They are
significant only because they are the beginnings of that wonderful art
of porcelain-making which later the French carried to an amazing
degree of perfection."
There was a moment's delay in the story while Mr. Croyden rearranged
more comfortably the pillows behind Theo's head.
"Is that better?" he asked of the boy.
"Lots better, thank you," said Theo gratefully.
"All right, son. Then we'll go on. Two of the most important of these
beginnings are the Henri Deux ware, as it is called; and the enamel
work of Bernard Palissy."
"We read about Palissy in school," put in Theo.
"I am glad to hear that, for he was one of the three men whose names
have come down to us as being most vitally connected with pottery and
porcelain-making. But before we talk of him I am going to tell you
just a little about the Henri Deux ware, sometimes known as Faience
d'Orion. Very few pieces of it now remain; but for perfection of
workmanship and beauty of quality it has never been approached. Just
who made it we do not know; nor do we know anything of the conditions
under which it was manufactured. Only about fifty pieces of it are in
existence--half of them in England and half in France; and it is from
these, and from vague historic hints, that we have welded together the
rather uncertain tale that I am now to tell you.
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