Hey, oh ah
Hey, Oh Ah
do do do do do
ahy oh ah, etc.

In my dreams I'm dying all the time
Then I wake its kaleidoscopic mind
I never meant to hurt you
I never meant to lie
So this is goodbye
This is goodbye

Tell the truth you never wanted me
Tell me...

In my dreams I'm jealous all the time
Then I wake I'm going out of my mind
Going out of my mind

painting, laus 2008-no.05, 16″x20″ acrylic on canvas, by alyse radenovic http://www.aelisheva.com/alyse.htm

The first vase collection of the new brand “Peruť” was designed by Maxmilián V. John.

Peruť is a new label that will present unique collections celebrating classical Czech icons, traditional values, Czech cultural environment, and nature in the context of a contemporary means of expression and needs. Author Maxmilián V. John not only seeks to express his aesthetically opinion, but would also like to reflect on social issues.

via

From the Seattle Asian Art Museum website:

Emperors of China's Qing dynasty (1644–1911), bored with the formal setup of the Forbidden City, preferred to spend part of the year in royal gardens in the suburbs and vicinity of the capital city, Beijing. Inside these gardens were halls, studios, pavilions, chambers and studies with names coined by the emperors. Very often art objects—porcelain items in particular—were inscribed with studio marks belonging to these gardens. Art historian and museum professional Peter Y. K. Lam introduces some of the studio-mark porcelainware commissioned by the Qing emperors.

Members: $4
Adults: $8
Students: $6
Seniors: $6

To purchase tickets for this event, call the Box Office at 206.654.3121 or email boxoffice@seattleartmuseum.org.

Only John Water's could design porcelain plates of his "friends" who live with him in Baltimore. 

The Girls

{Volute Bowl}

{Tulip Votive}

{Hedgehog Fish}

{Hippopotamus Bowl}

{Porcelain Table Flowers}

Do visit their lovely site Nymphenburg Collection.

Inspired by Avant-Garde where I discovered the Volute Bowl. hh

image Ikuko Iwamoto

image Lorna Fraser

I love finding makers who go the extra mile and as someone who once made a lumpy clay hippo in pottery class at school I'm in complete awe of these delicate, intricate structures and their eerie organic beauty. Can you imagine how much time and energy went into hand sculpting such exquisitely perfect forms? Incredible!

I then wrap the porcelain around the armature, making sire no area is larger than 1/3' inch thick. I sart making the shapes, adding his flippers.

The details are added, using many photos of manatees for refernce.

yes, that is a black cat sitting behind the sculpt.

I have added air holes on his underside so he won't blow up in the kiln, now he sits and dries out, waiting to be fired.

Vollie 1: That's a nice tea cup
Vollie 2: Yes, not too...thick
Vollie 1: I won't drink tea out of a thick cup. I just can't do it.
Vollie 2: Oh, I know. And everyone these days seems to drink tea out of mugs - Mugs!
Vollie 1: Unbelievable
Vollie 2: Quite

This came as quite a shock to yours truly. As a child of the 80s, I have never seen anyone turn their nose up at the idea of drinking tea out of a mug. I tea-mug almost daily. Does this make me some kind of philistine?

Especially because the vollies weren't just disgusted at the idea of drinking out of mugs, but of drinking out of the wrong sort of cup.

This got me thinking. It seems, these days, the quality of a tea cup (and therefore its value, collectability etc) is based on four things:

1. The company that produced it
2. The condition it's in
3. The design (in terms of being attractive and/or rare)
4. Whether it's part of a set (it's rare to have a whole set, so the value will rise if you've got a full tea set/set of six).

The notion of how pleasant the cup is to drink out of, and how it affects the tea, isn't really thought of. Personally, while I love and adore the delicacy and aesthetic appeal of ye olde style tea cups, I find them impractical to drink out of and usually end up slugging back my earl grey out of a mug featuring a cartoon of garfield saying 'they don't call me lightning lips for nothing' as he sweeps that lady-cat off her paws for a stolen kiss (purchased at cambo market for 20c - BARGAIN).

But it's worth thinking about. The cups we collect/value as decorative objects were also designed to measure up to a set of drinking-related standards. And the legend goes that tea tastes best when drunk out of porcelain or fine bone china. So, you're wondering, what is...

The difference between porcelain and fine bone china

I've heard that the tea cups that ensure The Best Tasting Tea are made of fine bone china, and must be translucent. That is, they must become semi-opaque when held up to the light.  But is fine bone really better than porcelain?

The difference between porcelain and fine bone china is as follows: 'porcelain' is fired, then glazed, then fired again, making for a high-quality piece. However, 'bone china' is said to be stronger while losing none of its delicacy, because bone ash (finely ground) is added to the clay before firing. Bone china is also the whitest china.  

The most expensive, collectable china is usually either porcelain or fine bone.

Cups for the rest of usMany tea cups aren't made of either porcelain or fine bone china, but simply 'fine china', which is similar to the above, but may have been strengthened by the application of treatments instead of bone/additional firing.

Then there's things like 'earthenware' or 'stoneware' which is a less expensive, heavier style of china. 

Don't despair, however, if your beloved vintage china turns out to be earthenware or stoneware. Certain items made of these materials can still be highly collectable, depending on the design, age and who the maker is. Google the name on the bottom of your cup (if there is one), see if you can price it on eBay, use a Carter's guide, whatever. You might be pleasantly surprised.

Care of your teacupsThis is easy:

1. Don't stack them, if you can help it (that's just asking for trouble)
2. Don't put them in the dishwasher.

OK, now don't get all wahsy on me and say 'but the label says dishwasher safe!' The bottom line is that if you want your lovelies to last, you should wash them by hand in water that isn't too hot, and keep them out of direct sunlight. Same goes for most vintage stuff, really.

Anyway, I think the kettle's just boiled, so I'm off to pour some nigella-approved twinings into a huge monster of a Far Side mug. Talk about taking a walk on the wild side.

It is known as the "Porcelain Capital" of the world. The most famous types of porcelain from Jingdezhen are the blue and white porcelain, which has been produced since the Yuan dynasty (1280-1368AD) and the rice-patterned (linglongci) porcelain that was introduced in the Song dynasty (960-1279AD). Some think that the rice-shaped translucent patterns in linglongci china results from rice grains placed in the clay before it is fired. Actually, small holes are carved in the soft porcelain and it is the glaze that fills the holes and results in the translucent pattern after it is fired. Jingdezhen porcelain was described as being "as white as jade, as thin as paper, as sound as a bell, as bright as a mirror." The city continues to be a major source of fine porcelain.

The major styles of Jingdezhen porcelain are:

Yaobian Porcelain

Yaobian vases feature a simple, natural shape combined with sophisticated colors. Their dominant purple-red glaze flows into cyan and moon white in a pattern that takes on a life of its own and enhances the beauty of the vase. Glazing the fired body of the vase multiple times, then baking at a low temperature creates such patterns. The copper, cobalt, titanium, manganese, and iron coloring elements combine to produce a variety of shades, mingling with the red glaze on the porcelain to create striking hues.

Celadon/Yingqing Porcelain

The production of monochromatic ceramics matured over several centuries in Northern China, achieving particular success with green-glazed "qingci" or “celadon” pieces. These were developed as Ru, Guan, Ge, and Jingdezhen ware to a high level. The delicately lobed and rounded bodies of these porcelains reflect the mastery of the artisans from this period.

Blue and White Underglaze/Qinghuaci Porcelain

Drawing the design with cobalt pigment onto the stoneware body, and painting over it with a transparent glaze creates the blue-white style, also known as “underglaze blue”. The piece is then fired at a high temperature. Blue-white porcelain was introduced during the Yuan Dynasty and has been continuously in production ever since, thanks to is bright colors, simple yet elegant patterns, and smooth glaze that never fades.

Wucai Porcelain

Wucai is a type of overglaze decoration. After firing the piece at a low temperature; red, green, yellow, blue, and purple enamels are applied to the white ware. Wucai has been popular since the early Qing Dynasty.

Doucai Porcelain

Doucai Porcelains feature an unusual combination of exquisite patterns, color coordination, and well-executed color filling. It reached its height in the Yonzhen and Kangxi reigns during the Qing Dynasty. The blue-white color is first applied under the glaze. Then red, green, and yellow are filled over the glaze and the piece is fired at low temperatures.

Famille Rose/Fenaici Porcelain

Famille Rose was developed during the Kangxi reign of the Qing Dynasty, and is based on the Wucai and Doucai styles. Famille rose porcelains feature complex, ornate patterns with a balanced tone, detailed drawing, and steady color.

Back and Fully Stocked!

For the new "love birds", these adorable, contemporary snow white birds nestle together, interlocking their necks in an embrace. Your cake will be the main attraction, next to the bride of course. These birds can also serve as the main centerpiece on any table.

Weddingstar Contemporary Love Birds Cake Topper

This is a French faience milk pitcher (pot à lait ) with a brown glaze " terre carmélite ". A fine example by the renowned French faiencerie Sarreguemines. It is clearly marked with the impressed Sarreguemines mark, France and the numeric code 6B in black, c.1910.

Sarreguemines: Two Centuries of Faience

• 1790 Production started in 1790 when Nicolas-Henri Jacobi, set up the first factory despite the unfavourable economic climate. Napoleon I became one of his best customers and ordered several pieces. The business expanded so much that he had to open new workshops .

• 1800 Paul Utzschneider took over the factory and introduced new decorating techniques.

• 1810 New lands colored appear: terre carmélite (brown), terre d'Egypte (black) and terre de Naples (yelow).
• 1836 Utzschneider handed over the management of the factory to his son-in-law, Alexandre de Geiger.
  

• 1838 Alexandre de Geiger associated himself with Villeroy & Boch. This agreement contributed to the growth of production.
• 1871 Following the annexation of the Moselle to Germany, Alexandre de Geiger left Sarreguemines and retired in Paris. His son, Paul de Geiger, took over the management. Two new factories were constructed at Digoin and Vitry-le-François.

• 1913 The Utzschneider & Cie was split into two companies, one responsible for the establishment in Sarreguemines and the other for the French factories.
• 1919 After the First World War, they were united under the name of Sarreguemines - Digoin - Vitry-le-François and run by the Cazal family.
• 1940-1944 During the Second World War,the faience factories were sequestered and their management entrusted to Villeroy & Boch between 1942 and 1944.
• 1979 After stopping production of porcelain and majolica, the company was bought over by the Lunéville - Badonviller - Saint Clément group, and then took the name of Sarreguemines - Bâtiment in 1982.
• Today Sarreguemines Vaisselle remains one of the leading porcelain manufacturers in the world. The factory produces about 5000 tons of porcelain each year or about 13 million pieces.

The Sarreguemines Faience

The term faience comes from a kind of brightly-colored glazed earthenware developed during the Renaissance in France and Italy. The word is derived from Faenza, a town in Italy, where factories making the tin-glazed earthenware called majolica were prevalent.

Sarreguemines marks

What are some things you made when you were young that you wish you had held on to?

That's the challenge issued by Laser Reproductions (laserreproductions.com) regarding its new SR1000 scratch-resistant ceramic and porcelain tiles. I bought a few pieces of SR1000 8-inch by 8-inch ceramic wall and floor tiles and ran the tile through its paces.

Both tiles are off-white and have a slight texture. The tiles have a feint sheen, somewhere between Laser's smooth satin and smooth matte tiles. The floor tile has a slight gray tint.

I printed both tiles as I would any ceramic or porcelain tiles: eight minutes in the press at 400 degrees. The image transferred beautifully.

After letting the tiles sit for a few hours, I lightly scratched the surface of the wall tile with my house key. No scratch. I upped the pressure gradually until I was strenuously pushing on the key. A mark started to appear on the tile, but it appeared to be metal dust coming off the key. I dusted off the mark, and decided I needed a tool more substantial than the key. I went for a screwdriver.

Again I scratched as hard as I could. A mark appeared, but this time I couldn't rub it off. On close inspection, the mark seemed to be a metallic stroke drawn by the screwdriver's tip; none of the tile's coating was scratched off.

I've done the screwdriver test a number of times for interested customers, with the same results. The tile truly is scratch-resistant.

I'm greatly impressed with the tile's durability. I'd use the tile on a wall, but would hesitate to use it on the floor until I tested it in a high-traffic area for a long period of time. The tile is perfect for a tabletop or a serving tray. Laser also states that the tile has greater UV protection than previous tiles, but they don't state the tile should be used outdoors.

I did a Google search of SR1000 and found a reference to an Alabama company, Sprayroq, which manufactures a product called SprayShield®. According to the Sprayroq Web site, "SprayShield is a two-component, 100% solids polyurethane coating that is formulated to achieve superior chemical resistance on all types of structures including those holding potable water! Designed to last 50 years or more, SprayShield is typically applied in a thickness of 80 to 125 mils. It can be installed quickly and easily. Because of its unique formula, cure begins in less than 30 seconds. Moments later, the structure can be returned to service."

Whether or not Laser Reproductions uses the Sprayroq product, they have developed quite an impressive tile. Too bad it carries a high price (a Sprayroq royalty, perhaps). The 4.25-inch x 4.25-inch SR1000 costs $2.85 per piece if you by a minimum of 80 pieces. Laser's non-SR1000 tiles that size sell for $1.29 each.

Here is a beautiful antique porcelain invalid feeder with a Meissen cobalt “Blue Onion” pattern (1) and gold band around rim, spout and handle. One would place a liquid or semi-soft food in the feeder and the spout was then placed in the person's mouth. These feeders were sometimes used to feed babies as well.

(1) Onion pattern, originally named bulb pattern, is a white ware decorated with cobalt blue or pink. Although it is commonly associated with Meissen, other companies made the pattern in the late nineteenth and the twentieth centuries. The term "onion design" is erroneous. The design has nothing to do with the onion motif. Only one of the decorative elements on the plate edges, the pomegranate, remotely resembles the outline of an onion.

This invalid feeder is circa 1890-1900

Mark on base

Invalid Feeders - Pap boats - Pap Feeders

The term "pap," allegedly derived from the Scandinavian for the sound made when a baby opens his mouth for nourishment, was probably introduced before its first recordings in literature in the mid 18th century. Recipes for pap usually called for bread, flour and water. A more nourishing mixture "panada" was a pap base with added butter and milk, or cooked in broth as a milk substitute. Variations on the ingredients included Lisbon sugar, beer, wine, raw meat juices and Castile soap. Drugs were sometimes added to "soothe the baby."

The "pap boat" was designed to feed the mixture to babies and invalids. Resembling a sauce boat they were made of wood, silver, pewter, bone, porcelain, or glass. Implements for feeding proliferated in the 18th century as new materials and methods of production became accessible. Shapes were clever and varied. Some pap boats were closed, others looked like animals, most often a duck. Feeding cups of such design are still manufactured in some countries today.

Invalid feeders examples

Prominent Nurses

Santa Filomena

by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

(It is a tribute to nurse Florence Nightingale)

Whene'er a noble deed is wrought,
Whene'er is spoken a noble thought,
Our hearts, in glad surprise,
To higher levels rise.

The tidal wave of deeper souls
Into our inmost being rolls,
And lifts us unawares
Out of all meaner cares.

Honor to those whose words or deeds
Thus help us in our daily needs,
And by their overflow
Raise us from what is low!

Thus thought I, as by night I read
Of the great army of the dead,
The trenches cold and damp,
The starved and frozen camp,

The wounded from the battle-plain,
In dreary hospitals of pain,
The cheerless corridors,
The cold and stony floors.

Lo! in that house of misery
A lady with a lamp I see
Pass through the glimmering gloom,
And flit from room to room.

And slow, as in a dream of bliss,
The speechless sufferer turns to kiss
Her shadow, as it falls
Upon the darkening walls.

As if a door in heaven should be
Opened, and then closed suddenly,
The vision came and went,
The light shone was spent.

On England's annals, through the long
Hereafter of her speech and song,
That light its rays shall cast
From portals of the past.

A lady with a lamp shall stand
In the great history of the land,
A noble type of good,
Heroic womanhood.

Nor even shall be wanting here
The palm, the lily, and the spear,
The symbols that of yore
Saint Filomena bore.

*Saint Philomena is a patron of the sick

Entertaining has never been more fun! This 20 piece set features modern black chain link designs and includes 4 dinner plates, 4 small plates, 4 rim bowls, 4 cups and 4 saucers. Pull these out for a special occasion or use them for everyday use! These porcelain pieces are great for a bridal registry!

notNeutral Black Links 20 Piece Setting

The desire to have straight perfect set of teeth in an instant has created a lucrative new industry called cosmetic dentistry; a person can undergo specific treatments to improve the appearance of the teeth that creates a dramatic change in a very short amount of time. People who have been in accidents will find it to be very helpful as well. Usually, one of these procedures will be necessary to restore a person's confidence and function after an accident.

The main cosmetic dental procedures are: teeth whitening, porcelain and composite tooth veneers dental implants, dental bonding, dental bridges, tooth reshaping, tooth contouring, dentures, dental fillings, dental crowns, dental caps, root canals, accelerated orthodontics and cosmetic gum surgery.

Always start with a discussion about the treatment you need, the charge and procedure involved. Try a session of tooth whitening and see how white your teeth can be. Two of the most popular used methods to whiten teeth are tray bleaching and laser whitening. No procedure is without undesirable side-effects.

The teeth and gums will become sensitive after each session. Teeth bleaching has been shown to be highly effective with a success rate of over 75 percent. The mouth tray used during teeth bleaching is known to be uncomfortable. The removal of the tray will make the discomfort go way instantly. The tray is adjusted to fit into the patient's mouth. However, most of the patients who undergo such a procedure declare themselves satisfied with the results. If the before and after photos are compared, patients are usually amazed to see the difference.

One can ask for dental crowns if teeth whitening is not possible. This simple procedure can drastically improve a person's smile.

In cosmetic dentistry, root canals, accelerated orthodontics and cosmetic gum surgery are all typical dental procedures. These procedures are commonplace everywhere and used frequently by dentists. This actually means that they are performed at a superior qualitative level.

Porcelain veneers are amazingly stain resistant, but not stain proof. If you drink excessive amounts of coffee, black tea or red wine, or if you are a heavy smoker, the veneers can become stained over time.

- Current condition of your teeth

There are some instances when porcelain veneers cannot be used, such as on unhealthy or weak teeth. If you have tooth decay oractive periodontal disease, or if your teeth have been weakened by large dental fillings, decay or fracture, porcelain veneers may not be a good choice for you. A porcelain crown may be, and your cosmetic dentist will discuss options with you.

- Expense

Porcelain veneers are more expensive than composite dental veneers. Depending on your cosmetic dentist and your unique needs, porcelain veneers can cost as much as $1,000 per tooth. For many, the expense is well worth the feeling of confidence that comes with a beautiful smile. If cost is stopping you from undergoing this procedure, be sure to ask your cosmetic dentist about the fantastic dental-procedure financing options available.

- Realistic expectations

When considering porcelain veneers, it’s important to have realistic expectations. Porcelain veneers look very similar to natural teeth, but they are not your natural teeth. That said, the procedure can greatly enhance your smile, and may increase your confidence and self-esteem.

Reconstructed like an antique vase
Pieced together like a porcelain rose.
My tears so fragile, creating memories
As they soak into my crimson rug.
My head is lined with black fiction
Spinning tales of despaired illusion.
Remember when the sun shone
Rising in three-dimension lighting the day?
It was so beautiful then
When I could see floating dreams pass by
Like rain falling into the bountiful sky.
Now it’s cracked, drugged with fantasy
Silk and velvet crimped out of style
Wedding bells ring on a funeral day
Chiming high and swinging low.
Perhaps celebration of unity and death
Is all anyone can do
As the smell of gasoline fills the air.
Hatred is the fuel for riot and dismay
Why can’t we return to how it was?
Put it behind you and bury it deep
Within the bowels of hell.
Relive them only to feel melancholy
And know that it could never happen.
A voice can be heard amongst the silence
As blood gushes from my newly-scarred throat.
Fondle your memories, cherish what they were
As they turn into a thin glass figurine
Of lamentation and devastation.
Kindled only by the fire of nightmares.
Does it sting you in its thrill?
Does it bring you reminiscent dreams to kill?
Laugh inside and commit suicide
As the glass and porcelain break in two.
Is fragility merely an opinion?
Can something weak be strong if believed in?
Perhaps I’ve underestimated myself.
Can air solidify and asphyxiate all?
If so then there is nothing to fear.
All will die at the hands of time
For we are all pawns, tracing back lines.
Dreams are unreal and irrational
But serve as humanity’s only hope.
The rug will soon be torn apart
And we will be left with bare necessities.
Until then figurines and roses can fall in place
And never from my mind will memories be erased.