Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1874-07-15
OLD CHINA.

All England Crazy Over It--Lord DudIey's
Six $4,000 Pieces of China-Curfous Ex-
travagance.
NJ. D. Conway writes from London
to The Cincinnati Commercial:
"The passion for old China here
seems likely to become craze, the
competition for it has become furious,
and the values placed upon it are so
fictitious that many people are looking
upon the speculation in it as a bubble.
On Friday last Messrs. Christie sold at
their auction rooms three pieces of old
Sevres for the astounding sum of e10,-
$50! The date of the manufacture was
1850, which is not considered a very
great age. They were pretty enough,
but [ have seen prettler. The centre
piece was in shape of 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 ia garden. The two side-pieces
were some nine inches high by five
wide, gracefully moulded, and the pic
lures on them were in one case two men
young woman standing near one, and
the other drawing toward him a second
young woman who struggles playfully
from him in the other, two men out
side the door Of an inn have still pipes
and beer between them The pictures
are such as the Dutch school has made
us familiar with. These chimney Or
naments once belonged, [ 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 it was said IN the
auction-room that he acted under an or
der to procure them for Baron Never
de Rothschild. But the Times has an
nounced that the purchaser is Lord
Dudley. It was because Lord Dudley
bought the other day three vases, not
quite so handsome as these, for e6, $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 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 $S7, 500 in
gold This is the exact sum for which
one of the finest freehold estates in
London-Aubrey house, a 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 freehold estate forever; for it is one
of the laws of these sets that the merest
chip off one of the pieces destroys four
ffths of it's own value, and two-thirds
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 sin
gle blue vase, Ia inches high, having
brought e1, 75O. It is no wonder that
this rage has had an effect upon the
pottery business. The ware that seems
to be desired next to old Sevres is old
Chelsea. The works of this establish
ment have long since stopped, but ARE
now to begin again. It is said that the
best artists have been secured to paint
the pots and vases which are to be is
sued, and the work will start forthwith.
It will be an enterprise not without
danger to those who have been buying
up old Chelsea on speculation, and to
those who are engaged In making col
lections; 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 antiquarians into confusion. The
prize is tempting. A pair of old Chel-
sea vases sold last Wednesday for e414.
Tie Worcester china-works have always
remained In thriving condition since
their establishment about a 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 $500.
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, SO 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