Probably it was of tin. But the important fact is that he
got a fine durable surface, very shiny and very hard, which wrought a
revolution in pottery-making. If you visit Florence some time you can
still see set in the walls of some of the public buildings the
identical enameled terra cottas made by Luca della Robbia."
"I'd like to see them."
"Then tell your dad to take you to Italy after this war is over. We
will pray that Germany may spare these art works of the world."
Mr. Croyden did not speak for a moment; then he said:
"And while you are remembering so many things remember in addition
that the word _glaze_ comes from the term _glassing_ or _glazing_,
which means putting a coating of glass over the surface. Of course
the covering is not really glass, but it is hard and shiny, and so
people used to think it was. Some day I will tell you more about the
different kinds of glazes."
"So it was the Italians who gave Europe its glazed pottery and
porcelain," remarked Theo.
"Not alone the Italians," protested Mr. Croyden, "although they
helped. Somebody else had a share in the discovery--somebody very far
away from Italy. It was the knowledge of the Italians combined with
the skill of this other distant nation that gave to Europe the perfect
product.
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