The Sun.
London, England, 1857-01-16 00:00:00

ART TREASUABS EXHIBITION.

The public will learn with pleasure that Lieutenant-
Colonel Bidduiph has communicated to the executive
committee the great interest which her Majesty and
Prince Albert, continue to evince is the success of the
exhibition. Her Majesty 13.5 s promptly permitted the
following selection to be made from the works of me-
dieval art in the Royal collections at Windsor ,Cast,e.
The selection has been made (under the direction of Mr.
J. B. Waring) not so much as to exhibit the wealth of
the Royal collections, as to illustrate by rare and select
-pecimens those peculiar periods and styles of art of
which examples of equal importance have not as yet
been contributed to the exhibition.
From amongst the many precious of jects of the Royal
Goldi Plate Closet, the committee have chosen some beau-
tiful cups formed of the graceful nautiltp sheli, the more
remarkable one being a large shell superbly set in gold,
on which is represented the "Triumph of Neptune," and
another smaller one, of very graceful composition, in
which the cup is supported by a kneeling figure.
The ivory cups, very fine specimens of carving, are
equally remarkable ; of these we may mention, as about
to be exhibited, the very elegant cup supported by the
"Three Graces," known to every connoisseur in this
department of art, together with its companion cup,
borne on the shoulder of Atlas. These superb works of

their kind are nearly two fees in height. Bat perhaps
even more interesting than these will be the two fine
goblets with carvings of Bacchanalian subjects,, by the
celebrated Flamingo. These are also of magnificent
dimensions, and will afford the Exhibition an admirable
example of art ivory carving.
Of the jewelled plate will appear a splendid silver
gilt tankard, enriched with cameos and precious stones ;
also a crystal goblet, adorned with jewels.
From treasures scarcely less important some noble
pieces have been selected ; tine cups with covers of the
time of Charles I. and Charles 11. ; some superb at leers
and dishes in silver gilt, more especially a pair of circular
dishes, ornamented with mythological subjects, in
repousse work ; a grand gold tankard, highly embossed,
on which is represented a bacchanalian subject, figures
satyrs forming the handles ; the shield presented by
the present King of Prussia, a fine specimen of gold-
smiths' art ; a pair of superb silver gilt fire dogs, elabor-
qtely ornamented, and bearing the Royal cipher, "C.R."
The richly chased and ornamented Armada flagon ; the
famous Cellini shield ; two silver tripod's, fice works of
the time, and remarkable as having been presented,
together with a magnificent table in solid silver, to
King Charles IL by the City of London.
The illustration of art, as applied to personal ores-
meat, will be very materially assisted by a selection of
jeweliery, also contributed by her Majesty.
From the Royal armoury a large assemblage of weapons
and arms, offensive and defensive,'for the combat and
the chase, ornamented with curiously wrought devices,
has been selected. The Oriental arms are particularly
choice, many of them being richly jewelled, mid inlaid
with every variety of material, an graceful ornaments
of Indian, Japanese, Persian, and Moresque fancy. Most
interesting to many will be the arms worn by Tippoo Seib
—his sword, with its gilt and jewelled handle and blade,
together with its fixed gauntlet ; Turkish scimitars,
some with singular wavy blades ; and Mahratta swords,
with fine enamelled ornaments ; splendid yataghans,
worked with filagree ; Persian swords, enamelled and
jewelled in arabesque with a variety of ingenious devices,
forming handles of animals' heads, having the blades of
Damascus work, elaborately inlaid in gold and silver.

l'he Scotch claymores, and the long mediaeval swords,
will be found very interesting objects. Here will be a
sword sheath worked by Benveeuto Cellini ; a Spani&le
knight's sword ; an old Covenanter's sword ; and the
Elector of Brandenburgh's sword, with portraits of the
Princes of Orange upon it. The old firelocke, match-
locks, and wheellocks, one formerly belonging to the
Farnese family, dated 159 G, are objects of great anti-
quarian interest ; as also are a Mameluke's gun, set
with coral and gilt, and some curious Algerine and
Turkish pistols, by the most choice artists of the time.
The various European guns, stamped with the makers'
names, will form a series interesting to all, and more
especially important to the history and progress of the
gunsmith's art.
From the armour a few choice examples have been
selected, such as complete suits of steel, embossed with
gilt arabesques, some shirts of mail, and an East Indian
suit of metal and velvet work. This branch of the exhi-
bition is made still more perfect by a selection of very
handsome shabregues, or military saddle cloths, chiefly
of Oriental work, and a set of embroidered elephant
trappings, richly worked with gold on crimson velvet.
From other apartments in Windsor Castle, from
Adelaide Lodge, and Cumberland Lodge, many exquisite
specimens of china have been chosen ; all so lovely that
it is difficult to particularise many. The selection bas
been made chiefly from the Oriental porcelain, in which
the royal caVnets are extremely rich. Some of the most
remarkable will be what are known to connoisseurs as
Chinese crackle jars. Of these there are two in green,
, with red landscapes on a white ground, 14 inches high ;
two dark blue vases, covered with coloured flies and
flowers, 18 inches in height; two bulbous-shaped caledon
bottles with lizard handles; a large sea-green bottle,
feet high ; two small shell cups and saucers, with red
twisted handle, and flies on a white ground ; some fine
specimens of Oriental enamel on copper ; together with
examples of Sevres, particularly a blue and white vase,
and a casket with plaques of Sevres, very finely painted.
The old Chelsea ware is also very well represented ; and
there are some charming specimens of the Mayflower
style of vase, one of which is beautifully painted with
parrequets and other birds.
mstoadtuel-
of Inth the
sculpture,
Bucentaur,th the
coloured
re
d collection
an d
gi
gilt;
contributes
ual
ofbronze plaques " The Seasons," by Soldani, 1715,
set
sin wood and ivory. In
ette, a work of the 18th century, by Gottfried Turan ; a
of large size ; and some carving
and other
deities, is a remarkable work of Oriental carving.
In furniture, as might justlybe anticipated, some
the latter a group representing Bramah
there will
sor Castle ; and certainlybe no disappointment
magnificent productions will be contributed from Wind-
sor
in this very attractive and fascinating walk of art, as
applied to domestic purposes. There are some cabinets
of master-workmanship, of every conceivable variety of
colour and elegant form ; such as the cabinet by Gautier,
of the Louis Quatorze style, in ormolu, superbly orna-
mented ; a grand ebony cabinet, with figures is ormolu
applique ; and one by Vernes Martin ; fine old chairs,
carved in ebony, and Venetian gilt, and embroidered
in a style of luxury fit for the Doges. In addition to
these there are some beautiful caskets, Florentine Pieties
dura work, in tortoiseshell, in malachite, and in Japanese
lacquer-work. Some fine candelabra, in buhl ; a cabinet
in the same kind of work, made for the Cardinal de Retz ;
carved and gilt arm-chairs, covered with Beauvais
tapestry ; a finely-carved mirror, by Chippendale, a work
of the 18th century ' • a table and mirror in marqueterie ;
with some fine clocks in buhl, and an especially interest-
ing relic, the celebrated Strawberry-hill clock, presented
to Anne Boleyn by Henry VIII.
Some remarkable fine pieces of tapestry will enable
the Exhibition to be most perfectly arranged in the de-
partment of furniture. A large Oriental carpet is a
gorgeous example of Eastern magnificence. It is cotre
posed of crimson velvet, embroidered with a broad
border of silver and gold. With this most beautiful
piece of work her Majesty transmits a set of coverings
for a state bed, in Oriental work, elaborately ornamented
with feathers and jewels.
The specimens thus liberally placed at the disposal
the committee are nearly 500 in number, many of th
most rare character, and many of a most fragile charace
ter ; but her Majesty, it will be seen, has every confi-
dence in the care that will be taken of every article by
the persons entrusted with their transmission to Man.
cheater.

Too LONG BY HALF.—On a recent occasion, one of
our friends was coming up frem York, by the North-
Western Railway, and it appeared, as ill-hick would
have it, that there sat opposite to him a gentleman with
remarkably long legs, which be was not very particular
about digging into our friend's knees. On the arrival of
the train at B.rminahemi the longdegged man observed
to his neighbour, "I shall get out and stret%hmy legs
here a bit, as we wait ten minutes." "For goodness'
sake, sir, don't do that 1" said our friend, "for I am
quite sure they are too long by half already."