New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-05-27
ART AT THE EXHIBITION.
THE JAPANESE SECTION.

PHILADELPHIA, May SO.-lb 10 luC uChSho
OF lovers Of the curious and the bizarre, this Japan
csc section but tn time the despair OF the
newspaper writer who il at loss to know how to con-
yey to his readers any adequate conception OF the mar
wells OF skill and Ingenuity that meet hi at every STEP
Here at the he turns from the nam aisle 10
begin his explorations, he comes upon the "ohderiui
bronze vases They of such elaborate IRA Intricate
work. 81 Astounding in the drollest conccis a| the most
grotesaue shapes of birds, beasts, aud human beings
mingled with strikingly faithful reproductions OF
natures FORMS that no description OF them Is
possible without the aid OF engraving or photographs
The work could be reproduced anywhere else III the
world. To make copy of one OF the smallest OF the Cd
ects in the collection would be beyond the skill OF the best
French artisans kndsone, the cheaper being
cast and the other worked ont with cutting ana poish-
ing Instruments with patience and skill that passes
UNDERSTANDING The japanese gentleman who looks after
the collection and who IA a manufacturer IN Hzen es-
Inmates the work one OF the large vases 10 DC equiv
aeut to $50 days steady labor Of man. Wnen this
fact understood, the price asked for -S2ooO-does
not seem extravagant The ground color OF the inner
vases is dark steel, and marked pecu-
liarity ia the OF gilt and silver bronze
for Neutrality-suspicious. fat surfaces for delicate trac
cry aud sometimes Ia high relief for figures o. birds ana
animals. or the costumes of men and women whose
heads and worked ont in the steel bronze There
no end to the variety Of decorative work put upon the
vases Tae grotesque which the japanese have such
only in dragons and OTHER unconh creatures unknown
TO natural history but funniest imaginable carica-
lures Of official and domestic life. On one OF the largest
pieces there platform Just above the ba surrounded
By 4 rail fence and upon il dance procession OF women,
each carrying gold silver rose about t"lcc 80 large
as her head Above the body OF the vase are num-
Der of scenes in which foxes in mems clothes figure in
comic ttu les and above these panels arc low re-
les that appear represent the reception or petitions
by dignitarics. Dragons form the handles. Inc minor
ornamentation could not be described In colunn Inc
handles another large are formed by HOOKS OF
birds instinct with motion, that appear t. be swoopin5
down to aht on the Of rocks at the base, heed
less Of the II .ly dragon just emerging from them.
The Secretary OF the japanese Commission, young
gentleman educated Yale College, who kindly accom-
panied me Yesterday in tour through this wonderful
museum guide and Interpreter, says that the art ot
making those bronzcs IL old one dating BACK TWO or
three centuries and that the manufacture Is carried on
in not fever than sixteen places in the empire Inc
prices OF the articles the finer kind of work Exhibited
ran e from 500 pair OF small vases about le Inches
high to 3, 800 for single large piece.
Only less beautiful these exquisite hr0nzcs rs &c
display Of p0rceldu-auohcr ancient japanese arr tha
was brought high perfection long before was known
IN Europe COnloi-eurs in ceramics call all japanese
ware by the same nane but the japanese have special
names for more than dozen different kinds, distinguish
ine some by the Of the cities where they ere made
and others by pecuartes OF manufacture or decora-
ton Tie entire exhibit Of both porcelain ana pottery
made by ak the other countries OF the word does
not furnish so great variety in forms AMI
styles Of commentator rs Japan alone shows
| cannot undertake even the most snpcihcim
description Of the multitude Of curious and beauti-
l article tn this group, ana will mention only par OF
vases about feet high yalucd at $500, with golden
DRAGONS in relief on blue and white ground and land
scapes OF extreme de.icacy o. drawing tie kaga ware
In scarlet or green and gp that has bran'y OF color
cqua. 10 that Bohemian glass the B4nko ware, Win
colYrs worked through; the Yokohama ware, with a
whit. ground aud graceful! ornamentation in gold and
coors aud the great vases u pottery, with creamy
white GROUND thichly ovcr,I with figures In green and
gold The manufacturer 81 these vases Is here IN charge
of the entire japanese ceramic collection. He told ne
that he curd to present large jar Of very curious
FORM valued about 500, 70 the Philadelphia Museum
rs a testimonial Of his interest In the Centennial col
lection porcelain figures from Toxic oariclturing the
manners ~ the various classes Of japanese society arc
exceedingly dro anI while Laughing at the amusing
attitudes and rutc sue expression OF codntcnances,
cannot ia 10 marvel artistic skill the figures dis
pay.
Tho trI great japanese speciality is lacquered
Iicr, We arc IN u world Of maryels The little ar
tccs that hnd their way to our brcbrac shops furnish
but ,int idea Of the nicely OF workmanship. TIE prod
gaty os ornament, the variety OF forms meet with
there hrc are Itc cakctrlys costing 80 cents large
cabinets eittcring with gildns marked $1,000 and be-
tween these extremes the variety OF articles IL n-
Vulnerable. Ii that Tie AIT OF dequcrhg has de-
cncd somewhat in the course OF the last three centuries
and t tho Old masterpieces cannot be duplicated
one world not ilinc there could be degree OF per-
lection beyond that attained u the modern articles that
crowd lie blzlagke alc0ycs, but when of the ex
itos ga,ey unloCks large showcase, throws mp the
side ard supports Il on iron rods AMI calls attention to
le prde oil the collcction-a cabinet $50 years Old,
heavily oi1iarentcd with gliding and engraved silver
n,tcs looking in suite of its venerable age as fresh
a. IT. comrades just from the shops OF Tko-oue sees
The d itrcuce between the old work and the new.
What Is the price OF cabinet " asked through the
ut.rnrccr OF the exhibitor, whose little black eyes
clisteued a. ne explained dumb show the beauties OF
his treasure Five thousand dollars was the figure he
named No douDt somebody will be found To bay 10 be-
fore the Exhibition closes. In comparison with the mod
ern cabinets OF the size, .or winch $500 is de-
naudcd, il is not dear.
I'm passing TO another groupt will mention only the
exoui.e little ivory cabinets, aud the curious vases
made OF sections Of elephants tusks, ornamcntel with
lacquoed work. variety of work IN iniald woods anu
in plain wood of dark orange coioc That taxes hSh
polish next claims attention. These articles are natu
rally much cheaper than tho laccucTed ware, ana the
nicely of finish is equally remarkable. There IS Que eN
hit OF furniture IN European forms that shows tie ca
pacy Of the japanese to excel the artisans Of tie so
diuf c yiz, n tons in their lines o. Work. The
upholstered chairs admirable. and there Is ward
robe ia carved walnut that SURPRISES anything OF the
kind in tie Italian court. G4ucing moment at the GU
ros work ia straw the boxes aud hanging cupLOar IN
notified lacquer resembling bookbuders marblcd paper
and the eases TILED with rich silk fabrics we come Ia the
pay OK In these articles remarkable effects
are produced by combining embroidery with painting
the faces Of the figures and the outlines OF land
scapcs being painted on TIE silk background, ANA
the costumes animals houses 30, brought out in re-
lief by the embroidery There Is material for hours Of
study of japanese life and manners in these screens
TIE prices of the larger sizes range from SlO) to $780,
and the latter prcc gets whole japanese picture
gallery Tho best pictorial AIT In Japan appears 10 be
L. IL. nd LLlL