The Dickinson press., 1884-06-07
INGENIOUS w~oop.oAavzas.

1AN w "OO~eV00 2R%Ua 1
Natural Artisans Whose Productions are
Sometimes Very Costly.
From the New York Sun.
Over a west-side doorway is the in
viting sign, Artistic Bric-a-brac." In
a small, square room up n fight of
stairs were several tables laden with
many curious and interesting produc-
tions of German and Swiss artists.
1.-THE Swiss peasantry are the greatest
wood carvers in the world" the proprie-
tor said. Carving seems to be as
natural to them as eating. They carve
out of wood, with wonderful ingenuity,
anything from a simple paper knife to
an elaborate piece of architecture in
miniature. Aside from wood carving
and some other mechanical occupations
they are not good for anything, being
very simple, ignorant people. But they
have q genius for carving, and have a
natural skill for copying from nature.
Their floral pieces are regarded as mas
terpieces, and serve as models for young
sculptors. It is only necessary to fur
nish them O Photographic design of
what is wanted. Most dealers who i'm
port Swiss carvings do this, although
the Swiss peasantry produce number
less things themselves without the aid
of any suggestions. They carve out of
wood almost every kind of fancy article
such as i%nkstands, nut-crackers, jewelry
cases., cuckoo clocks, ladies' work boxes,
and o large number of other things too
numerous to mention. The tools they
use are very simple, the carving being
all..done by hand. The articles they carve
are ingeniously ornamenred with leaves
and flowers and some of their designs are
extremity odd; they are always artistic.
Here is a piece of carving in the shape
OF q nut-cracker. It is a life-like rep
resentation of a bear on its launches.
OF course, it is made more for an orna-
ment than for use, but its artistic merit
is worthy of careful study. The Swiss
have a knack for turning the most sim
pie article into real work of TART. Take
this book-rack fo~rinstance." The deal
er produced a very simple form of book
holder for the library table, having two
side pieces on a sliding base. "See how
artistically the side pieces are carved,
showing in bold relief adoubleros sur
rounded with q mass of leaves and
vines.
Gone advantage the Swiss have is the
wood they use. This Systematically fine
and free from knots, and a tool cuts it
as easily across as with the grain. The
kind mostly used is known to the trade
as peach wood, which it closely resem-
bles in every respect. Another kind of
wood which is largely used is called
satin wood. This has a pure white col
OF, and like the other variety, is entire
ly free from knots, and peculiarly even
in respect to hardness.
"The skill of the Swiss in carving
wood first attracted notice about fifty
years ago. It was not, however, until
years afterward that it was turned to
account i'll q commercial point of view,
and even then the sales of Swiss carv-
lngs We're restricted to tourists in the
summer season, who made their pur-
chases through the intermediary of hotel
porters. Hence the trade was for a
long time very small and unremunera-
tive. But in the course of time local
capitalists took the matter in hand,
opened workshops and begun an export
trade. The business OF wood carving
now finds employment for several hun
dred persons. In fact, in one establish
ment three hundred persons of both
sexes are regularly employed. The
women have great delicacy oftouch, and
their work i'll certain branches is prefer
red to that of men. Each artisan en-
ployed in the workshops has his or her
speciality, the choice of which is left to
individual taste. Some have an apti-
tude for and excel in the modelling of
groups of animals other prefer to carve
various fancy articles with floral
patterns and some miniature
chalets. The latter is one of
the most popular articles Of Swiss handi-
work. AS usually made it is composed
ofdifferent colored woods. The thatches,
with the stones and ropes to hold them
on, and the deep roof, are prominent
features. The lower story shows a
stable, while the upper stories are made
to indicate the family dwelling. The
surroundings, including the fence,
courtyard, pump and spring, are also
given. The roof is so constructed that
it can be raised like a lid, and the part
which represents the upper stories is
lined with plush, and is intended as the
receptacle for jewels. A movable par
tition divides this also from the first
story, which contains q music box,
which is set gong by lifting the top
cover. The prices of these articles
range from $40 to $35.
Few dealers make especially of Swiss
carvings, for the reason that the pro-
duction is very limited owing to inabili-
ty to turn out the goods fast enough by
hand. Besides, all the rare bits Of
carving are made by the peasants at
their homes in the Alps, who work only
during the winter season. In the sum-
mer they are occupied in tilling the soil
and tending their herds of goats on the
hillsides, a pursuit which they love so
much that no amount of money could
entice them from it,"
Gs.1p T>kL>--