Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1874-07-16
OLD CHINA.

OLD CHINA.
All Emg1Rnd CrNZy Over 1t-T.Ort1 DMslley'n
six $SO,(NNI Pieces Of CIsinn-Curipus En-
trNvNGnncc.
NJ. d. Conway writes from London
to The Cincinnati Commercial:
"The passion for old China here
seems likely to become q craze, tho
competition for it has become furious,
and tho values placed upon it are SO
fictitious that many people are looking
upon the speculation III it rs bubble.
On Friday last Messrs. Christie sold at
their auction rooms three pieces of old
Sevrcs for the astounding sum of G1O,-
$50! The date of the manufacture was
1850, which is not considered a very
great age. They were pretty enough,
but l have seen prettier. The centre
piece was III shape of u one-masted YES
sci from the top of this mast, from
which fell light blue strcamcr, to the
bottom Of the ship, it was somewhat
over fourteen inches. Above the deck
there was sort Of inlaid, gold-to,chcd
work in imitation of III awning, and tho
hull was ornamental with deep blue
and gold scrolls, in tho centre of which
was painting 10y NORM of four chill
tlrcn in garden. The two side-pieccs
were some nino inches high by i've
wide, gracefully moulded, and the pic
lures on them were in one case two men
drinking ut table outside of IN inn, u
young woman standing near one, and
the other drawing toward him a second
young woman who struggles playfully
from him III the other, two men out
side the door of an inn have still pipes
and beer between them. The pictures
are such rs the Dutch school has made
us familiar with. These chimney Or
namcnts once belonged, I believe, to
some famous French parsonage, and
have OH them the arms of the city of
Paris. They were purchased for the
above enormous sum by French deal
er named Rutter, and it was said IN the
auction-room that he acted under an or
der to procure them for Baron Meyer
dc Rothschild. But the Times has an
nounced that the purchaser is Lord
Dudley. 1t was because Lord Dudley
bought the other day three vases, not
quite so handsome as these, for &c, $50,
that Lord Coventry, late owner of the
ship set, resolved to tempt his brother
peer further. It now becomes a ques-
ton whether Lord Dudley's largo fam
lily have not right to put him under
restraint. Although having in his pos
session a collection which has cost him
many thousands, this nobleman has
thus within the last few months pur-
chased six pieces of Sevres China for
which he has paid rs much rs ISL, 500 in
gold! This is the exact sum for which
one of the finest freehold estates in
London--Aubrey house, beautiful
mansion with three acres of embowered
garden land around it-sold the other
day. One of Lord Dudley's visitors
has only to lean his arm upon the man
tle-piece and become little excited in
conversation, and down goes the price
of a freehold estate forever !; for it isone
of the laws of these sets that the merest
chip off one of the pieces destroys four
fifths of its own value, and two-thirds
of the value of it's companions. Along
with the three pieces I have mentioned
there were other things sold at prices
not less amazing in proportion--a sin
gle blue vase, IA inches high, having
brought .f1 $50. It is no wonder that
this rage hHs had IN effect upon the
pottery business. The ware that seems
TO be desired ,.ext to old Sevres is old
Chelsea. The works of this establish
meat have long since stopped, but are
now to begin again. It il said that the
best artists have been secured to paint
the pots and vases which arc to DO is
sued, and the work will start forthwith.
y will be All enterprise not without
danger to those who have been buying
up old Chelsea on speculation, and to
those who are engaged in making COL
lcctions; for it is hardly to be conceded
to human nature that the new firm will
not attempt to initiate the specimens of
the old. Minton has shown how cleverly
ancient porcelain may be initiated, and
if the Chelsea men are equally success
full they may glut the market and throw
the nntiquarians into confusion. The
prize is tempting. A pair of old Chel-
sea vases sold last Wednesday for s414.
The Worcester china works have always
remained in thriving condition since
their establishment about hundred
and twenty-five years ago. Early Wor-
cester-that is, pieces manufactured
any time in the last century-run a
close race with Chelsea in value. Three
vases-gros blue ground, gold scroll
and floral borders, painted with birds
in landscapes-brought last week $780,.
In specimens of Worcester it is. this
gros blue and gold which brings the
money, for the gold is real gold, and,
somehow, the modern manufacturers
appear to have lost the art of making
the same rich blue of the old wares.
Yet, 50 far as ornamentation is con-
cerned, the Worcester establishment is
now making wares that are certainly
beautiful enough for anybody. Visit
ed it not long ago, and found several
rooms occupied by persons who were
evidently superior artists, and who
were engaged in painting every leaf,
flower, bird or scene, upon each several
bits of ware The English are certainly
becoming luxurious and extravagant
about such things. Wealthy families
think it necessary that every plate put
before guest shall be work of art,
and in the whole service no two plates
or cups or sauccrs must have the same
decorations-that would look too much
as if they were printed OH instead of
painted. One great family has had a
dinner service made where each article
has represented on it something related
to the food it is to hold. Thus beneath
your venison is herd of deer, and on
your teacup ore Chinese gathering tea. :"
How England Failed to Improve 4
Great Opportunity.
Toward the end of the last century q
certain noble French e',tigre, D'Albig-
nae by name, found himself after mar
row escape from the offices of Monsieur
dc Paris, alone md almost penniless in
London. Turning into fashionable
tavern to dine, he was asked by some
gentlemen, who occupied the same box
with himself to mix them q s,.lad. He
achieved his task toperfection, andsome
conversation following, jim the course of
which he frankly avowed his difficulties,
a five pound note was forced upon him
as n species of honorariatn,. Next day.
says the London Daily News, a powdered
footman tracked the distinguished exile
to his lodgingsat Soho, and handed him
a note embossed with ducal strawberry
leaves, begging him to mix n salad in
crosvcnor Square, and to name his own
fee. D'Albignac saw his opportunity,
and took ut the food the tide that leads
on to fortune. He provided himself
with the choicest Condiments; he COLI
sldcred his task beforehand; and he
achieved asnccess which even Mr.. Buck
master might envy him. In less than
q week "thc fashionable salad m,1,nr "