New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-07-17
THE FALES COLLECTIONS.


CERAMICS AMP OTHER TREASURES GATHERED
BY 1nE GREAT CotIECroR-AN UNSURPASSED
srOEEnOCsE nF OBJECTS OF ARTI TIC AND HIS
TORICAL VALUE.
hrRoM OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE rhInUSE.l
PHILADELPHIA. July 12.-Samucl Bradford Fales
was orc of the extensive private collectors in
this country. The great end and aim of his life ap
pcared to I've To every artistic curious oJc,t
which happened t. come il his way. 81 born
with these tastes he would say, il any comment
were made on lis pursuits. IL cannot help
rounding myself with beautiful things. | was horn
n genticmau." Leaving his birthplace Boston.
about thirty years ago. Mr. Faes came TO this city
lie was engaged in business only for very short
time in his younger days Daring nearly his Whole
lif. collecting WAS his sole occupation. He was a
member of the Unor League Club, for time
director If the Academy of Fine Arts and during
TIE war was actively Interested III the "Voluhtcer
Rrhoshment Saioon.' Here his ruling passion found
expression il collecting memorials OF the saloon and
relic.
Mr.. Falcss life was divided into periods, each of
which was devoted 10 collecting a particular class
oe objects. IIe began a collector of fishing tackle
and gathered together an Immense variety of hooks
lines, nets Spea,s and rods, among which nearly
every country was represented, and iaany ages for
tho collection possessed considerable historical
value. Next. his attention was turned to canes, of
which he collected nearly 400 varying his labors
by procuring large variety of wearing apparel
Then lie entered the domain of art, and made n col
lection Of eneravings. consisting principally of Eng
Ish proof engravings. with few by French artists.
Eager for fields 10 conquer, lie theu began sur
rounding himself with wafer colors, among which
some gems, and then turned his attention to
oil paintings obtaining perhaps 600, of which at
least oue-third pictures of considerable inpor-
lance.
But the Centennial Exhibition gave a new turn
10 Mr.. Fae>'s fancy and lac became a china-naniac.
Il h,.h ,lrnlc
sent more or less perfectly of Chinese Japan
csc, Sevres, Dresden, French Faience. Royal Wor-
rcstcr, Wcdgwood, Minton Royal Berlin and Royal
Sa ony Workmanship. In addition to this immense
assemblage of ceramics Nh Facs brought together
two collections, one of cut and the other
of WONDERFULLY beautiful engraved Bohemian
glass; aud he also possessed coliecuon
Of bronzes Besides all these distinct col
lections he anasscd a great number Of historical
relics and curiosites of various kinds. Mr. Falcs
was the Barnum OF collectors People Wrote TO HIM
from all quarters Offering various articles of more
or less interest The sureSt way of attracting his
favorable notice was 10 tell him that some other
collectors wished to obtain the object i'm question
This he was almost sure t. buy His purchases were
made, not so much that each article might be per
feet and gem III itself % keep other collectors
from obtaining 1t. His greatest happiness WAS de-
rived from 0utbldding or Outwittng a rival. When
taking visitors through his galleries he would some
times pause before piece Of porcelain or a
costly painting and dwell fondy not on its artistic
merits but ON the fact that such and such col'ec.
tor tired to obtain IL and failed. Naturally i'm his
extensive collections there is much that is interim
Judged by the highest standard, but there is also
much OF genuine worth. 1t seemed as though he
had all but exhausted the category of collcctbe
objects When last autumn death removed him from
las beloved collections. and his strongly marked
face, framed by snowy hair and long white beard
Is M ut
where he was constant visitor.
IN THE OID COLLECTORS HOUSE
Inc other day crossed the shady par, near Scv-
tnth-st and took my way toward the house which
was hs home for fiji cen years No. 7O7 Vinc-st is
an unpretending tAree-Story brick house. with n
marble basement and steps and heavy white shut
tcrs To look at the modest exterior no one would
guess at the art treasures that lie within But an op
portunity has been afforded to Philadelphia to be-
come familiar with his collections for on certain
Gays the galleries are open to visitors. and most of
the paintings here have been exhibited from t,r t
time, in the Academy of Fine Arts. was enabled To
spend the entire day at the house owing to the
courtesy of James i. Sutton, of the American Art
Gallery III New-lork. who is in charge of the collcc-
lions. found the work of cataloguing in propreSs
under the direction of Thomas T. Kirby OF New
York, ana the hdrasslng lahors of packing were
about to begin. The collections will be sent to Now
York at once and stored in the Safe Dcpost Vonlts
until next autumn. Then the sale VIII be held IN
der Mr.. Suttons direction, and Mr. Kirby will net ne
anctOneer.
had improved the last chance to see the honsc
exactly as it was during Nh. Fa.es's life A lone cv
tension III the rear, where the galleries are Stuatcd
gives an unexpected amount of space. ENTERING
through the high roomy hall, was struck with the
pIanncss and simplicity OF the furnishing Fvcrv-
mug intended for use was unprctcndng to thc
verge OF shabbness TO the left of the hall are
double parlors hung with oil paintings and crowded
WIN prOhHes, contrasting with time-worn carpets
frayed haircloth furniture and CHEAP wall ,onor
Behind the hall is the dming-roon the walls cav
cred with paintings of comparatively lttlo vor,b
right OF stairs with mahogany balustcrs and
TWO landings leads TO the second story. To the
rear are three large rooms two used as the picturc
Ca.lcry and another containing china and glass The
large room in front on this floor was Mr. Fales's
bedroom, and is the water-color room On the
ncor above, two long rooms in the are literally
packed with ceramics; Il bedroom contains q col
"ctlon OF cut glass, and room in front is filed
WILD relics Of the Volunteer Refreshmcnt saloon In
inc halls are brOn2cs and vases and spacious closets
uic hed With rare china dinner SETS fishing tackle
guns and armor ard canes. From this some idea
cay be formed of the house as u whole
CANVAS TREASURES.
notwithstanding the old-fashioned shabby
frames the oil paintings in the double gallery on
the hls' moor at once attract attention and stndy
ihe names OF dusseldorf artists frequently met
with, nut with the exception of two excellent sn.ci
mems oil Diaz the collection is almost entirely lack
ing IN examples of the Frcnch school so popular ot
present just to the right entering is n portrait
"a man wearing high ruff, by Peter Pourbus of
DiugeS' whose painting has Outlivcd him bv 800
years Near " The SmugSlcr's Cave" by Edward
''i"i'' hangs TIE fTst of several paintings by the