The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-08-26

shades OF oolored silk and woslieA thread on. little
suools the workman puts through ono, two or three
threads NJ time, and eutsthsm or ana Is the eslsr
Of the face or the object which ha Il farming,
changes, he takes anothaa SHADED thread, and % on
thread BY thread, month BY month and year BY
year, till his tedious and laborous task ia finished
From five to thirty years are occupied on tho larger
works. ON pictures from eight to twenty feet in ex
tent, and the value Of some Of the pieces is some
times as high as one hundred thousand dollars
They are admired by many, much more than the orr
sinal picture, no matter what may be it's value: and
inferior pictures are never copied from. Tho tissue
and the coors last for centuries II can be said with
safety, that it is the most marvellous. the most as
tonishing art in its degree Of perfection now knovn
to the world. ..... ..ts .....,. 49, ,,,.....-1 \.
Besides the manufacture Of the tapestries or copy
ing from paintings, carpets are made by process
somewhat similar to that just described. with one
exception The warp is upright and double and
the CARPET is always in one piece. The WORKMAN
pursues his labor in the same tedious way, putting
in thread at time but in this instance he sits
the right side for the reason that he has veyety
surface to make, and he must therefore cut of his
wooIlen threads on that eide. He puts his spool
through and gives it double turn around one of the
upright threads Of the warp. then cuts 1t of perhaps
an inch from the surface of the carpet regards his
model, which il his head, takes up another spool
Of thread to change the color puts through ia
the same way and cuts it Off Us before. After he has
proceeded thus . foot in width, perhaps and annch
upwards, he takes pair of large shears and trims
the velvety surface down to the length; or depth
rather, Which he desires.
All the carpets which are now in the looms Of the
Gobt Inns mandatory intended for the rooms Of
the Empress in the Tuileres and they all have nap
~ half itan IN tf..y -
extreme, and far superior to anything which can be
manufactured in Persia, 80 long distinguished for
the soness sickness and rich col0rng OF its carpets
All the fine carpets Of France are thus wove Ia
one piece for the rooms for which they intended
They will last century and preserve their colors.
Many oithe carpets which hare been made at the
Gobehns have required many years to finish, and
cost from GO to 100 000f. None are sold ; they are
all made use OF in the royal palaces, or as presents
the same as the pictures in tapestry. The largest
carpet ever made for the long room, or as It is
called the gallery Of the Louvre which is 1900 feet
in length As shuttle Is out Of the question, and
separately by the hand, at the same time, and the
workman must keep his eye on the model, and ex.
ercise his careful judgment as to the exact shade,
out Of many thousands which is required and as he
must from time TO time, as in the tapestry stop and
walk OIL from his picture and regard 1t at distance
and consult hisfelow workmen. the reader may form
some idea of the labor, the genius, and the time
ncn n, = 1reqursd red On these great works On an eX
On large carpet-say thirty by fifty feet-one
workman makes the large figure in the centre. while
two others, one on each side Of him, make the bor
der up to the centre flower And there those
patient men sit, day after day, month after
month, and year after year, apparently without
ever moving their position that Of the carpet
And If we should visit the Gobca factories probably
We would find the same men, in the same pla &C. aud
engaged upon the same design or flower that our
friend saw them working upon alta visit made years
ago. ~
In regard to the coorng Of the materials for the
Gobelns, We can only state that it is secret known
only to the artists engaged. The dyeing, spinning
carding and everything else needed for Che manuac
t0rv, are done upon the premises, in France Many
curious sentiments have been entertained for cen.
tres in regard to the treatment Of the artists and
the mode Of manufacturing the tapestry. The re-
port for years and years has obtained currency that
condemned criminals and others have been kept at
this establishment and fed upon o certain kind Of
diet, which might give their blood peculiar chein
cal property, and rare dyiDg qualities, used ID this
mandatory The most tortuin and lingering deaths
have been accorded to these corporal chemical Ia
borafoies, and they have been represented as being
literally consumed by slow internal fire. These
reports are great exaggerations, although history
nalrates it to be true that chemicovita experiments
nave been made, and continue to be made, and that
adv analogous results have been obtained from them
From these Gobelin manufactures have been sent by
he Emperor Napoleon twelve pieces for the American
Crystal Palace, which are now on exhibition. They
are perfect models Of some Of the finest paintings OF
mode Of manufacturing which we have alluded to,
have not been sent to the exhibition. The G0belin
tapestries being owned by the French government
they are never sold but kept entirely for the palaces
OF the nation, or for presents among tue crowned
heads Of Europe. And the works displayed at the
Crystal exhibition being made solely for the palaces OF
Paris, will probably return to that country after the
fair Closes The prices Of these articles are 30 high
that even were they to be disposed of here, it is
doubtful whether purchaser would be found. 1t is
difficult to fix valuation upon these tapestries mas
much as never having been in the market they have
never been appraised according to the rules OF trade
But judging from the time required for their manu-
facture their rarity novelty we are safe in fixing
the worth Of the best of those on exhibition at or near
ten thousand dollars each.
Persons looking at those displayed at the Palace
will scarcely believe they tapestries, SO similar
are they to the finest paintings The largest on ex.
hibition Is called Autumn representing picnic
party upon green grass plot surrounded and varie
gated with early budding flowers. This is about
seven feet high and five feet wide. Next in merit to
this Is " Winter" representing party upon the ice
fastening their skates, &c. The size of this il
about five feet high and three feet wide The Pro-
duce OF Hunt is another piece beautiful in the
highest degree. Grouped together Is bird rabbit
&C. and BY them is the sportsman's dog. This is
about three feet square. Various landscapes and
other tapestries complete this interesting collection