The Sun.
London, England, 1857-07-16 00:00:00

EXHIBITION&

At this time, when so many exhibitions are open
to attract public attention, and when the Exhibition
of Art Treasures at Manchester is the universal
theme of conversation, and is visited daily by many
thousands, it may not be inappropriate to re-
fer to the subject of industrial art and to its
progress since the Great Exhibition of 1851. Many
of our manufacturers,
in various
a still greater propor-
tion of our operatives various industrial occupa-
tions, who had not until then enjoyed any opportu-
nity of seeing or knowing the progress that had
been made in other countries in the same branches
of manufacture in which they were themselves en-
gaged, and more especially those branches in which
taste and design form an important element, were
surprised to find that they had much to achieve in
order to place themselves upon a level with the
more artistic productions of our Continental neigh-
bours. Strenuous efforts have been used both by
employers and employed, and the result has been
a greater advance and improvement in the few
ears that have elapsed since the Great Exibition
than had been made for a quarter of a century pre-
viously, competition having proved more effectual
to that end than all our Schools of Design. This
was fully demonstrated at the Exposition Univer-
selle at Paris in 1855, where 'he highest awards
were obtained by English exhibitors in three dif-
ferent branches of manufactures in which it had
always been considered that French manufacturers
enjoyed an incontestible superiority. In furniture,
for example, Messrs. Jackson and Graham gained
the highest awards for " improvements in Eng-
lish furniture," and Messrs, Minton and Co., and
Messrs. Elkington and Co., in their respective
manufactures, likewise gained the highest honours.
It is on the great establishment of the first-named
firm that we are about to make some observations,
having recently spent some time in contemplating
the various objects in their extensive galleries and
show-rooms, which form really a most interesting
exhibition of art industry, in which the beautiful
is combined with the useful in a manner truly grati-
fying to notice, and most tempting te the man oftaste.
Here we find an extensive gallery of art bronzes and
objects of the most recherche kind, co m prising reduc-
tions from all the celebrated chefs d'ceuvres of antique
and modern sculpture. These reductions, by the
celebrated house of Barbedienne and Co., of Paris
(of whose productions Messrs. Jackson and Graham
are the sole depot), by the process invented by
Collas, who received the Grande Medaille d'Hon-
neur, and was made a Chevalier of the Legion of
Honour at the close of the Universal Exhibition at
Paris in 1855, are mathematilly exact in their pro-
portions, and vary from 1-10th to 2-s.hs, or nearly
half the size of the originals, together with t‘ e
finest collection of ornamental clocks, candelabras,
and lames, we have ever witnessed. We cannot
refrain from specially
mentioning some of the sue-
pension lamps and chandeliers, of bronze, gilt, and
silver gilt, the designs of which struck us as being
perfectly novel, and extremely chaste and elegant.
In another show-room, which is devoted to paper-
hangings and interior decorations, we noticed some
highly artistic specimens, especially one in the style
of Louis XVI., in which the walls and ceiling are
highly enriched by ornament in relief aided by
colour and gilding ; and, in order to give a com-
plete idea of the style, a chimney-piece and chande-
lier have been made en suite. In another depart-
ment we were shown an endless variety of magni-
ficent silk for hangings ; chintzes—the very perfec-
tion of printing—with many other new fabrics that
we have not space to comment upon. In every in-
stance we saw aide by side the best productions of
France and Germany, with those of our own manu-
facturers, and although the products of Lyons and
Tours still maintain their superiority, there is,
nevertheless, a great improvement to be observed
in the manufacture of British furniture silks, both
in respect to design and execution. Messrs. Jack-
son and Graham have long bean celebrated for the
superiority of their carp3ts, and iu this department
we have had the opportunity of seeing all the hn-
pr,vemeuts that have been recently effected by
the application of steam-power to weaving velvet
pile, Brussels and tapestry carpeting, by which the
quality has been improved, and the cost of produc-
tion of the hest fabrics greatly economised. This es-
tablishmenthas become the side depot in England for
the celebrated tapestries and splendid carpets of
Messrs. Sallatiddrouxe de Lamornaix and Co., of
Aubusson. Some remarkably beautiful suites of ta-
pestry for clears and sofas were shown to us, whic's
we think could scarcely be surpassed in beauty of
design or delicacy of execution, by the Imperial
manufactories of the G obehus or Beauvais. Passing,
by a covered iron bridge, over a carriage way at the
rear of the. Oxford-street premises, we enter the
extensive range of build rigs in which the general
furniture, show-rooms, and different work-shops are
of brass,. iron,
situated. The show-rooms alone cover asp tce of
9,000 superficial feet, and are filled with articles of
'arts in 1855, undoubtedly also, is the grand c tbinet which was
cabinet furniture of the b.e-t class, sofas, easy chair,
mahogany,douted andy th othere best
On looking. at it with great atten•ion
eawxnohdoidbbsie.tiesdtHeiateldr
Parrs
work of its kind that h ever been produced in any
His Royal Highness Prince Albert remarked that it
he hai. overseen, and his opinion
was endorsed by the decision of the jury, who, in
addition to the gold medal of honour, awardedmedals
to the designer, modellers, and workmen employed
awgas'3 °t
ceietsrtYt. lung
upon it. From the show-rooms. we passed through
the various vrorkshope, in which the different
&lair making awl Nner's work, are
manu-
facturing operations of
.modelling, carving, gilding,
ecaaebriineedt:.d All the best means and appliances for
g, perforating, sawing, morticing,
ensuring sound workm. anslnp have been brought into
use, and several ingenious machines woi kedbysteam
andpow power, for
10 economise production to its
utmost practicable. extent. Reflecting upon the
or furnish their houses, we
completeness of this iinportant.estAblishment in al!
its departments, and the facilities it affords to those
decoratetobe struck. with the great conveni-
enceadvantage of being able to find every re-
and thus to harenonise the
re
couldcliarinnnodgttfo il
with carpets. and curtains—fur-
with another througheut—Jeco-
rai ions and pspere,
nitnre with ornascituyilseitoefuonndeetrhoinnge roof,.
ments and. objets d'art, in a manner
Indeed, we cannot spe ik too
and upon a scale not hither attempted in this or
skill, and judgment that
highlya yot hoefr
the country n ntr y .
enterprise,
has reared and conducts the establishment, of the
taste that presides in every department, or the ex-
ecutive ability of the staff and workmen in the 'ern-
Newspaper.
ploymenr of Messrs. Jackson and Graham. —Lady's