Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-01-24
A Bric.a.Brac Dealer.

Some years since was the amused listener to
conversation, let me rather say lesson, given
to two English ladies by An Israelite dealer, if
memory fail me not, at Wiesbaden. "What is
'Frankenthal?' - said the younger, taking I'D a
cup marked with the G and interlaced, sur
mounted by crown. at is, madam" said the
dealer, "the name of the fabric of the Elector of
Palatine, more ancient than Sevres; indeed.
Sevres copied from Frankenthal; the Germans,
to render them only justice, produced admirable
specimens of rare ceramic art.' I he ladies' list
ened as if the man was speaking Chinese.
"Frankenthal," they had never heard the
name; Sevres and Dresden were about the limit
of their knowledge as to porcelain. ''And how
do you know one class of china from anOther?''
said the elder. "By the mark, but far more so
by the eye and practical experience, - he re.
piled. ''All fine, rare specimens are for the
most part marked, but even marks from
the same fabrics vary according to the era OF
their production ana value. Frankenthal, as |
old Dresden crossed swords, the Marcolini
period headed with a star" land modern, also
observed TO MYSELF. "Viennese is known bv a
French horn, Venice a bee hive, Berlin a scep-
tire, Mayence wheel; A, for Antoinette, sur
mounted by crown, called pOrceLdine dc Ia
Refine. In fact, during the eighteenth century all
the States OF Europe rivaled one another in the
production OF the most chaste works of ART
Fine pieces of Chelsea were represented by a
small gold anchor, while Vatican adorned with
his iDimtable pencil specimens of Dresden. No
wonder, therefore, they were, and are, price
was exquisite, as witness some OF the works of
Sevres, Buen Retro. and Dresden; and as ele-
giant as much of it is in the present day. The
past was reality, the present is a fiction, and
rrst-rate works are daily becoming more rare
and expensive" "Then what does YOUR shOp
contain, Meinnerr, for which you ask so much?'
thing of old china; it appears that know little
or nothing" Excuse me, madam; less than
nothing; less than knew when first invested
my whole capital, not twenty pounds, in
Sevres vase that sold for ahundred, and which
was the foundation at least of a competence, to
a man in my position. You ask me how gained
knowledge of the art? By reading, attending
others; losing to-day by knowing too little, and
believing knew more than my neighbor; gain
ing the next, having found ont my error by
practice and care. The eye can only be edu-
sale are neither the worst and certainly not the
finest specimens of ceramic art. Some are
equal to the past, most superior to the present.
Yet, be assured, years of experience, practice,
and theory are not sufficient to obtain that per-
feet knowledge necessary to detect the good
from the bad and you may die ere you obtain
it. Although there are men who have risen
fro m the most humble position in life to far su-
perior practical knowledge than those of a high
er class who fancy they know more. Do you
visit Paris, madam? If SO, attend the sales in
in the season. Ii a known dealer bids a hun
bred francs for a work of art, you may safely
bid ten more: though, fOrso0th, there are some
persons who know where to place their pur-
chases at ally price, In these days Of Manchester
millOnares."
confess having felt so interested in the re-
marks OF this dealer that, having secured a few
moderate articles, 1 subsequently paid him
many visits and gained from his knowledge an
kindness some valuable infOr matiOn. If MEM
DRY fails me not, he stated that he form srly
Kept small grocer's shop, but, having become
by chance the owner of An elegant and we'll
shaped majolica vase-or jar-the ceramic pas
sion touched his heart, and the produce OF the
sale OF his humble shop was soon converted into
t7ic- a. trdc.- London SOrietu.