The New York herald., 1870-11-15


Silver The Wealth Of tn,
World in Sample.
There are few more significant proofs Of our
steady and rapid progress In the OF peace than
the growing Bplendor ana completeness OF The
Jewelry stores or the city. Only few years ago.
and at the most but generation since, by far the
greatest part OF all the plate and personal orna-
ments purchased In the country were or
foreign manufacture while even the stores from
which they were dispensed were cramped and
msei able little hucKster's shops, very little, II any,
better probably than the goldsmith's shop OF that
good old George Hcrior, whom Walter Scott has
immortalized. Now, however, all our best silver
ware and the most Important aud costly portion Of
our Jewelry are made at home, and we depend upon
the European market for scarcely anything beyond
few knicknacks and special articles
This change is very strikingly illustrated by
stroll through the handsome store OF Messrs Tiffany
g. Co., on Union square, which was opened only on
Thursday last As q building, 1t is one OF the
most spacious and imposing in the city, and
it, five stories OF massive iron tower up
above its neighbors 10 impressive ma
jesly. Inside, however, there Is no attempt
at nashy decoration. The showroom on the ground
noor, ana the four floors OF workrosms above are
all alike, devoid OF ornament, and the visitor never
loses sight for or the fact that he merely
in a store, not In drawing room. Even the show
room is uncarpeted, and its ceiling ribbed with iron
beams, is painted simple white. In spite OF this
studied plainness 1t presents
sINGULARLy BRILLIANT AND STRIKING
appearance. The floor Is covered with showcases,
from whose precious depths the sparkle OF da.
monds the dull flashing OF rich red gold, the many
hued light OF rubes and opas and emeralds and the
chaste, mild radiance OF brightly polished silver
issue forth In commngled rays and, as 1t seems, In
almost conscious beauty to dazzle and delight the
spectator. Wherever the eve falls it alights in
admlring wonder upon some costly or beautiful or
curious object Of desire. Here ones gaze Is arrested
by the meek lustre Of
Drawn up from the 1lue depths OF o far OIL sea by
the daring industry Of dusky Arab divers There it
is met by the selfasserting glitter OF clusters OF
Mimaayas and cut by Inc sSlia hand Of an Amstcr
OF pleasure upon the delicate beauty and artistic
finish and carefully imagined design Of some precious
mere shell that holds these assemble ed spoiis or the
wide earth these rich and rare Efforts of industrial
Beauty, though a6undantly convenient One simpiy
enters it, II he be rich, TO exchange base ana soul
less iucre ior 10 inese innntey more variable trea-
Entering the store from the street, ones attention
is at once attracted By the one great case in the
the DIAMOND CASE.
Within the narrow limits OF this by no means
spacious glass habitatlon a fortune OF quarter OF
"a mill on o. dollars has It's home. 1t is q mere baze
OF glorious gems, and, for the moment the visitor
scarcey fan to be payalyzed with astonshment,
As soon as the first emotions OF surprised wonder
precious galaxy Of glIiierng baubles appeal to him
IN lurn and lie assigns to them their fitting rank In
| the world of beauty.
First place. II not In costliness, comes tiara Of
diamonds sette deep red gold and relieved by an
occasional pearl. Its price Is somewhere about three
| n
sign aAd before 1t In value Is brooch, with CEN
rai openea flower Of large orillanis from which
The stones are firmly set IN light and carefully
cealed circles OF gold. At nrst one can scarcely
haps, carried away by the enthusiasm or the hour,
the befelder may fancy IL spriy from one OF those
FLOWER TREES or PARADISE,
! OF which the dreamy Mahomet mlnutey prophe.
| cora,-iormed OF hinge diamonds while the delicate
spears OF the nnsx are carried out from the setting In
points OF gold, the whole being surmOunted with o
sickle next claims attention. Then before 1t ranges
over the remaining contents OF the case the eye Is
ceught by wonderful hair ornament representing
a Bird with gorgeous .plumage of diamonds and
emeralds its win. outspread and just on the point
be ned this viii, no doubt, grace the brew
OF relgning belle. And one cannot help wondering
the eyes OF its first Lair .possessor shall have faded
Perhaps It may play shinng role In social frays of
| ostenauon foi centuries to come. What curious
story 1t would be II one were 10 write by the aid OF
fancy the annals OF the many beautiful heads tmay
/
| some,imes almost comic-of Irritation and conquest,
OF envy, hatred, maiice and all such uncharilane-
One very peculiar feature Of this diamond case IS
! that nearly all It's contents are OF
4 PURELY NATIVE MAKE.
! The diamonds are cut In Amsterdam, certainly,
but the design OF the setting Is framed by an hme-
facture, skilled and painstakiDg and careful almost
beyond conception is done by the deit hands Of
American handicraitsmen. This is certainly golden
1 earnest OF our coming preeminence IN art, and 1t
i shows that ut least some oil the wealth which our
people are so earnest In accommodating Is worthiy
Leaving this case the visitor next probably exam
ines
4 THE sILvERwARE,
which fills all the cases at side OF le:sore.
Here aga H. Is ample matter for little pardon.sbe
i-spread-cage selfcOngratuation. Not single piece
In oil this wonderful assortment OF delicately asn-
ioned goods is imported, and even the designs are,
without exception. the fruit OF American taste. Ii
| is impossible to describe many Of them In detail:
| and. indeed q personal examination alone can give
an adequate idea OF their beauty. Among tile most
| noteworthy are some jugs with exqulsltely carved
| 9ricoos of Eacchanaan scenes. Nymphs in
clsse se1mlhad"y led BY youthful dsvolees OF
dance round the body OF the ewcrs, AMI are con-
hRed by rracery OF vine leaves, interspersed here
| ahu there with bunchesGf luscious grapes. Apunch
bowl Of much the same pattern is crowned oppo-
SHE sides OF the brm by hfelike and realistic buss
and his nalr held In by q chapiet of vlne
leaves. Somewhat similar, but or a less
cpergncs with. tracer OF blackberry leaves and
bunches OF fruit Another singularis striking pat
Is pOrIn5t Dy Cnaln OF 1aSC Is
novelty OF the present season.
The silverware Is 10y far
TIE MOST IsTEREJTING SIGHT
In the -stsre. Already AmeIacau genius has intro
duced two very effective improvements IN the ap-
pcarance W the silver. The lrst IS wnat Is termed
SATIN polish. BY peculiar process the
silver, instead OF presenting perfectly
bright suriace, is made to assume a s!n-
gular Appearance, which eau only be described
by saying ihat it closely resembles SATIN. 1t still
bright, but wiki deep lustge, aiogc her different
from ihe mi'd spendor OF tAis metal when merely
6ufnsheu Ia the usual way. Another improvement
Is process Of oyydizng the chased silver, and SO,
WDile The possibility OF tlrnish Is almost reS,Oved,
lmpaiting ~ IL peculiarly rich. dufl soueneJ color.
TIE IMPoBTED GOODS
mostly consist OF the less expensive artsces OF 5O
ferie and Uetu, such rs writing desks Opera glasses,
| purses and fans, with lunnmeraDe other similar
articles. Almost the only costly forcgu goods sold