Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1876-07-20
Correspondence Gallipofis Journal.
Exposition Topics.
PHILADELPHIA, July II, 1876.

PHILADELPHIA, July II, 1876.
The Chinese department of ex
hibits is on the south side of the
central isle of the Main Building
not far from the Western, and Occu
pies an area of square feet
Walking up the aisle you could not
mistake the place. for although there
is no flaming sign or flag to tell you
where you are, every inch of the
lofty facade, from the curvillnear
roof to the ponderous water-table,
speaks ''China' Enthusiastically. En-
tering through the high doorway,
the easements of which are richly
ornate with floral carvings in the
sandal and satinwood and ebony,
the spectator finds himself in the
midst of innumerable vases, urns,
flower pots and embossed pottery,
of every variety of shape, size and
color. In front there is collection
of inlaid and lacquer tables, and
chess boards of the finest finish, the
squares being inlaid of pearl and
jet.
The Chinese, like the Japanese,
are very fond of single and folding
screens, and this department is fully
represented by screens of silk,
adorned with most tasteful needle
work, representing landscapes or
animals, or paper upon which are
delineated those grotesque Chinese,
human figures, or solid lacquer.
They rest upon stands of uniform
dark wood, elaborately carved.
The silks in a case q little farther
on are of the finest quality, both
plain and artistically figured, and all
OF fbright, fast colors. The two articles
which attract the most attention are
4 couple of bedsteads, which are
used among the Mandarins, and are
valued at $1,000. From the rather
plane foot boards and head boards,
carved pieces of sandalwood beauti-
fully and elaborately carved, rise and
join each other above, forming an
arching canopy, six or seven feet
above the cane bottomed bed.
Around the ebony bed-posts are en-
twined snakes, lizards and other
forms so horrid we would think as to
almost preclude the possibility of
sleep, carved in the whitest of satin
wood. The overhanging cornice and
graceful arches are formed of moth
ing bnt carvings and inlaid work,
and are very fine. 1t would be the
work Of lifetime for one man to
make either one of those beds. An
other interesting collection is that
of ivory carvings, barges, horns,
pagodas, and that wonder OF pa
tieuce and skill, q nest of six or
seven balls, each carved within the
other. There is one thing that
strikes one very forcibly in examin-
ing all this, and that is that there
are no Indications of progress or
change. The silks are the same
which the Europeans began trading
for after the crusades. The carving
has been stationary art since the
time of Marco Polo, and the Celes-
tials knew just rs much about the
manufacture of porcelaines and
bronzes in the time of Sir John
Maundeville as they do to-day.
How different the impression upon
crossing the aisle to the exhibits Of
Sweden and Norway, the most valna-
BILE of which are those of Swedish
iron and steel, which cannot be sur
passed. Fin clothes of cotton and
wool, paper, chemical apparatus,
surgical instruments, and a complete
assortment of table and culinary
ware. The furs are of the finest va
rieties and are in great proGusion.
There are several groups of figures
representing the peasants and mid
die classes of those countries in the
coarse, homespun suits of white, red
or black, generally highly orna-
mented with Il fashy tinsel and un'
tasteful ornamentations The fla
gree work in silver and gold, from
Norway, even surpasses that of Italy
in fineness of execution, hut not in
beauty and tastefulness of design.
. >