The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1877-04-07
Ghln0s abroad.
The Green Vaults of Dresden.

The apartment OF the Green Vaults at
Dresden, which is called the Saloon, is
filled with more than a thousand objects
of value, every one of which would merit
separate description, if the space allowed
% this paper permitted us to point out
more than the most curious and striking
examples, either for material, shape or
mounting. On account of the many gems
md valuable stones, this room is also call
cd the Preti0senSadl At the very en-
Rance the eye is struck by n cluster of
lapis lazuli, jaspar, heliotrope and other
fare stones Among the first is a large
vase, with handle of the same material,
ahich is considered an antiquity; but the
fnest and deepest color Of lapis laauli is
found in beaker, covered all oyoi with
mail octagon shields in relief. Among
The vessels Of green jasper is an exquisitely
worked caryatide, carrying a small cup,
The whole being of one piece.
The two beakers studded, the one with
oriental, the other with Bohemian gar.
nets, are well worth the comparing as they
show the great difference Of the two quail
ities-the beautiful lustre and rose-color
Of the former, and the deep red of the
Bohemian. The first rank, however,
among this kind of vessels is due to an
onyx cup, mounted in Oriental gold fila.
gree the mounting represents open leaf
work many of the open parts of it are
filled with enamel, and formed in flowers.
This vessel measures FIVE inches and half.
Two small cups of "tiger jasper" each
will figure of Venus and Mercury, in
enamel, over the handle, merit attention
on account Of the rarity of the stone.
There is, besides these, vast number of
vessels Of chalcedony, sardonyx onyx and
cornelian. Of greater value and interest
are three large vases, the ''pocuio gemmatd"
ofthe Romans they are twenty inches high
Yhe first two are adorned respectively with
t76 and l6S canoes, mostly ancient, among
which head Of Jupiter, of chalcedony,
with eyeballs in turquoise, is considered
the oldest; the head Of Caesar, of green
jaspar, one inch and half high, is also
remarkable. The third vase, containing
only tweuty-four canoes, is crowned with
q fine female bust, with hemet of rock
crystal
Far above these, however, is the beauti.
fal cameo with the profile of Augustus,
Measuring four inches by three. Without
ecnsidering it one of the largest canoes
knowu, the mounting is chef dGurre.
The onyx has rich brown for the crown
ot hurel and for the breastplate the hair
and face are of pure white This cameo
has been fastened to background of diff.
tefent color, in which the sign of Capri
corn and a dolphin are cut as intaglio
Ave little stars in gold surround the head
Of Augustus. The rich mounting seems to
he the work of Dinglinger The splendid
uatoe Of the cameo rests upon postament
rich 10 precious stones. A small cameo
a a4acfifcial scene-is placed at the top of
the lRrge medallion; and another, large
one, y inserted in the postament; it re-
f5eEents Hercules with the head of Cacus.
ille whole has been mounted as a glorif-
cation of Augustus the Strong. There
sFe aome ivory figures at the foot of the
poztament: female, accompanied by two
Eenii, holds a shield with the initials of
Angustus in small brilliants. She isturn-
NJ awards figure of Hercules, standing
epBosite to her, also of ivory; at the
bottom the legend "Sic gioriosum nomen
bas,a Is engraved.
a strange clock, called the Tower of
Babel, executed in 1918 by Hans Schol.
htlu, matchmaker, Of Augsburg, is the
grand Feature of this room. This cdifce
il ef0Wned with the German eagle, on a
small crystal globe under it is kind of
round temple, covering bell; /; round this
temple, hgurcs Of the planets are standing,
afpong which is Saturn who strikes the
minutes, while the larger bell strikes the
hours. Every minute crystal ball, com
ine forth from the body of the building,
Nends iss way down n spiral tramway, six
leen times around the edifce, until it dis
Appears peculiar mechanism lifts the
bali again to the top, where it begins anew
n course. Behind these windings, each
Fl The eight facets of the building is adorn-
e'l with the heads of the Roman Caesars,
'he French kings aud the German empe-
fofs, Two and two, three rows, one above
the Qther. Their names are engraved
NoiIef hem. The heads are of stamped
s|lfef but the whole tower is gilt bronze,
here the ball disappears, musicians are
placed. behind balustrade. The lower
fAtk - which the clockwork is hidden,
1ss thc shape of portico of the composite
QEa<f eith seven inches, within which as
naaN iemale figures, without any attribu-
@ distinguish them, are seen. The
'tI1l pace Of the octagon is filled with
~ t|epafate dial, in silver, below which is
ali.s Of Saxony, and tho medallions of
NAfiHl'an III. and tho Emperor Rudolph
lhree steps Of ebony lead to the foot
<||c tower, which rests on the backs Of
monsters. The clock is still in order, but
HAs pot been possible to repair the
fp<euznt figures.
Aefa is very elegant trinket case
ui*Hs khe many curiosities Of this kind.
= q the form of dorie entablature,
|ss 8'lt carydtiies instead of columns (;
'4afa these are fields, filed with deli
4prked arabesques in translucent
The recumbent female figure on
'f g holding tablet, with the praise
N'sn<e, and the date Of 1857, was
eHh' |ezA bot intended for this caskct for
1z' f n too heavy and of too ordinary
H&hehip.
|N1 M must hasten to more impor-
tf<tfh Of art industry, namely, the
<I{IfIUI@ <4| |nnniad in roat o.tyofal of uhich