The Sun.
London, England, 1841-06-30 00:00:00

EVENING SUN

THE CHINESE COLLECTION AT
PHILADELPHIA.
The fame of Mr. Dunn's extensive Chinese museum is
not confined to the, land in which it has been opened—the
United States. It is well known to all the world that
the indefatigable American, after the termination of his
successful toils in the field of commerce, the chosk
theatre of which was the Celestial Empire, has come
'it tic to his native shores laden with the fruits of
"'hy years' diligent and patient acquisition, the re-
Jilts of incessant yet ungrudging expense. Mr. Dunn
having conceived the laudable idea of forming a
collection of all sorts of things characteristic of the
extraordinary country and people to which he had re-
paired for mercantile purposes, a sort of hive was pre-
pared for their reception, and being visited in the way
of his business by numerous Chinamen who had the in-
telligence to appreciate, as well as the liberality and dis-
position to assist in the execution of his design, each of
them placed himself, in one shape or another, qi&r
contribution. The interior of China is as a :orffired
book. Even the city of Canton is impenetrable to
strangers. Personally, therefore, Mr. Dunn could have
access to nothing—inspect nothing. Neither the com-
mon workshops, the houses, the private apartments,
nor the manufactories of the empire, or any portion
of it, were visible to him, so that the whole of his valu-
able accumulations had to be effected through such tri-
butary channels, as by cultivation, courteous treatment,
and hospitality lie was enabled to command. At his
house were to be found on frequent occasions the most
eminent merchants atid officers of tie Government, who
were either permanently or temporarily resident at Can-
ton, and through the intervention of these he procured in
some instances as presents, in others by purchase, sure
and costly articles, which were not commonly within the
reach of foreigners. One thing came in after another,
and thus it was the interesting collection, the mag-
num opus, was at kaigth completed. Professor Silliman,
of Yale College, gives a brief account of the novel ex-
hibition as it appears in its new locality, though of the
three hundred cases out of which it is composed, only a
part have been unpacked. From this account we extract
a few particulars The "entrance partition" of Chinese
work forms a vestibule leading to the great saloon of 165
feet in length, by 70 feet in width and 24 in height, with a
double colonnade. On the right and left are dis-
tributed the numerous cases containing specimens
of " all that is unique, curious. or common, to
be procured in the empire." The screen is such
as is in general use among the wealthy Chinese
in partitioning off a very spacious saloon from the
remainder of the great ground floor of their houses. It
forms a beautiful termination to the roorp. " Hours, nay,
days and weeks," says Dr. Silliman, "may be profitably
employed in examining the details presented by this Wag.
nificent saloon, which brings the most populous don
of Asia at once before the spectator." Accuratz Aole-
length likenesses in clay, to the number of 70 or 80, wiiich,
were modelled from living subjects by an experienced ar-
tist, include personages of various rank, from the manda-
rin to the coolie ; from ladies of distinction to the poor
woman employed in sculling their boats on the river. Each
re-presents "a speaking countenance" in a style of art per-
fectly new in this part of the world. The effect is to exhibit
to the spectator the inhabitants of China as theyreally exist.
The remarks made by Dr. Silliman on the porcelain
and earthenware manufacture of china are well worthy
the attention of the potteries, and all connected with them.
"In this department," he says, " endeavours have
teen successfully made to procure the best specimens
of all the most expensive manufactures of the
country, embracing several very ancient and highly-
esteemed articles. Here are many hundred jars, vases;
pipe'stands, and various services used by the Chinese,
differing materially from those exported. The
specimens of ware cracked on the surface by age,
are interesting and costly. There must be several
thousand pieces of fine china, incriTtling the thin
egg-shell cup with its lettered inscriptions, octagon
pipe-stands, three or four feet in height, inscribed land-
marks, tile work, screens, &c., in very. numerous pat-
terns ; affording us Barbarians' new ideas on the sub-
ject of their manufactures, and probably new patterns for
our artists."

Among agricultural and other implements is to
be seen " the very crude plough that is drawn by
the buffido, with his simple yoke and rope traces.
The harrow, differing very materially, from that of
our country, is one of the accompaniments. There
are forks, rakes, hoes, axes, shovels, spades of wood
faced with iron for the sake of economy, &c. ;
a complete set of carpenter's and joiner's, or cabinet-
maker s tools. Theie is a native shoemaker's shop com-
plete ; a blacksmith's anvil, his curious bellows, &c.,
comprising the complete accoutrements of the travelling
smith ; the entire shop of the ambulatory barber, his
clumsy short razor, cases, &c. The musical instruments
of the Chinese also figure in full among the turiosities,
and castings of iron of very great beauty, consisting of
pots, kettles, and other cooking utensils of universal uses
and which, unlike our own of the same metal, may be
mended at pleasure as easily'iti our tin vessels."
" The models of boats," continues Dr. &Inman, " form
a striking feature of the scene ; first, we have the gor-
geous flower boat with its numerous decorations, various
furnished apartments of comfort and luxury, ”d. painted
and adorned in the peculiar style of the Asiatics. Of
the canal boats there are three models of different sizes
of such as are used in conveying the articles of their pro-
duce, teas, salt, grain, and manufactured articles, to and
from the distant points of the extensive empire, and in
loading and unloading fiaireign ships. There is the roan-
of-war boa*. These tide-waiter's boats, or cutters,
are always cruising about with the(' police officers,
to keep order among the numerous rdF.adents on the
water, and to enforce the revenue laws. The sanpans are
family boats, in which it is computed about 200,000 per-
sons constantly reside on the seaters before the city of
Canton and its suburbs ; they are kept as clean as a
milk-pail, and contain entire families, who are born and
live to the end of their days on the river. This great
city of boats presents a remarkable aspect ; through
them it would be difficult to navigate, were it not that
the fleet is arranged in streets, and at night lighted up.
We greatly ight in summer houses, as who does
not? Four models of these " exhibit the peculiar taste
of the Chinese; some are plain, and others very orna-
mental, with their scalloped roof, bells, gilding, paint-
ing, &e., and furnished with miniature chairs, tables,
&c., models of real things, every part being complete
for the luxuries of tea and the pipe. Tea is the univer-
sal beverage; this is sold at from eight cents the pond
up to many dollars, and is an article on which some of
their citizens expend a very large income. The work-
ing man carries it in his rude teapot to the fields, and
drinks it cold to quench his thirst, while the more
wealthy sip it on every occasion of ceremony, -business,
or familiar intercourse."

The pictures are very numerous. They occupy the
greatest surface of the collection, and are the productions
of the principal artists of the empire, not excepting those
of Pekin, the capital. - There are " large and inte.
resting views of Macao, Bocce.Tigris, Whampoa, Canton.
and Honam, with its remarkable temples, &c. The por-
traits will astonish those who have seen only the paltry
daubs usually brought as specimens of the art in China.
There is one of the high priest of the Homan Temple, and
there are others of distinguished men well known ht
Canton, worked with the minuteness of miniature paint-
ing. This department comprises also a variety of paint-
ings on glass, an art much practised by the natives ; pic-
tures of all the boats peculiar to the country ; of rooms
—their domestic arrangements ; of all the costumes of
people of rank : the furniture, lanterns, and, in short,
of every variety of Chinese life, from the most degraded
class to the Emperor. The flowers embroidered on satin,
&c., will attract the eye of female visitors."
Faced by a very superb alcove, brought from Chic" it
a Chinese room.
" The alcove itself consists of wood deeply carved out
of solid blocks, the carving represents figures -of men,
animals, birds, flowers, am The cutting penetrates
through the whole of each piece, and forms a net work,
the front being painted and gilt in the Asiatic taste, with
the rich colours for which the nation is so celebrated."
Of furniture, books, and natural history there appear
to be numerous and valuables pecimens. " There are
book-cases, chairs exhibiting great taste and refinement,
stands inlaid with marble and precious wood, such as may
be placed between every two chairs to hold the tea appa-
ratus, or those little ornaments or flower-pots of which
the Chinese are so fond. There is also a common table,
such as is in universal use, and has been for centuries,
which will be recognised by our present generation as
a fac-simile of the
favourite
great grandfathers, now thrust by modern fashion into
the kitchen or garret. It
foldseig:p eight-legged table of our
as those do, and the
legs are turned in rings ; this, like a thoNsand things ita
the saloon, proves that our common usages have been de-
rived from China, where we are accustomed to believe
they are centuries behind us. The vases and seats of
Porcelain are particularly rich and unique."
Mr. Dunn was enabled by " industry, money, EU-
tery, and kindness, to amass a great variety of birds,
&c.. and a few animals. Of
these, all have arrived in good condition, with the ex-
fishes, reptiles,
were
apelalytic in particularly rienkh.
unpack-
inn, and
when
curious, havee suffered
ception of the insects. The butterflies, moths, &c.,
,n,, and by natural causes."
seen in
most Canton
vire
by
the-
The conchology is fully represented in many ridi
whichlastspecimens, and one of the rarest birds, the mandirin
duck, with its peculiar plumage, is new to most people.
The China partridge, and many beautiful son,
add variety and interest to the collection. Thebirds,
e fishes
were procured principally at the fishing stations at
Macao, where Mr. Dunn had far several months a*
agent for the express purpose, nor is the museum want-
ink in drawings of plants and flowers, or in minerals..
Ot the miscellanies it is observed, a The jos-house pa-
godas, articles of virtu, of ornament, of stone, of • St-
go ,
ivory, bamboo, wood, metal, ricc, &c. aro so numerous
that we can only allude to them. A case of shoe:, in all
their course or ornamental variety, exhibit tike form of
the compressed female feet, and the clams,-he f..those
of the male ; another of caps fresh; " spe e
malls,
with the button of office, and
„Le from their
cheaper kinds of the
poor ; theatrical dresses, :Hewn• to be those of the very-
ancient Chinese--sr.
.ctac es opium and other pipes, taps,
the composegreat variety, models of fruits,
coins, exquisite specimens of carving in ivory,
metal, stone, and bamboo, very numerous and gro-
tesclue carvings from roots of trees, in which they
exhibit a peculiar taste, singular brushes, combs, beau-
tiful vessels of odoriferous wood for their altars and
temples, of which latter there are models ; very nume-
rous ornamental stands, carved with good taste ; huge
cameos in stone of great cost ; fine specimens of their
lacquered ware, as well as of their common ware ; a
silk embroidered saddle ; a water-wheel worked like our
modern treadmill ; a fan for sifting tea, resembling our
own ; lanterns of every possible shape, size, and orna-
meat, will be suspended from various points, vith th •
r
rich and tasteful paintings ' • there is a model of their
very singular coffin, which few would even guess was,
designed to contain the last relics of humanity.
The only collection in Europe which may.
be at all
compared to that of Mr. Dunn, is the
lade ofej apftn
ese articles at the Hague. These are very be u
- are highly prized, as they de serve to be, atl
ul4
and
by the Dutcis.