Establishment in This Country.

The Ladies' Union met Wednesday for the last of their American Industries papers. The paper of the afternoon was read by Mrs. Herdman on "American Pottery" and was a most interesting one. She gave a short review of the potteries in the olden times and traced the manufacture of pottery down to the time of the Mound Builders in America. Numerous evidences of potteries which existed at the time when these Mound Builders lived in their peculiar homes. The pottery was usually of crude shape and unglazed. Pottery which was made by Indians was found at the time of the settlement of Jamestown.

The Dutch made blue ware previous to 1649, but it was a coarse heavy crockery. It was brought to this country and greatly used by the early settlers. The Maboy, N. J., pottery was probably the earliest established pottery in America. 

Queen's ware or white ware was first made in America in 1800, and great advances have been made since then. The potteries have sprung up in various parts of the country and artists are busy in making designs for the different varieties and the American potteries have reached a high standard of excellence. 

It is an interesting fact that the first pieces of Rockwood were sold for the benefit of the Mt. Vernon association. Mrs. Herdman told briefly of the different potteries in the country and described the kinds of ware made by each.