Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1874-07-16
OLD CHINA.
All England Crazy Over lt-T.Ord Dudley's
six $SO,OCO Pieces Of China-CMrl0us Ex-

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"The passion for old China hare
seems likely to become . craze, the
competition for il has become furious,
and the Values Dlaced upon it are 20
fictitious that many people are looking
upon Misrepresentation in it as bubble.
On Friday1ast Mesars. Christie sold at
their auction rooms three pieces Of old
Sevros for the astounding sum of G1O,-
$50! The date of the manufacture was
1850, which is not considered q very
great age. They were pretty enough,
but have seen prettier. The centre
piece was in shape of a one-masted YES
sci from the top of this mast, from
which fell light blue streamer, to the
bottom of the ship, it was somewhat
over fourteen inches. Above the deck !
there was sort of. inlaid, gold-touched
work in imitation of an awning, and the
hull was ornamented with deep blue
and gold scrolls, in the centre of which
was a painting by NORM of four chill
dren in a garden. The two side-pieces
were some nine inches high by i've
wide, gracefully moulded, aud the pic
lures on them were in one case two men
drinking at a table outside of nm inn, a
young woman standing near one, and
the other drawing toward him a second
young woman who struggles playfally
from him (; in the other, two men out
side the door of an inn have still pipes
and beer between them. The pictures
IRE such as the Dutch school has made
us familiar with. These chimney Or
naments once belonged, K believe, to
some famous French parsonage, and
have on them the arms Of the city of
Paris. They were purchased for the
above enormous sum by French deal
er named Rutter, and IL was said In tho
auction-room that he acted under an Or
der to procure them for Baron Meyer
de 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 n ques-
ton whether Lord Dudley's large fam
lily have NOT right to put him under
restraint. Although having in his pos
session 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 as much as $87 500 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 forevof for it is one
of the laws of these sets that the merest
chip off one of the pieces destroys four
Of the value of its companions. Along
with the three pieces I have mentioned
there were other things sold at prices
not less amazing in proportions sim
gle blue vase, "a inches high, having
brought fl,750. It is no wonder that
this rage has had On effect upon the
pottery business. The ware that ssema
TO be 4lesired, ,ssxt b old 6evres ID ola
Chelsea. Yhewokks of this establish.
nls9t have long aince stopped, but are
now to begin gain. IT is said that the
best artists ha1sbeen secured to paint
the pots and vases which are to DO is
Issued, and thework will start forthwith.
will be an enterprise not without
danger to- those who have been buying
mp old Chelsea on speculation, and to
those who are engaged in making COL
lections; for it is hardly to be conceded
not attempt to initiate the specimens. OF
IL 1>nr - - -
ancient porcelain may be initiated, and
if the Chelsea men, are equally success
full they may glut the market and throw
the antiquarians 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 O
CLOSE race with Chelsea in value. Three
vases-gros blue ground, gold scroll
and floral borders, painted with birds
in landscapes-brought last week $500.
In specimens of Worcester it issthis
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, so far as ornamentation is con-
cerned, the Worcester establishment ID
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 saucers must have the same
decorations would look too much
as j. they were printed on instead of
painted. One great family. has had a
dinner service made where each article
has represented on it something relnted
to the food it is to hold. Thus beneath
your venison is herd of deer, and on
your teacup are Chinese gathering tea. -
How: England Failed to Improve 4
n a "a