The Sun.
London, England, 1842-06-25 00:00:00

MR. DUNN'S CHINESE COL-
LECTION:
1 This rich and unparalleled Chinese collection, illustrative of
the arts, manufactures, and ornaments of the " flowdrY and
celestial race," is now open to publie view at Hyde Park-
corner. The visit of her Majesty, the Duke of Cambridge.
and other members of the Royal house, had led us to expect
something unusual of display ; and inspection caused our an-
ticipations to be altogether surpassed, by a spectacle no less
magnificent than novel.
Except the collection at the Hague, which cannot be put in
comparison with the present, and the scanty Chinese speci-
mei,s at the India House, neither England nor the Continent
has anything equal to this superb miniature museum, with its
hundreds of objects, gathered from every quarter of China.
Mr. Dunn, the proprietor, a gentleman of fortune, about the
year 1828 commenced this collection, and during a period of
twelve years continued with pasient research, industry, en.
the outlay of large sums, to accumulate the gorgeous specr
mens which compose it. He was assisted in his commendab
labours by Houqua, Tingqua, and other Hong merchants 0.
considerable note, and after exhibiting his noble collection at
Phiradelphia, where it was visited by thousands, he bas train
ported it to England at the suggestion of the most infitlenw"
and scientific men of the day. .nits
The exterior of the building at Hyde Park is Chinese
architectural style, having verandah-shaped roofs resting gPeo
~.
columns of a red ochre colour, and modelled afters Annuf
residence existing in China. The magnificent apartllo,l
which the collection is displayed to view forms a noble In:.
or gallery 225 feet in length, by 50 in width, with lofty o_l_,
ings, and supported by numerous pillars. The sides of this TOT
are each sub-divided into fourteen compartments, which Se'
having lower and upper sections, contain most of the al":
ties and treasures of the exhibition; ranging down the Tn°,
are numerous stands of cases filled with specimens of
zoology, art, handicraft, and manufacture ; pendent from r
ceiling are scores of those splendid lanterns, of which, 11l
computethe festival so called, not less than 200,000,000 are compute
be set blazing throughout the empire ; while at each en?,
the apartment are two rich fabrics, the one at the upper eon
entrance, consisting of a superb Chinese screen, carved,
loured, and gilded, with all the lavish glory of eastern aftt,
the other at the lower end, representing a nobleman's W7O,
ments, adorned externally with trellis-work of they
carving, and which, through an oval widow, lets in a cantsy'r
as ethereally soft as can be imagined.
The splendour of the whole, as we beheld it yesterday elf_
ing, when illuminated with gas, was brilliant in the extet""'",
On one hand, the great gods of gold—San, Paou, and Pith'
the three great Budhas—figures 11 feet in height, and wor
similes of the divinities in the celebrated Honan Joss-house,
temple, sat in their still and colossal grandeur. Mandarin%
their state robes, and black satin "Pow-kwas," appeared 00
other. Priests in their full canonicals, common soldier,
their red tunics and coarse blue nankeens, Tartar archeeeL-
" the grand army," and the common street-beggars of 7f
great city, barbers, cobblers, and boatwomen—all the' site
life—are here assembled, and put in miraculous contrast. .aci
cases containing groups of living Chinese beauties—ladiel,,A
rank in full costume—exhibit the exquisite texture of the Sion,
,
loom-produce to fine effect ; the satins in which they 0"'
dressed are as stout as boards, and glossy with richness, wnerr
ever the stiff embroidery permits the original fabric to be
We had no conception that the vaunted " Serica Vestis," eve,
ciently worn and so greatly admired by the Persians and
mans, was actually so gorgeous in its fabric and tissue, at
specimens here collected show it.
To attempt specification of the innumerable articles &At
buted in the sixty cases about the apartment, would be uttti
vain ; the curious eye, however, will detecta.n infinitude of the
beautiful, and often antique specimens in each and all. 13$"t!,
cularly we would point attention to the carvings in ivery.rail
tooth of Asiatic elephant was nevermore delicately t
graven or shaped, than in multitudes of beautiful specitsiet"
produced by the skill of the native artists of China. They sr,
the most exquisite and elaborate pieces of art we ever bener...
The jars, basins, flower-stands, and vases of porcelain are 111:,
comparably fine, and in the delicacy of the forms and fiord
burnt into them, put Dresden, Sevres, and our Potteries to
blush. The paintings also, by native artists, of which AO
120 are suspended about the walls, exhibit well the poWrit
which that art has arrived in China, which, if it neverthe,„ni
cannot compete with that of civilised nations, satisfies one
neither cleverness nor skill are wanting. lee
The case, numbered 43, will, no doubt, greatly delight
visitors: it contains " Shoes for ladies having large feet,' Ti
which variety enough to set up a small shoemaker is exhibited'
Also, " Shoes for ladies having small feet." These latter srs
especially petite and beautiful; the feet which these were der
tined to fit are called by the Chinese, on account of their ealtri
ness and beauty " Kum-leen," or " Golden Water-lilies,"
airs
covered footstools upon which these t 0 golden lilies " rest, 1:1,
covered with embroidered silk. We cannot avoid again
venting to the carvings, which are generally in camphor sfulil
crowded over With carved network, and figures representatLi
of birds, flowers, and fruits ; even the rich English Apccio,n
of Henry the Eighth's and our Queen Elizabeth's time will
longer stand paragon by these.
Mr. W. Langdon, a gentleman well acquainted with
Chinese tongue, customs, and manners of this remarkable pes
is the curator of the collection. It is open frorg 10 111..14
morning to the same hour at night ; and., whether vegi'"'
as a highly select, fashionable lounge, or delightful, ntellec'
tual resource, Mr. Dunn's exhibition must be pronounced
mount to any of the season.