The use of burned clayware in the form of brick, tile, or pottery has been uninterrupted and universal from the dawn of civilization to the present day. Although, the use of ceramic in the form architectural terra cotta has been more sporadic and local. Today it is a matter of common knowledge among architects that modern terra cotta possesses many superior qualities; that it may be economically made in an endless variety of forms and colors; that, if well made and properly set, it is permanently enduring and resists successfully the ravages of water and fire; it combined lightness with strength and beauty with usefulness.
Architectural Terra Cotta: Standard Construction is a brief synopsis of the manufacture of terracotta published by National Terra Cotta Society in 1914. The book, prepared through the cooperation of nearly all the manufacturers of architectural terra cotta in the United States, is in no sense intended to be a book of artistic aspirations. It does not presume to even suggest architectural design. This work compiles 70 drawings made under the direction of Peter C. Olsen. Each page leaf is a single draw that demonstrates the possibilities of this material in draft form to facilitate the use and its proper interpretation.
From the collection of Alan O’Bright. Digitized by Association for Preservation Technology International and Internet Archive.
