Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1876-06-20
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From our Special Correspondent.
Phitadeiphia Correspondence.
PHILADELPHIA, Pa, I
June 10. 1876.
The CHINA MANIA. .-.
OF all the fashionable manias, which
are accounted as quite the thing. that for
old China ware is the most universal and
absorbing at the Exposition. From the
twelfth century 10 the preseat day, every
era has been distinctly marked by rare
and beautiful specimens 10 this aud kin
dred kinds of ware. from the brown
BISCUIT relics of the Aztecs to the latest
wonders OF Sevres. Interesting to all,
but quite bewildering to the collector and
to the one who attempts description by
word OF mouth or pen. We quite des-
pair OF conveying an adequate Idea Of
the number, beauty and cost OF those on
exhibition. The Chinese claim that
ceramic ware was in its highest state OF
perfection about one thousand years
prior TO the beginning of the Christian
era. A piece OF lacquered ware, care
fully shown visitors yesterday at the
Japanese department is held at the modest
sum of five thousand dollars-a good
Western farm for frail piece of porce-
lain
JAPANEsE WARE.
When all the fine ware contributed by
Japan has been mastered by careful
study, the education relative 10 such
niceties may be considered complete, for
here is the alpha and omega OF tho art.
One days study in this department make
the quaint. refined. soit-speaking people
more than ever a conundrum. We have
been so accustomed to make merry over
the clumsy artistic efforts upon japanese
fans and screens, that it is with sense
of rebuke hat we contemplate the many
evidences before us Of their skill and
cunning. Their bronze work is OF two
kinds-,he cheaper cast, the other cut or
ohiseled, with touch marvelously deli
cate. Attention was called to one vase
in the collection, valued at $4,000, which
represented the labor OF one artist for
2500 days. according to the official in
charge. The chief ground color OF Jap
anese bronze is dark steel, contrasted
with fine tracery of gold and silver; but
on very rare pieces are observed figures
in high relief and most grotesquely nat
ura in form. Here the artists humor
finds expression in thousand different
ways. Poetic and historical illusions
abound and their teachings are plain
enough. lam convinced that the Ameri-
can people could sit at the leet OF this
Eastern nation for generation and learn
much that would be profitable, both IN
arts and manners, meantime instilling
into their minds @ sublime contempt for
their high form of etiquette which de-
mand the ceremony of HarikGri. Official
and domestic life are mercilessly carica-
tured in some of these figures. Every
detail is given with Infinite zest and great
spirit. The japanese appear to do with
pottery what more Western civilization
does with marble and canvas. making it
q teacher oil great political and social
truths. The largest specimen OF bronze
is ten feet high. It's cost, S25OO. 1t IS
covered by representations of animals.
their disting gushing characteristics being
given with precision almost rlvaling
the grea. master German in his "Reynard
the Fox" in japanese perspective. which
so excites our ridicule. They are really
intended Tor burlesque. Mighty dragons
are contorted into handles Tor the vase.
Just across the way is another vase whose
handles are made of focks Of birds. and
for moment you almost believe them in
motion so perfect is the illusion. The
obliging gentlemen in charge-a manu-
tacturer-will explain 10 the curious visi-
tor group Of draped porcelain figures
which caricature various, classes 10 Jap
anese lie. This gentleman will also
convince you OF the superiority OF the
japanese in works OF this kind over The
balance of the world. He will acknow.-
edge the great merits of the French
plates on which, in tints as delicate as
enamel, are painted, after Pallissy, the 3
beauties of the Luxemborg in the reign
of tbe "grande Monarch" he will ac-
knowledge The rare beauty and exquisite
taste displayed in the Berlin vases also
OF the achievements in the Vienna ware.
Bu. none OF them, he will cenvinciugly
show you, can compare with the beauties,
OF the collections under his charge. The
Raga ware, that from Tokis and that from
Yokohams arc as distinct iu character as
silk, linen and woolen fabrics. vo'seoiaa
The lacquered. ware is so cheap as to-
be, in verY general use in Japan. and we
doubt not that very many specimens will
be left behind when this gentleman re-
turns lor his own country. One vase.
worth 5000 will be presented to Phila-
delphia to remain in Memorial Hall.n'
The collections Of screens are numerous
and novel. Embroidery is combined
with painting on them with very delicate
and harmonious results. Screens are
their nearest approach to our pictures;
and II 1is said that a gallery flied with
them convey a very correct impression OF