The Express.
London, England, 1853-05-27 00:00:00

EXHIBITION OF CABINET WORK AT

GORE HOUSE.

The Board of Trade, acting in its science and art
department, has made an attempt to inspire our cabinet
makers with some wish to excel in the decorative branch of
their trade, by arranging for their inspection a rare and
beautiful collection of antique cabinets, casket', muniment
chests, and other furniture, gathered from all the palatinl
residences in the country, from those of royalty downwards,
and which are to be thrown open to public view next week
at Gore House, Kensington. The design is, if possible, to
blend with the utilitarian taste of the present age some of
the relish fir profuse ornamentation which distinguished the
past, 62 as that, in addition to our boast of making the best
and most durable articles in the world, we may also share
some of the laurels of which our Gallic neighbours at pre•
sent claim exclusive possession. To the collection her Ma-
jesty has been a most liberal contributor, sending even some
et the costly furniture of her private apartments. Mr.
Holford also sends some beautiful specimens, and there are
also rare and costly articles from the Duke of Buceteuch,
Earl Amherst, and several other members of the nobility.
The collection dates from the dawning of the resonance
school down to the close of the last century, all contribu-
tions of later date being excluded by the rules under which
the exhibition has been instituted. At the entrance is a fine
specimen of early Italian earning, in the shape of ad 'antique
cabinet sent in by Mr. Auldjo, and near it another, remark-
able for its curious construction, the contribution of Mr. I.
K. Brunel. The gem of the first room, and, indeed, of the
whole collection, is Mr. Holford's magnificent ebony
Venetian cabinet—a perfect masterpiece of wood carving.
Every panel inside and out is covered with the most beau-
tifully executed designs ; and effects in drapery and perspec-
tive are produced which ono would have thought to be
almost impossible with such intractable materials. On one
door is a spirited carving of the visit of the Queen Of Sheba
to Solomon, and on the other the pictorial history of
Zeptha's rash vow. But, besides these, every corner, every
small drawer, is covered with the mat elaborate carving,
inside and out, as if the artist fairly revelled in the exercise
of his powers. A contrast, however, to all this exquisite
handiwork is presented in the interior, filled with coarsely
manetracted mannikins, like a Chinese Joss-hente, end
dr semi-barbarous locks and hinges, which fairly
put to shame the fins art workmanship of the
panels. Our workmen will find a moral in both sides of
the picture, as while respectfully admiring the decorative
powers of their predecessors of two hundred years since,
they may feel some exultation at their own superiority in
the more important branches of mechanism. In the same
room is another carious cabinet, sent in by Lord De Lisle
and Dudley, the peculiarity is which is that all the panels
are filled with (mega pictures of great value: Baron
Lionel de Rothschild contributes an escritoire, the gift
of Henry 11, of France, to Diana Do Poimiers,
and in the corner of the room is k costly silver
toilette service, now the, property of Earl Amherst,
rhea originally prepared by the Duke of Dorset for the
temporary use of James 1., on some occasion when the
Duke was honoured with a royal visit. These last named
articles are more remarkable for their costliness' of material
than for their taste in design or execution ; but they look
&efficiently 'gorgeous, and will, no doubt, prove very at-
tractive. On the mantelpiece, close at hand, are two eta-
' tucttes of Centaurs, which must by no means be overlooked,
the similarity of the faces to Poussin's pictures mak-
ing their origin a matter for curious inquiry.
Here also are Italian muniment chests, elabo-
rately carved, in high relief, of a size sufficient
to render credible the imprisonment of Genevra ; but we
must beg to doubt as to the impossibility of forcing the
spring. Some of the designs on these articles are quite
Etruscan in their character, and are worked out with great
fidelity and spirit. The next and last room brings us to the
time of Louis Quatorse, and is filled with magnificent spe-
cimens of buhl, the contributions of royal and noble donors.
Her Majesty sends caskets and toilettes, and the Duke
of Buceleuch one of the most perfect specimens of
the art in existence. Here are also cabinets and
tables in piefra dune, one of which completely auto
to shame anything In the same material that was seen In
the Great Exhibition. It is supposed to be the work of the
court architect who decorated Versailles, and certainly is
quite regal in its richness of decoration. In the third room,
the delicate porcelain tables which began to appear in the
Louis Quinn period are displayed, along with costly aid
ales in ormolu, and some splendid vases in Sevres porcelain.
We Dave enumerated here only a few of the features of thin
exhibition, which, whatever effect it may produce on our
workmen, will no doubt prove very attractive to the
fashionable world. A patient inspection, assisted by the
catalogue, which is not yet prepared, will no doubt discover
many articles quite as worthy of notice as those we have
indicated. In the upper rooms there is au arrangement of
the work of the pupils of the School of Design, but it is as
yet in an incomplete state, and will not be a fair subject
for critical examination until Saturday next, when another
private view of both collections is to take place.

COLONEL SIBTHORP "AT HOPE."—The South
Lineolns'sire Militia assembled at Grantham last Tuesday,
for 23 days' training, causing no little commotion in the
town. The men mustered tolerably, and many ap-
peared smart lads. On Wednesday, Colonel Sipthorp,
who commands this regiment, arrived on the ground at
about eleven o'clock. After the names bad been called
over, and the articles of war read, he made a spirited
address to the regiment, in which he espressed a hope
that each individual would feel as he did, that it was an
honour to be a soldier; that they would cultivate and en-
deavour to maintain a friendly and brotherly feeling with
the inhabitants of the town that, by a cheerful perfoim-
, anee of their duty, they would spare him the pain of having
to exercise his authority for the enforcement of discipline.
He said it should be his study impartially to promote the
comfort and happiness of every one in the regiment, pro-
mised that they should have a sand, and made a most gal-
lant allusion to the fair sex. The colonel's address was
cheered by the men, and amieared to afford much gratifies.
Lion to the civilians present ,who pronounced him a " brick."
The colon, 1 has been feasting the civic body, the officers, and
the men, and everybody seems to enjoy the fun, especially
those who reams any benefit from the generous OutpOurines
of the martial spir..t of our gallant M.P.—Lincolnshire
Times.

•ABERDEEN rtarr.wAy.—Traftle for week enJing
May 14, Ito, 1,6521.; correspeading week last year,
8,5901,