National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1881-02-10
BEAUTIFUL ART.
The Splendid Collection at the Old TayIOe
Mansion Described.

The Art Loan Exhibition for the benefit
of the Training School for Nurses is now open
The old Tayloe mansion, at the corner of New YORK
avenue and Eighteenth street, has been utilized
for the purpose and it could not have been posi-
bic to have secured a more appropriate place 1oi
the display of relics of the past than this same
house. and need not be surprised if the spirits
of Washington, Franklin, and some OF the other
old fellows of the past come back and hold high
carnival with the ghostly visitor who at present
makes his abode within these walls.
1t would be difficult task;to describe one-half
ofthe interesting things exhibited but there are
some ii is impossible to pass by. In the room DC
voted to theantique and curious there Is one case
belonging to Miss Olive Rlsley Seward, ana Is
valued at 5000. The contents are from the lSland
| ofCyprus, and comprise part of the great eollec-
| ton made by Cesnola, consisting OF many usetul
| and ornamental articles-such as bottles, lamps,
pottery, bronzes of various designs, and glasses
and cover the history of that island from the
| earliest Egyptian dates to modern Roman
There is very interesting collection belonging
to Mr. Cecil Clay, ante dating the Spanish con-
quest. Among them is part of a feather robe
made of blue and gold feathers, almost as bright
as the day it was made; small Peruvian image,
supposed to be household deity, which was
found in Santiago de Coos in the midst OF four
bodies kneeling with their hands crossed.
Some very rich gilt plaques are in this room be-
longing to Mrs. General Ricketts,, and were pur-
chased by her in a bazaar in Constantinople.
There is also a clock which once belonged to
Marie Antoinette; stirrup which was the prop
erty of one of the conquerors of Mexico, and was
presented by one of his descendants to Colonel
George Hughes when Governor of Jalapa, in 1916;
beautiful Florentine Mosaic table; q handsome
dagger, richly mounted, and such as were used in
the time of Pizarro; magnificent piece Of bronze
reproussee, belonging to Senator Hill, of Colorado,
and shell comb of such gigantic proportions that
the query Immediately arises-what must have
been the size of the lady for whom it was made?
1t measures at least quarters of yard
across.
Thereisth hand of mummy in this room, very
small and well shaped, said to be the hand of
Pharaoh's daughter; Cloisenne, which Wendell
Phillips counts among the lost arts, and many
other interesting things.
The room devoted to ceramics is full of interest
and beauty, and makes one long to possess some of
the lovely things displayed.
There is plate which once belonged to Mrs.
Madison; unfortunately it has been broken on one
side. It was the fashion in Mrs MadisOn's time to
wear white silk turbans A lady friend made one
and sent it to Mrs Madison. who returned the COM
pliment by sending her a home made sponge cake
this plate, with directions to retain the plate,
and it has been in the lady's family ever since.
There is beautiful Sevres china tete atete Sett,
made in 1854; an elegant fruit dish of SeyreS
china belonging to Mrs. James Carlisle; two plates
that were used by Marie Antoinette; beautiful
toilet sett belonging once to the Duke of York; a
tea sett once used by Napoleon and Eugene;
Moorish vase; some fine specimens of Russian
china, and japanese incense burner.
Daniel WebsterS china is exhibited; also the
pitcher in which he mixed his daily allowance of
punch.
There are some very interesting specimens of
the Staffordshire ware which was made expressly
for the American trade. The plates are orna-
mented with scenes illustrative of American his
tory.
There is a Masonic bowl, which is very old and
ornamented with Masonic emblems.
In the room devoted to American relies there is
case filled with many handsome things belong
ing to the Washington family.
Twigs from the elm tree at Cambridge, Mass,
under which Washington took command of the
army, July 49, 1776 and quilt made from pieces of
the dresses of Mrs. Washington.
A decanter presented to Mrs. Cassin by Mrs.
Washington, filed with wine which she had bot
tied fifty years before.
A tankard belonging once to Benjamin franklin.
The chair, which was presented by DR.. franklin
to Thomas Jefferson, and by him presented TO
President Madison. and in which the latter sat
when he breathed his last The silver christening
bowl of General Washington is also in this ROOM
Those persons who have seen the bold signature
of John Hancock on the Declaration of Independ
ence can hardly imagine there was ever time
when he played with rattle, but it is true, never
theless and it was silver one, too and has been
carefully preserved in the family, and occupies
prominent place among other relies.
There is gold headed cane in this room once
used by Samuel Chase, and, from its extreme |
length suggests the idea shepherds staff
The lace room is also interesting. There is lace
cape made OF old Churci oint, the art of making
which has been lost four hundred years. \ piece |
Of the hanging of the bed of Mary Queen of Scots,
and supposed to be some of her own handiwOrk |
and dating back to 1865. gorgeous piece of Japan
ese embroidery, belonging to Mr. Corcoran, is in !
conspicuous place
There are some very old paintings exhibited. A |
very fine one Of the sixteenth century, by Bron-
zinc, is the first floor; Madonna and Child, by
Pictro da Cortona, of the same date, and others.