The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-07-06
FRENCH TAPESTRY.
A Carpet for Apartment In Fontninebiea u
Costing 100000.

PARIS, June 16-The display Of tapestry
ut the Exhibition by the Gobelins Is given
very prominent place and naturally attracts a
great deal o., attention; for eyer since the de-
cline and fall Of the great Flemish manutac-
tories thoss Of France have occupied the first
position. Tapestry was introduced into Fran 20
In consequence Of the Introduction OF Italian
architecture. The one was necessary adjunct
About 1913 Francis I. established ROYAL
manufacture of tapestry at Fontainehleau. and
a second was shortly, aiearward created in Paris
At the Hospital Of the Trinity. In 1919 Henry
". introduced Italian workmen. and placed
them in the jesuit establishment OF the fau-
hourg ST. Antoine. whence they removed 10 the
Louvre nine years later. In 1901 Flemish
workmen were engaged. and were obliged to
keep eighty looms going; and suhsequen tly the
manuiactory was removed 70 the Gupelins.
while an extra atelier. with Italian wOrkmen.
was opened in the gardens Of the Iuicrirs tor
the fabrication Of high-wnrp tapestry for the
King. In 1862 the great Minister Colbert CEN
trallzed the tapestry works and purchnsed the
Hotel OF the G96ellns,, Ths painter Lebrun
which. under him. and in the space Of twenty
seven years, manufactured 4llO square aunes
OF high warp and 1900 square auncs OF low
warp. II Is calculated that TINS tapestry. IN
money vnlue OF to-day. cost the state s2.OQOOOO.
About 25O workmen were employed and were
paid by the piece. A square aune Of high warp
was paid 45O livres or $40. and the low warp
not quite so much and this represented tho
To-day the Gobelins mandatory possesses
budget OF little over $4,000 year. Tn"
salaries. sie. 100 the dyors. $50 .50O the school
OF design, $1,000; raw material and models.
$4,000. The mandatory now only employs
ffty-three workmen. twenty-five OF whom are
engaged in making la Savonnerle' carpets.
The tapestry workers are very indliferently paid.
Thus. ten workmen only receive siO0 per an
mum; and this after twenty years service.
Others receive only half that sum. after long
apprenticeship. But 1t appears there is no
difficulty about recruiting for the Gohelins on
account OF the prestige which Is attached to the
place because the tapssiers are lodged. because
each man has little garden in the grounds
surrounding the hotel. and because when old
age comes on pension OF from 5000 to $3.50 a
year is granted.
The Gobelins. too. is a kind Of family concern.
The tapissiers are tapissiers from father to
son. NJ. Duruy, who was Minister OF Public
instruction under the empire-and a good
and liberal minded minister, too-bclongcd to
the family in question. His father was one Of
the head workmen at the Gobelins he himself
was an apprentices. and two Of his cousins and
several other relatives are to-day in the esab-
lishment. one Of them, NJ. Camille Duruy.
wove lie Glacier" copied from n picture by
Mazerole. which is in the Exhibition. The cost
Of production of the two large compositions Of
Lebrun. called Terre and " Eau which arc
twenty nva square metrrs amounts 10 $4,000
each. As a specimen of Ia SaVonnerie " work
two carpets are exhibited. the price of which is
enough to astonish one even alter the tapestry.
| One carpet, destined to cover the apartment at
Fontainehleau which was inhabited by Plus
| VII during his captivity, cost 100000. There
is a tendency on the part OF the present director
OF the Gobelins to give up copying pictures. aud
10 confne his tapestry 10 the decorative art.