The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-05-02
B | B E L o T S.
The French Passion for Gu
riosities.
EXCITING SCENES AT THE HOTEL DROUOT.
Antique Pottery-Bernard Palsy
and the Lady Of Boissy.
PARIS. AnrIl 10. 1879.

tors to Paris than the mania Tor btbeL0tS, or, we
should cal them In English, ''curiosiuesn WITH
Out, however attaching to them the full slgnih-
canoe implied by the word. and they naturally ask
themselves why articles apparently so useless
should in practical age like the present be dis
puted with an almost insane earnestness and
pushed up TO prices that would be fabulous were
they not OF daily occurrence. Many even OF our
compatrlots, whose education and pursuits qualify
them TO understand and share the general enthu-
siasm for the chefs-dRucre OF painting and sculp.
ture, have not as yet arrived at a comprehension
OF this European Juror for old pottery, glass,
wood carvings, prints, miniatures, manuscripts
and otner time-worn relics
ENTHUSIASM FOR THE ANTIQuE-wHYf
These extravagant prices, this enthusiasm for
musty debris, tals insanity or veneraton Tor things
hot always beautiful In form or attractive In de-
tails. are due to two very distinct and different
causes. One Is the positive and natural interest
which is attached TO these souvenirs, and which
results from the faithful picture which they pre-
sent TO US or distant ages; the other
u the weakness, common TO many minds,
Of reseniing competition and OF pushing
beyond the bounds OF reason the desire
or acquisition. The first OF these sentiments ex-
plains itself by the spirit OF research and analysis
which distinguishes our epoch. We seek 10
ascend TO the sources OF all things History no
longer mere recital or national events. 1t aims
~ arriving al correct idea OF the characters or
those who have taken leading part In them ana
&c tracing the causes, not merely OF the political.
but social revolutions which have marked each
stage OF progress or civilization. What vaster or
more attractive field OF investigation can, in fact
offer itself to research than the precious tribes
which exhibit to US an ancient people in their
works and which reveal TO US their habits ana
customs ? The arts, taken in their general sense,
are an exact expression ofthe lie OF communities.
Therefore, this apparently futile study or the
fragile works OF past age is in reality the study
OF progress Tor BY their aid we are enabled 70 re-
constitute IN our minds state OF society and an
order OF ideas lar removed from our own.
small vase found in tomb, remnant or
cloth or carpet or the carved handle OF
knife, tells Us more or the condition OF
the arts ar particular epoch than all
the writings and lectures OF processing
Swans What more eloquent dissertation, Tor
Instance, could have been presented to US on the
vanity OF our modern housings than the statue
exhibited on the Champs de Mars In 1857 (Exposl-
sion Unlverselle, section rEgypte), representing
King Scharra, and dating 1000 years previous TO
our own era What more convincing evidence
could be auduced OF the state OF the arts epoch
IT. which we scarcely placed the creation OF the
world, and which opens in these early ages q vast
ana almost entirely unexplored field of research
Is IL not sufficient justification or the eagerness
With which the learned and curious compete at
public sales for relics which calculated to en-
tighten their doubts, corroborate their theories or
insure the triumph OF their ideas Is not the
history ancient institutions or ancient arts as
Interesting as that OF ancient wars? To the
student ana thinker 1t Is infinitely more So for it
embraces the history OF all classes, and, through
no ma aft nat a. ando
nishes Us with the means OF correctly apprsciat-
ing their progress.
TIE CONGREGATION At THE BorEL DRoUor
In these facts IL TO be found the explanation OF
the main cause OF the af1iuence OF the crowds
which oaily attend the auction sales at the Rotel
Drouo. Those vino may be termed ''the priv.
legged or mind" are also frequently the privileged
OF fortune, and can afford 10 satisfy their tastes
ct almost any price. II follows, as q matter or
course, that eli colecuons OF value are seat to
Paris Tor sale, that an army OF agents and dealers
ARE constantly employed exploring the Continent
for boeoss and antiquities, and that there are nut
lev OF tue productions OF past ages on which the
attention or collectors Is fixed OF which samples
are not TO be iound at the puolic sales or In the
curiosity shops OF the French capital Let IL not
be assumed, however, that there Is anything
peculiar to our epoch in this passion. The rich in
oil ages have manifested the same desire to possess
themselves oftne relics OF former times. The Roman
paircians imported az great expense the oross
vases and marble statues OF Greece. the carpets
and ricn studs or ASA, and Ia the time OF Angus.
tus Horace censored bis compatriots for their ex.
travagant tastes In regard TO antiquities IL Is
narrated that CHARLES the Bald, son OF Charlie.
nagne, deslrous or honoring in o special manner
the monks or the Abbey OF ST. Denis. made them O
present OF hanap, which, 1t was pretended, had
belonged TO Solomon. In snort. II desired 70
establish the fact by further historical examples,
could cite thousands. which prove the taste which
existed IN oil ages Tor collections OF this kind.
THE COMPETITION o. PURCHASERS
Let "a now speak OF the other influences to
which this fever OF compe uIion IL 10 BIO attrlb-
uted. IL is sufficient for any article 10 be rare TO
insure Its being coveted, a0d those who md but
little intrinsic value la artlcle esteemed by an.
nquariaas sin often set their hearts upon It. pre-.
ciselS Tor the reason that IL Is desired BY Others
This opposition, OF course. stimulates the fanatl.
cism OF collectors, aud they are capable OF any
sort OF FOLLY when they md ON article 10 which
they attach either real or sentimental
value contested. Thus, between the bidder
that knows and the bidder that expects TO know,
the worth OF vase or an antique gem, the
struggle becomes so keen that * speedily degen.
crates into question oil amour pYpDre or or pas.
sion or the disputed object can satisfy. There
never, perhaps, was an occasion In which these
antagonistic in1usnces we're more broadly ana
Amazingly developed than at the sale OF che cole.
brstsd san Donate collection.
Among tue curiosItiss most kesniy oensended
Tor was
LARGE ovoID VASE
Of 40 appls green tint, Oruamentsd By bust Ia
relieve OF Louis XIV. Nei:her IN form nor 10 exc.
cotton did u sppear to me very remarkable, ana
~ tue outside sAould hsvo estimated &c a. well
run OF 1900 VI 5000 lrancg Tue AaFqnis OF Hert.
ford aud TIE Doc &c csIora were competitors for
y, and as aoolesss o1ice they ran II up to 10000
aancs, NJ whlca price II was Knocked down 10
ins i1rmor uoDIemau. Another vase, also con.
enaeu Tor by the same bidders, was anally
iGJud5od 10 n. dc Rotnschlld Tor $4,000 francs.
NO dealer wonIa have gwen more IMAM 1000
1ancs Tor IT, to sell again IN the hope or reason.
Anie pTonL and twenty Years ago II could navo