The New York herald., 1873-10-15
ART MATTERS.
The Paris Oriental Exhibition

This exhibition Is now open in the Palais de
Plndustrie Champs Elysees, and consists mainly OF
Chinese and Japanese productions. Almost all
the objects are choice specimens and some Of them
unique. The bronzes form the largest and perhaps
the most remarkable group. Chief among them
are the figure OF Buddha, twenty feet high and
nine feet square at the base, from the temple at
Megouro; several large bronze lanterns, used out
side the temple; great perfume burners,
smaller bronzes OF the same character
are all said to be unsurpassed for
the color OF the metal and the thinness and perec
tion OF the casting. Some bel-shaped lanterns for
covering lights are, for delicacy in bronze work,
remarkable in their way as the famous egg-shell
china The collection of vases Is said to be- per-
haps, the finest ever brought together In Europe,
and there are Q number OF chaunrettes, covered
braziers for warming the hands, which are de-
scribed as the perfection OF decorative bronze
work. The chimeras form remarkable class Of
bronzes. Among them Is the Chinese KERN, with
the "head OF a unicorn, the body or horse and the
feet OF the stag;' the unicorn ITSELF and the tor
toise, with dogs head and flowing tail.
tne sevohu . too 10 useu ,Or .ne % saer s Dronaes
casts OF animals, and so forth. The bronze bottles
found here are said to be as pure OF outline as If
they were cast In the period OF the best Greek art
Two pairs OF heavy bronze stirrups are beautifully
inaid with silver, and number OF perfume burners
and other objects OF like character are most ex-
quisitely pierced One is gong which would do for
the use OF sensitive people and which consists OF
q plate OF fine bronze, with thickened and carved
edges, suspended by silken cords and struck with
o very small covered stick. This second room
likewise contains q very good collection OF ilu-
strated Japanese and Chinese books, many OF them
exceedingly humorous The MongoLian curostties
include two "Samas" headdreSses. One Is in the
form OF Glengarry cap, and Is surrounded with
something like a small door mat arranged after the
similtude OF the horsehair crest of the English
Lille Guards. The color is that Of tow and the
appearance Is most grotesque.
In the third room are to be discovered some
photographs Of Indian celebrities; some limitations
work in silk representing the internal regions after
the Japanese idea, brought from the house OF the
late Tycoon at ovens; some splendid specimens Of
Satsuma faience; portraits OF Buddhist ascettcs
and hermts; wood earrings and immense cl0issone
enamel Jars; Canton furnlture including massive
chairs with aabaster seats; Japanese screens,
richly painted on solid gold ground and some
wonderful silk tapestry representing physician
receiving patients underneath some trees In q
garden.
The contributions from India are not very i'm
portant They include number or tables and
chairs OF European design, but honeyc0mbcd with
carving and piercing, representative OF subjects
which offend all decent eyes. Those Of our readers
possibly have caught glimpse OF these horrible
distortions OF ART which, however, the authorities
OF the exhibition had the good taste TO put out or
sight almost immediately. The present exhibition
which will remain open for some time, aud which
Is now being largely visited by Americans Is COM
pleted by three cases containing articles OF the
greatest beauty and rarity but by various private
individuals, and almost exclusively OF Japanese
origin. These embrace small specimens OF the most
famous ceramic wares; red and other laquered ar
ticles, OF the finest finish; jade rock crystal and
other carvings, and numerous miscellaneous exam
pies OF the highest Japanese decorative art.