New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-03-17
THE WALTERS COLLECTIONS.
~.
THE JAPANESE DEPARTMENT.

NOTES or SWORDS AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS GOLD
LACQUFRs-CURIOUs IVORY CARVINGS AND AN
TIQUE BRoNZEs.
fFPoM AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT or THE TRBUNEI
BALTIMORE, March 14.-SOme Japanese COM
mssioncrs came TO this city long since to visit Mt
Waltcrss collections. They walked through the galleries
chaterng and laughing in the best of spirits until there
were opened before them drawers filed with rows OF
japanese swords. At once they were hushed intoa
gloomy silence broken at last by faering voice when
said, There lie the souls OF the Samura the knShtsoI
Japan For the sword in Japan has been held in ghcr
honor than in any other land. II is at once dNlhe
symbol knichtly weapon, and a certificate OF noble
birth" Honore1 with this regard from the birth TO the
downfall Of japanese feudasm. It Is not strange that
the sword and its belongings became, as Brnkley mas
It, the ewery of Japan upon which were iavished all
the skill of famous workers in steel and all the resources
OF artists in the precious metals and in lacquer
The names OF famous sword-makcrs engraved upon
their work have been handed down like the OF the
great ceramic artists of China. one man wrought
blade keen that when held upright In stream IL
would cut sheet Of paper hoatcd against II ny thc
current. Another made two swords which were trlei
upon criminals One cut through the neck and deep mo
the knee victim single stroke and the other
cut OF the head and beard at blow. The blades oi
these swords have backing Of with edge OF steel
three quarters Of inch wide and keen as razor.
Most the 100 sword, in this collection are arranged IN
pairs the Samurai two swords cach one long
and two handled for an enemy the other short blade
intended Tor the last resort Of the wearcr,uclde by
LarI.kar
The sword guard. of which there 800 separate
specimens in this collection. In the earliest days
piece elaborate metal work and in later years was in
varay decorated profu-ey with gold > yer or alloys
wrought into figures even landscapes The IRON NIT
is usually covered with sharll-skin and wrapped with
twisted silk, and ferue washers elects and rivets are
iuaid chased with precious metals often with figures
OF pure gold.
Tho Lacquer scabbards are Ornamentcd with like
luxury At tie end Of scabbard of yellow lacquer IN
this collection appears gold lobster. The meaning Is
:" May you live until your back is crooked AS a
lobscr's,' for the sword intended birthday
gift Another scabbrd is of lacquer which initiates the
grain and knots OF wood. Here two swords pre-
scented to temple i'm KioO by members OF the
Tokuygaua family ls72 when tie military casteOf the
Samur;d and Dauios WAS practically abolished ana the
general wearing swords forbidden. One has blade Of
Il-carut gold. the other of nearly pure silver
Attached to the >cabbarls are the kokatlnas, little
swords" small narrow kuiyc, bearing hc name OF the
| owner Their was peculiar. The JapGne>c warrior
| nurSed his vengeance until the hour Of his euepys
greatest triumph happiness arrived This was tine
lime chosen Tor revenge, and when the murder was
| coIurshcd The aycn-or left his ko-hataua thrust
through the ear OF his victim. that all might know the
author Of the deed. There have been no hc-cct and
more persistent yeudc.as in sicily than IN by zone
years in Japan.
IACQUER-WOBK
From the exquisite mcta,-Volk and lavish luxury OF
swords and ,,l,rI- II is an easy transition 10 the even
4,. r,,r,. -liif.r-,. and -,ou.criul treatment OF
fla, l,c,urr var,-tic branch of art most thoroughly
i!aitln.d with japan. II is mentioned i'm Japanese
work dated years before the Christian eva. o. the
buulr.ds OF different methods q treating this clioU,
sor of the cDIoring matter mixed with IT, the metallic
tof au,,i.l the process of carving and of gray
ina, THROUGH, successive layer, oi c,ioieG lacquer. it is
me-, lies, @, speak here. Th. more Important OBJ the 900
t- FIN ri. collection ar. ARRANGED i'm es.. case, iu
,l ,i ,.r. ,l-.rr 1iri,. ,r. .5I.i.. yliu-- boxes
,1r @ ,,.,,lar. with spark i'm, dots ol ,obI i'm
5.,., ,rrq.-it Shades "tIc ca.aic d1,r Of embryonic
,,,.." will. tbc conc OF I'r -r,rl -cipr, Wlth
Iir and fr,,- and figures appear worked ONT in plain
rl ,,,, ti,i. .fo,ri,, background There are boxes
and niur- studded with clrv,autlcm,m, iu varying
lr.. or ,,d and pue boa, shows % Jiuauc,c woman
...t.data loom cach fine line worked in gold
delicate .- hair Both within and without thcec boxes
with t,r curious tru.cmcut I pockets. are things OF
beauty 10 describe them or to analyze the lacquer
cabinet. f. we eh impossible for the delicacy of the
Workmanship, tie rich harmony o. the cololN ana the
,rlculoro the materials are not ic'-B To bee put l"'o
words.
Some Of tc designs are m0id with mothcr-o'-.e'r'
iu the Iorc,' lu gallery i- the oldest Specimen lh TIC
collection, cabinet hy Eto. The most rrp"N n" 'Iu-'
u lacquer "hicI shows harrow ''H"- %. h''''' ~" l"
along the 'front.' Il' il perhaps ul' I"'N'' P''''
although hy DO n'H~ lh' MOST ''''''l."' I"''' 'i,
Vase, oi GHri,oiI rcd carved lacquer '4" drawers "'
wiki mro- little boxes with separate compartments u,ed
foi carry ine perfumes on CONNECTIONS Inc ua-htrucc
OF the results attained 10y the old "'t' III lacquer Is
illustrated here IN q httns manner An" yet nus
almost startling TO nd thousands Oh oo''i iep''>'',
by box little larger thai an octave NoiuH'' but I'LL
the word, ~ the collector the same causes when pro-
ducod The magnificent architecture ana painting I'D
Europe during The times OF ieud'll-m coH'pro" TO
produce these magnificent specimens Oh "cq''I ]"
Japan
NoEA CAlN lN"''
N"'hmS SHOWS the "o'''''" ",' VI ''i, ''l'''' -
expressing humorous i"''>' ana III u''"'"' i'''o'"'
iu phases OF life or action especially siDttoguc ptucr
,t, tl netle--litil. ivory carving, attached to the
49,, ,..,.t.,. eliza t,,., nj, tl,. t,l,,o,o ,,or,to.
slheh coIu7 ID! "HicH t4o MUS VI wv 'O''0'O i '
depended from the giidC There are 900 IVORY carvings
Ia m Oriental 1pu,rturts Of hi. collection and In the