, all their
experiments failed. There did nevertheless appear throughout the
Orient a ware of common clay over which a simple covering of white had
been painted, and this slip or engobe of white gave to the variety the
name of Oriental Engobe. This type of ware decorated with a
conventional dull-hued design was many years later revived and
imitated by Theodore Deck of Paris, one of the great French porcelain
makers. But even this was not like the white Chinese ware everybody
wanted so much to make."

"Did they never find out the secret?"

"Of that I will tell you some other time. It is a most interesting
story," returned Mr. Croyden. "In the meantime the Moors and Arabs
who had lived in the Orient had in some way learned that tin or lead
could be used for enameling clay surfaces. The discovery
apparently did not particularly interest them because, you see, in the
East minerals were not plentiful. When, however, in the twelfth
century they conquered Spain they found in that country quantities of
lead and tin, and they then recalled that these could be used as a
glaze for pottery. In consequence they promptly set to work making an
enameled ware called Majolica or Maiolica from the Island of Maiorca.
These Moors were a highly cultured race who built in Spain beautiful
temples and palaces, among them the Alhambra, of which perhaps you
have read."

Theo's eyes shone.

"We read about it at school!" he cried.

"I am glad to hear that," exclaimed Mr. Croyden. "Then you will
remember what a wonderful structure it was. In its interior have been
found many highly glazed tiles beautifully designed and decorated in
colors and in gold. Within this palace, too, was found the famous
Alhambra Vase, three feet four inches in height, and made in 1320. It
is a piece of work quite different from anything the Greeks made, but
in its way is quite as perfect. It is of earthenware, with a white
ground, and is enameled in two shades of blue with a further
decoration of gold or copper lustre. I speak particularly of this use
of glaze because it is very important. Until people knew how to glaze
their wares many of the comforts and conveniences of living were
impossible. Men carried water or wine in leather gourds, or in clay
vessels coated on the inside with a layer of gum to prevent the
contents from leaking or evaporating."

"I should think the gum would have made the liquid taste," said Theo.

"It did. That was precisely the trouble.