The Sun.
London, England, 1864-01-12 00:00:00

The Crystal Gallery, Egyptian Hall.

The celebrated firm of J. Defries and Sons, crystal and
bronze chandelier manufacturers, of 147, Houndsditch, city,
have become the lessees of the Dudley Gallery, Egyptian.
Hall, Piccadilly, with a view of placing before the public
specimens of their unrivalled workmanship in table and other
glass; and in order to render the splendid apartment appro-
priate to their object they have renamed it the Crystal Gal-
lery. A more gorgeous sight than that which was thrown
open to the public gratuitously to-day has certainly never
been seen in the metropolis, and it is to be hoped that the
enterprising firm will depart from their present intention of
merely keeping it open for a limited term, and allow it to
become a permanence, because without doubt it is one of the
most splendid and artistic exhibitions ever seen in this or
any other country. The object, we believe, which led to
the formation of the collection was the exhibition of one of
five magnificent candelabra just completed for the Rajah of
Secunderabad, and this surprising and wonderful specimen
of British art stands towering in the centre of the gallery to
the height of 22 feet. It is composed of three tiers or stages
of cut and coloured glass, carrying 156 lights supported by
arms and pillars of ruby, topaz, emerald, and sapphire tints,
and surmounted by an imperial crown of the most gorgeous
beauty. To give a detailed description of this rare and
beautiful combination of crystals would be an impossibility.
Nothing of the kind has ever been seen before, therefore
comparison is out of the question. Around this une-
quelled specimen of British skill and ingenuity hang noble
chandeliers of every variety of form and design, in silver,
glass, ormolu, and bronze ; whilst at the extreme end of
the gallery is placed one of those magnificent prismatic
mirrors, which excited the wonder of the thousands who
visited the Exhibition of 1862. The present:collection is
not confined to chandeliers and candelabra, but there is
a display of porcelains, china, table and dessert services,
in cut glass, of the most exquisite and costly descrip-
tion. One of the grandest objects in this department is
the Crimean tankard, which is really a wonderful sped.
men of fine art. Here, again, we have jugs, goblets, and
tankards, elaborately engraved with subjects copied from
the Elgin marbles; others most artistically and delicately
jewelled: others, again, engraved with some of the most
striking scenes, illustrative of those classic stories which
have b. en reproduced in the poetry of our ownintarimke:
Amongst the dessert services in glass, there is one
dreat the
able for its chasteness and beauty—viz., P
Abeen exhibited.
of crystal manufacture has certainly never
very striking
The tazzas and vases, again, form
another
which could only
feature in this extraordinary exhibition,
refined taste and uncared
cognised
ebnydthoef
btrhiellimanidedyleoftaitbslec.uttiintgw.iltr btetinilneasretesapnetclyimreen-
have been produced by the mosit
westward, where, if we
appearance
the utmost wonder and delight.
manufactures will create_
Mesmsriss.Dtackferiensootn, their
for outlay. We have to congratulate

rainTdiso
of
o mf noesxe
st
during wiltlhbeefiAg
ha it
of
ONE Or MR. MILLAIS' CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE
Israel with Amalek in Rephidim.
annOdrialLarAurhoEL: