MajolicaMatters - Majolica International Society
Transcription
MajolicaMatters - Majolica International Society
Majolica Matters! THE QUARTERLY PUBLICATION OF THE MAJOLICA INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY www.majolicasociety.com The Arrival of Spring March 2005 Definition: the tender young shoots of a Eurasian plant (asparagus officianalis), eaten as a vegetable. Etymology: Late Middle English sperage, (from Medieval Latin sparagus, from Latin aspsarargus, from Greek aspharagos. Folk: sparagrass, sparrowgrass. (Houghton Mifflin). by Deborah English “Asparagus inspires gentle thoughts.” - Charles Lamb Asparagus is a member of the lily family, related to leeks and onions. Roots can grow as deep as 20 feet, which explains why it takes so long to develop an asparagus patch. Not to be confused with asparagus fern, of which there are about 100 wild species in Africa and Asia. Dark brown eggs indicate the presence of asparagus beetles, its only natural enemy. They are 6-9 mm long, smooth, shiny and elongated. If you have them, despair. The arrival of spring puts us in mind of the season’s wonderful gifts: tulips and daffodils, cherry tree blossoms. A few of spring’s treasures are gustatory and the most seductive of these is asparagus. This ungainly plant produces an elegant spear that bears its flower, the edible stalk that has been celebrated for centuries for its delicate flavor and its mysterious powers. Here is a short and utterly biased history of a very amusing plant. The Majolica shown here is from the fabulous collection of Sally and LeRoy Davis, who gave us such an interesting and beautiful collector’s talk at the MIS convention several years ago. All of the pieces shown here are French; most are by the Salins Company. Cultivation seems to have begun about 2000 years ago in the eastern Mediterranean region. It was eaten fresh in season and dried when not. References to it are found in the ancient civilizations of Egypt, Syria, Greece and Rome. The Romans preserved it by freezing: they rushed the freshly picked stalks to the snowline of the Alps, via the Tiber River, and brought their treasure down six months later for the Feast of Epicurus. Additionally, Caesar Augustus instituted the “Asparagus Fleet”, specially designated troops to scour the Empire for fresh stalks, which were to be rushed home to Rome for the Royal taste buds. Edouard Manet (Bunch of Asparagus, oil, The Louvre, Museum Paris) was seduced by the delicate colors and the rigid delicacy of asparagus stalks, as is evidenced by this small oil painting. The Greek physician Hippocrates, who believed that good health came from good eating, recommended asparagus for ailments of the urinary and digestive systems. Marcus Porcius Princus (later Cato), of Rome, wrote “De Agri Cultura”, in 160 BC. Arising from Cato’s relatively simple life as a farmer, the book covered the life of an agrarian, describing the preservation of olives, the medical care of cattle and the cultivation of asparagus. Romans also believed that asparagus could ease bee stings and toothaches. MAJOLICA MATTERS March 2005 Page 1 white and green,; the Germans’beloved Spargel is on menus for lunch and dinner. May is often called „Spargel Zeit“. To have it at its peak is an event celebrated throughout Europe. The first German reference dates to 1565 in the “Catalogue of Herbs and Trees in the Princely Pleasure Garden”(Michael Gerhard, 1995) The Duke Christhoph von Württemberg, knowing that asparagus had become fashionable in the courts, commanded it to be planted in his own gardens. However, it would not be until the 19th Century that asparagus became available to people outside the noble classes. Adrian Coorte “Still Life with Asparagus” Rijkmuseum, Amsterdam. Asparagus had other presumed benefits as well. Probably because of its phallic shape, many cultures, including that of the Egyptians believed that asparagus had medicinal and aphrodisiacal powers. After the ancient period, reference to asparagus is lost until 1100 when it is mentioned as a medicinal herb, not as a food. Throughout the Middle Ages, it was found in convent gardens or curative herb gardens. In Europe, asparagus is often white. Despite the common perception that white and green asparagus are different species, they are, in fact, the same. Green asparagus is green because its exposure to sunlight has allowed it to make the chlorophyll that produces the green color we see in flora. White asparagus has been denied sunlight, by virtue of hand-built mounds erected around the stalks, and therefore lacks the green hue. Good white asparagus is more tender and milder than the green variety. It’s also horrifically expensive and fragile. French lovers ate 3 courses of this shapely green vegetable on the night before a wedding. Asparagus is packed with potassium, phosphorous, calcium and vitamin E, perfect combinations for increased hormone production. (Eros Guide/ Los Angeles) Mme de Pompadour is known to have served it at (ahem) important supper parties. A 16th Century Arabian love manual included a recipe for a successful marriage consummation. Louis XIV was so wild about it that he had special greenhouses built in order to have asparagus year round. In America, it is thought that Diedrick Leertouwer, a Dutchman settled in West Brookfield, New Hampshire, brought asparagus to his new home in 1784. (West Brookfield website) It quickly became acclimated to many regions of the country. Germans refer to it as a “Konigliche Gemuse“,... a Royal Vegetable. Even today, a springtime trip to Germany will expose the traveler to asparagus, both MAJOLICA MATTERS March 2005 Page 2 Peel them, wash them and boil them as usual in hot salty water. Cut them on the bias, from the side of the tip and about the length of the little finger. Use just these chosen slices and put aside the rest of their stems. Put the aforesaid slices in a warm napkin in order to drain them and to maintain them warm while you prepare the sauce. Empty half box of butter capturing some the content with the spoon and putting it in one silver pot: add a little salt and an abundant pinch of mace in powder, an average spoonful of spelt flour and two fresh yolks diluted in four spoonfuls of muscat grapes juice. It is interesting that asparagus wasn’t widely available to ordinary folks until the mid-19th Century. Perhaps the Industrial Revolution, with its great railroads, brought it into the regions where it hadn’t been seen before. Whatever the reason, the people of the 19th Century chose to celebrate its arrival in the same way that they had the arrival of sardines, oysters and strawberries,…with specially made service ware to showcase their culinary prize. Cook the sauce in a bain-marie, avoiding to thicken it too much: you put your asparagus slices in the same sauce and serve all abundantly in a covered pot, so that excellent entremet does not lack and can be appreciated in all its perfection. “ As LeRoy’s beautiful photos attest, the French were especially fond of asparagus wares. Notice that both green and white asparagus are depicted in these serving dishes. Such was the distinction that the French made between the two crops. Incidentally, LeRoy mentions that the familiar green Minton asparagus server was also made in white. The author of the original manuscript observed that this asparagus recipe must be served by the spoon and be eaten by the fork. Cooking asparagus: Of course, the fresher asparagus is, the better. In fact, there’s no point in eating it if its at all old or shriveled; the experience is wholly unsatisfying. When buying asparagus, pay attention to the cut end; if it’s dried out at all or turned brown, don’t bother. Furthermore, if there are little spots on it anywhere, pass it by. The heads should be tightly furled. If the ‘flowers’ have started to open, it’s been too long since picking. Please send your comments and material for the newsletter to: A Victorian recipe from “On Cooking Vegetables” 1864 “Take cold asparagus, and cut it the size of peas; break four or five eggs into a dish and beat them with pepper, salt and asparagus. Then put it into a stewpan with a spoonful of butter, set it on the fire, and stir it all the time until it thickens. Put it on toasted bread in a hot dish.” Deborah English 7350 Brightside Road Baltimore, MD 21212 Phone: 410 377 7036 Fax: 410 727 1436 EMAIL: PDEnglish@comcast.net Asparagus after Pompadour’s fashion. (From “A Bit of Everything Recipes) “Choose three bunches of beautiful Dutch asparagus that is white with violet tips. See you in New York MAJOLICA MATTERS March 2005 Page 3 Arsenal Pottery, All-American Majolica by Wanda Matthes If you have ever wondered, as I have, about the origin of the many wonderful unattributed pieces of majolica, some answers have finally been found. I recently purchased Jeffrey’s Snider’s latest majolica book, Antique Majolica around the House, and read with amazement, the descriptions of some pieces I have been attracted to from the beginning of my collecting. One in particular, the large bulbous bird’s nest pitcher. My first one was purchased in damaged condition from a very eccentric dealer in Sandwich, Illinois. Though the pitcher was damaged, I could not pass it up. That purchase was made some fifteen years ago and it still has the most beautiful mold and coloration of any of that form that I have owned. Of course, it sits in my bathroom window, rather than out on display, but it is still well appreciated. As a dealer, I have purchased and sold this form over and over again. Always to someone, like I, who had fallen hard for this lovely provincial piece. I always thought it was American and I was so excited to find that it was truly was. Tree with Bird’s Nest, Eggs and Bird (robin?) with branch handle, 9” Jeffrey Snider quotes information found in the publication, Trenton Potteries, newsletter of the Potteries of Trenton Society. These are all available to the public by going to www.trentonpotteries.com Volume 1, Issue 3 for these newsletters is titled “Joseph Mayer’s Arsenal Pottery Dump, Part 2: Majolica” written by William B. Liebeknecht. The newsletter discusses events which took place as a result of the realignment of Highway 29 which runs along the banks of the Delaware River. There, excavators discovered the waster pile from Arsenal Pottery which was owned and operated by James and Joseph Mayer from 1876 to 1905. This was one of six potteries located in Trenton during the late nineteenth century. The shards from the Arsenal dump give us some answers. Though the pieces are not marked with a company name, certain common characteristics emerged. Jeffrey Snyder and Leslie Bockol, in Majolica, American and European Wares, state: “The founding date for the Arsenal Pottery is unclear. The company, owned by Joseph Mayer, is known to have been in operation in Trenton as early as 1877. The Arsenal Pottery produced well-modeled majolica wares including jugs and Toby pitchers. The company also exhibited their majolica at the Chicago World’s Fair in 1893. The Arsenal Pottery did not mark their majolica.” Victoria Bergesen, in her book, Majolica, British, Continental and American Wares, 1851-1915, states that “Joseph S. Mayer exhibited a selection of finely modeled majolica Toby jugs at the Philadelphia Centennial in 1876, although the Arsenal Pottery does not appear in the Trenton directories until 1877.” Bergesen also quotes from the February 14, 1884, Crockery and Glass Journal: ‘Majolica is no more in Trenton excepting that made at Mayer’s Pottery.’ So it seems that his goods were successful enough to sell despite the waning popularity of majolica at this time. In 1885, The Pottery and Glassware Reporter stated: ‘The colors are much superior to the general run in this class of goods, and Mr. Mayer has a good reputation among the handlers of majolica wares.’ The Pottery and Glassware Reporter, November 17, 1887 reporter: ‘Joseph S. Mayer, Arsenal Pottery, is one of the most reliable manufactures of majolica and Barbotine ware in the country. His make is known everywhere for its reliability and attractive appearance and his products are in steady and extensive demand throughout the entire land.’ In 1893, Barber called Arsenal ‘probably, the only concern in the United States which manufactures the so-called majolica ware.’ M. Charles Rebert, in American Majolica 1850-1900 wrote: "The Arsenal Pottery, owned by the Mayer Pottery Manufacturing Company (Joseph H. Mayer, proprietor), produced much majolica, but marketed most of it unmarked. Mayer exhibited a selection of MAJOLICA MATTERS March 2005 Page 4 finely modeled majolica Toby jugs and pitchers, imitative of earlier English designs.” Sheep dog in front of a doghouse and dog bowl with a leaf and scroll border, 10 ¾ “ I matched the descriptions of shards found in the Arsenal Pottery waste pile, compiled in the Trenton Potteries Newsletter (in blue print), to my Trilogy Antique’s photo library to identify the following items. Plates: Hounds chasing an elk or deer through grass with a floral, scroll and geometric border 8”. (Also manufactured in 9”, 9 ½ “, and 11”.) Commonly referred to as Dog and Doghouse plate Hounds chasing an elk or deer through grass with a floral, scroll and geometric border 11”.) Commonly referred to as the Stag and Dog plate Center toby scene, (a man with a pitcher and mug in his hands sitting beside a keg), 10” with a raised mug and dot diaper border and a scrolling rim. Commonly referred to as the Stag and Dog platter Compare the scroll handles of the Toby plate, the Dog plate, and the Stag and Dog platter. Also note the scalloped shapes of these pieces. Notice the picket fence which appears on the Stag and Dog plate and platter and the shell pattern with the “dot diaper” border background which appears on the Toby Plate. Commonly referred to as the Toby Plate MAJOLICA MATTERS March 2005 Page 5 Girl and large dog in front of fireplace feeding a rabbit a plate of lettuce; with dot-diaper-scalloped shell border. Creamers: Bamboo creamer with daisies, 5” Jugs (a.k.a.) pitchers Water Lily flower with overlapping lily pads (handle has a tadpole on top). Bowls: Cabbage bordered bowl with grape leaves in center made in 8.25” and 10” Commonly referred to as the Grape Leaf Bowl This bowl appears in varied sizes and colorations, sometimes with the reverse side sponged in brown, sometimes in yellow/green. I would say that the “tadpole” described in the Trenton Potteries article is really a bud of the lily. I’ve seen this pond lily flower in varied colors from white to vivid pink and in two sizes; the common 7.25” and the harder to find 6.5“. MAJOLICA MATTERS March 2005 Page 6 Corn ear shaped pitcher 10 ½” tall. Bark pitcher with wild rose with branch handle, 7” (also made in 6”). The following pieces are described in the article, but not found in our photo files: Color of the yellow glaze matches that found on other identified Arsenal pieces. Pitcher with tree bark, grape vine, leaves, and grapes Creamers: Tree bark motif with simple toothed leaf and ferns, made in 5.25” and 8”. Multi-petal flower (possibly, wild rose) over a basket weave background made in 4.75” and 8”. Jardinières: Scales and scrolls in solid colors (blue, green, or yellow) Figural pitchers/mugs: Toby of man’s head with top hat (marked “PAT APLD FOR”) 4.75” Pitcher with scales and scrolls in solid colors (blue, green, or yellow) Teapots: Basket weave teapot lid, 4” diameter Spittoons: Basket spittoon (with two varieties of bird on a branch on a basket and rose-bow on basket). Through looking at and comparing pieces, I compiled this list of characteristics which many other pieces share: This piece is found with and without the pewter lid. • Many pieces bear a sponged background such as those on the dog and dog house plate and the grape MAJOLICA MATTERS March 2005 Page 7 leaf plate. The sponging may be in brown or yellow/green. • Many pieces bear a bark like texture such as those in the bird’s nest pitcher. • Common designs such as “picket fence” as seen in the dog and stag plate. • The raised shell and dot diaper border are common to many pieces. • The scrolling rim found on plates and bowls. • Common handle design in plates, bowls and platters such as those on the stag and dog plate and the dog and doghouse plate • Common themes: birds and bird’s nest, dogs, deer or stags, leaves, blackberries, the wild rose, tree branches and bark. • The human characters, such as the toby plate as well as the girl in the girl and dog plate are very crudely done. • All characters are done in folk-like style. • Colorations of pieces are generally soft with the exception of the color yellow which is usually bright and rather garish. Here are additional pieces which, I believe, bear characteristic of the Arsenal Pottery but are not noted through shards found in the pottery dump: Argenta bird on branch plate: The reverse side is also sponged in yellow and green. Blackberry on Basket plate, bottom bears the sponged base identical to that which appears on the Dog and Dog House plate. The next item is sometimes called Picket Fence and Fern bowl. Notice the common elements to the Dog and Dog house plate and the Stag and Dog plate. The reverse side is also sponged in brown. Bird on Branch pitcher Bird in hand pitcher Note the similar bark background texture and the folklike depiction of the bird. MAJOLICA MATTERS March 2005 Page 8 Dragon fly platter bears the characteristic green mottling displayed on the grape leaf bowl as well as other identified pieces. The following Bird’s Nest jardinière displays some of the characteristics we have discussed. This is a big reach but what do you think? The texture of the Bird in Frame pitcher and the Leaf on Bark pitcher, are similar in coloration and style to other Arsenal pieces. Wild Rose and Picket Fence 7” and the Wild Rose on Bark pitcher, 8”. Common elements are: texture, theme, style and the yellow of the glaze. The following Blackberry on Log pitcher, 8” displays the bark like texture, similar handle, and the base with branch knots similar to the Bird and Bird’s Nest pitcher. Snider concludes his article by quoting from an article by F. E. Fryatt, writing for the Harper’s New Monthly Magazine, describing the setting in Trenton, New Jersey in the late 19th century. ‘Reaching the southern or eastern portion of the city, one is surrounded by telling signs of the peculiar activity which has appropriately given this region its title of the “Staffordshire of America.” On every side may be seen smoking chimneys and kilns looming MAJOLICA MATTERS March 2005 Page 9 above tall modern factories, or long, low, weatherstained buildings, lumbering carts filled with raw material, and drays piled high with casks and crates of finished ware. (1881, 359)’ I don’t know how you feel about this recent discovery, but I am filled with pride that finally these wonderful, whimsical pieces have now found their “birth parents”. Let’s hope that as time goes by, more unattributed pieces can be identified as to their origin and their maker. Côte Basque, New York Members Philippe Meunier & Jean Defrocourt of France recently took part in the decoration of the old Côte Basque, one of most famous French restaurant of New York City . The Brasserie LCB, owned by the chef Jean Jacques Rachou, is located 60 W 55th Street New York, NY 10019. Tel : 212.688.6525. The following are some photos of this new ambassador of majolica and we hope sincerely that the majolica members will have the occasion to attend this establishment. Philippe & Jean are also one of our 2005 Majolica Heaven dealers. Cristo in New York By Deborah English It might not be Majolica, but New York is always full of surprises. We’re lucky that we’ll all be there at the nicest time of year, but it can be beautiful in the winter, too. Recently, Phil and I stopped there overnight for a meeting, just in time to see the Cristo Gates Project in Central Park. Cristo is an internationally known installation artist, most famous for wrapping monuments, buildings, and landscape elements with canvas and twine. His theory is that the context of an object or a space will affect the way we perceive it. The Central Park Project was designed to make us aware of the topography of the land by establishing a path of gates along the twenty-three miles of trails that lead through it. The point was not to look at the Gates, but to look at the space around and through them in order to see how one’s perceptions about that space changed as a result. When there was a pretty little snow in the night, I ran out the next morning and bought a disposable camera, grabbed an early cab to the Metropolitan Museum (right on Central Park), and in my NON-waterproof boots, submitted myself to the moment. There the saffron colored Gates stood. Their heavy but oddly translucent fabric lifted subtly with small breezes and barely audible flaps. The sight of the deep cerulean sky, the quiet white of the park’s hills, all witnessed by the stately buildings of 5th Avenue, made for a memorable hour. I don’t believe it could ever be so beautiful again. I wonder what’s in store for us in May. MAJOLICA MATTERS March 2005 Page 10 Message from the President By Phil English The Majolica International Society has a diverse membership touched by the collective madness that sends us all into that “other world”, whether we look at a green plate or the Minton Flat Iron Teapot. The MIS is almost twenty years old and has been driven not by this collective madness, but by the many volunteers who have devoted their time, energy, financial resources, and devotion to not only serve their own madness but to serve you. These volunteers plan and organize the Annual Meeting, put out a quarterly newsletter, maintain a website, email you on events and news, keep the books, preserve your dues, answer the phones and, oh by the way, help in any way they can, others who have been struck by the madness. All of this happens without renting an office or hiring any staff. Have there been mistakes made, names misspelled? Yes. These are human errors of omission. We are learning from our human frailties and are trying our best to improve the Society when we can. The untold hours put in by this group over the years are hard to account. There are no perks: no inside info, no free room, just an occasional free meal, when having traveled cross-country at our own expense to ensure that we serve you with a little more care. I want to thank all of those volunteers who have made my experience in this Society so enjoyable. So, as my term as President comes to a close, I extend my deep appreciation to Marilyn, Joan, Gerry, Jim, Duane, LeRoy, Connie, Nic, Linda, Karen, Gabrielle, Ed, Mike and Deborah for your support of the Society. There are countless others, past and present, who have worked hard to make the MIS a more successful organization. Thus, I urge you to thank this group of volunteers – for that is the only perk they receive- and to recognize that your time to step up and help this society is now. When I became President, the MIS took on as one of its missions the project of getting a museum show, so as to elevate the place of Majolica in the public consciousness. It has proved to be a more difficult undertaking than we had first thought, though we have had some small successes. One was a small exhibit at the Walters Art Museum in Baltimore. We have managed to have encouraging conversations with the directors of other museums and have learned that academic acceptance of Majolica will come in small steps. Nevertheless, as these conversations become more productive, and with the recent proliferation of magazine articles, I feel Majolica is even now emerging as a subject that museums will wish to consider in the not so distant future. We are fortunate to have leaders who serve with a sense of devotion and purpose. The MIS is lucky to have LeRoy Davis assuming the responsibilities of President this May. With his natural skills of diplomacy, LeRoy has navigated through his three years in the difficult job of Event Chair with great skill. He has an outgoing personality and always operates in the spirit of inclusiveness. In addition, LeRoy and Sally are knowledgeable collectors with a good awareness of the needs of the majolica world and its collectors. LeRoy’s knowledge and ability bode well for a successful term. Convention 2005 Program Update By Ed Flower Everything is headed towards a huge success at the 2005 New York convention. Member registrations are strong and the dealer lineup is fantastic. The visits to member collections have been a hit and we’ve had to ask them for additional access times. There are still openings available; so be quick and send in your registration. Thursday night’s program has really come together and will be devoted to French majolica with two exciting presentations from dealers Maryse Bottero and Jean Defrocourt. Jean’s subject will be about Paul Comolera and his collaboration with the manufacture of Choisy le Roi and Minton. Finally I would like to make an addition to where to eat. My recommendation for Il Duomo on West End and 69 is cancelled. The building is being torn down (typical NY event). But there are two good places near Joan Graham’s or Thea Benenson’s homes that might be convenient. One is Grace's Trattoria on 71st between 2nd and 3rd Aves -- just across the street form Joan's apartment. It features "casual" Italian at modest (for NY) prices. Another is an Afghan restaurant at 1437 2nd Ave. between 74th and 75th streets. A Familiar Name is Back in Phoenixville By Linda LaPointe When a young Phoenixville, PA couple recently opened a restaurant, they decided to honor the artisan spirit in Phoenixville’s past by naming it Majolica. Like the pottery made in Phoenixville in the 1880s by Griffen, Smith and Hill, Chef Andrew Deery and his lovely wife Sarah Johnston dare to be different. The vibrant MAJOLICA MATTERS March 2005 Page 11 setting, majolica green walls and copper top tables, welcome you inside. Also similar to majolica, the food is unconventional, described as seasonal American with French influences. The menu changes weekly with excellent seafood and unusual pairings. One example is wild salmon served with a ramekin of homemade horseradish ice cream! Although the restaurant just opened last December 7th, friends, family and patrons have been generously donating pieces of Etruscan majolica. They even have a bit of a majolica library, including the Marilyn (Karmason) and Joan (Graham) Majolica, which you can glance at while you wait for your table. Majolica is housed in a Bridge Street building that once served as a tavern and dates back a hundred years. The building is just a few hundred yards from the original pottery kilns that sat on the corner of Star and Main. It’s likely that the building holds more majolica history than the recently acquired pieces. MajolicaMAIL Communications by Duane Matthes We sent a “MajolicaMAIL” eMail out on Mar 5th to all members that have eMail addresses. If you didn’t get that email, then MIS doesn’t have your email address recorded correctly or the mail got trapped in your SPAM filter. The message enters your mail process with the name of Duane@majolicasociety.com so please open that email address in your SPAM filter. Please eMail Duane@eMajolica.com with issues or your corrected email so we can correct our records and communicate with you. Thanks for your help! 2005 Annual Convention Registration The 2005 convention registration forms are enclosed with this newsletter. We expect a huge membership and guest turnout for our New York City convention events! Please don’t let this unbelievable opportunity happen without you. Fill out the Registration Form, make out a check and mail them back to the society as soon a possible. Then call the hotel directly for room reservations. Many members have worked very hard to insure that this will be the best convention ever in one of the world’s great cities. Majolica Heaven 2005 - Dealers: Constance Aranosian, Cara Antiques, Newtown, PA Linda Ketterling, Toledo, OH Jerry Hayes, Oklahoma City, OK Bonnie Heller, Rego Park, NY Phillipe Meunier & Jean Defrocourt, France Randi Schwartz, Raven & Dove Antiques, Wilmette, IL Lori Sparrows, Sparrows Antiques, Kensington, MD David Tulk, Madelena Antiques, England Charles Washburne, Chappaqua, NY John Weld, John Weld Antiques, Yarmouth Port, MA 2005 Society Dues Process Please check your address label on our mailing envelope. The red date such as “2004-Oct” indicates when you owe 2004 annual dues. Some members have paid ahead and won’t receive any 2004 dues notice. If your label has a date that includes a “2003” then you are seriously behind on your dues and your membership is in jeopardy. Please use the enclosed Dues Notice to send in your dues and thanks for your support and your help. Visit www.majolicasociety.com/majolicamail.htm to catch up on past majolica mails. See you in New York Make your reservation today MAJOLICA MATTERS March 2005 Page 12