The New York herald., 1873-12-21
ART MATTERS.
Christmas Curiosities mt syphcr's.


1t is safe TO make the statement that yesterday
not store In the city that contained any attrac-
tons having relation to the holiday season was
lett unvlsited Among the establishments which
were thronged was that or Mr.. Sypher. No. 593
Broadway. the passages between the countless
objects OF art ana souvenirs OF antiquity being
almost incapable OF being threaded. To some or
these objects we have already referred, but there
has since been an accession OF new ones, If those
can be called new which have the navor OF an
tiquity about them. At any rate they are new TO
the pubic here, although they have had quite
career abroad. Among them is q little old-fashioned
Organ, made Of mahogany and lavishiy adorned with
gilt work curlously chased. The chasing was done
by hand long before the processes at present IN use
were invented, and when the liberal use OF quick
silver shortened the lie OF the workman. This
little organ. which is about wide and as long as
an average sewing machine, and about one loot
higher. contains seven cylinders and is capable OF
playing 2s airs. 1t is interesting in ITSELF but It is
douDly interesting because 1t was formerly the
property OF the Empress Josephine the unfortu-
nate and unhappy Empress, who, when questioned
by peasant ignorant OF ner rank. replied, II am
poor phine The organ has been In this country
but short time and was accidentally snapped up
by Its present proprietor from private cOnnoSseur,
whom circumstances rendered willing to dispose
Ol It, The tunes are modern, the machinery FOR
performing them having been inserted since.
Near the organ hangs a genuine piece OF Gobelin
tapestry, about 200 years Old and 10 eet by Ia IN
size. The colors are as fresh as though the work
were finished only yesterday. Gobelin tapestries
In this country are rare. 70 speak candldly they
are not perfectly appreciated here. You do not
oIten meet q man, even confessed amateur or
curiosity hunter, who possesses many relics OF
this description. We know oil one gentleman In
this city, a very accomplished antiquarian, who
owns several pieces: but such an instance IN this
country Is inireqIen And YET these tapestries are
in the traditions which linger around them The pa
tlent workers upon them may be said literally TO
have woven their lives into the fabric. SO laUorious
was the task, so vast was the time consumed. Tne
subject in the piece we have been speaking OF Is
scene in the ga rden at Versailles. on the opposite
side oil the room IS magnificent piece OF bronze,
bas relief, eight feet by three, taken from the Ia
cade OF the Church OF st. Roche, at Paris IL rep
resents the enLomDlncnt OF Christ and Is most
dignlfied and noble piece OF work. All we hope Is
that the French government Will not make a requl-
soUn l0r n ~ ibe as Place Venome atev IN Mr. S
piers hands. This Place vendome relic had been
purchased by that gentleman as verltaole
curiosity ana he had been fatrering himself on
being able to dispose OF II at price proportonate
to Its interest and value. one Tine october morn
ing, however, a representative OF the French gov
ernment accompanied by some local officials, made
their appearance and presented formal requsl-
ton or the delivery OF the rellc In question. MT.
Sypher took the reasonable view OF the matter,
wasted no time In mourning the money mistakenly
spent, did not resist the requistlon and good tenn
peredly allowed The fragment TO be removed. by
this time we presume 1t no dis It's place In the re-
stored Column. TO finish our summary, however,
mention might be made OF some eXquls-
ltely painted SevreS plates selling at SlOO
and $25 piece. and, what is more, readily fetch
ing that price, which proves that Sevres ware is
more appreciated IN this country than Gobeiln "a
pestry. There Is also wonderful venetian seat,
carved and gilded, upon which the Doge OF Venice
might have rested, and which IS valued at $500.
very fine portrait OF Rembrandt, which every eX-
pert in pictures would be interested IN examining,
occupies an out-oftne-wa nook, and ought to be
more prominently hung. The objects we have
mentioned have not, indeed, the gloss OF newness
but they iii very valuable position IN the Christ
mas chiarascuro, and an inspection OF them Is
Museum,