The Indianapolis journal., 1885-10-11
MIKADO ROOMS.


Some Wealthy People Who Have Succumbed
to the Japanese Craze.
New York ,Letter in Philadelphia Times,
''Well, a Mikado room is the latest fashiona-
BILE craze. 1t is a revival, in one sense, of the
former taste for Japanese art in decorations but
this is a result of the popularity of Gilbert and
Sullivan's opera, The Mikado. and instead Of
putting fugitive Japanese ornaments miscella-
neously about house, stuck here and there like
pums in pudding, among all sorts of incongru-
Gus things, the latest is to set apart one room to
to be devoted to Japanese art and to call it the
'Mikado room."
"Oh, that's it. is it7 Well, why did you ask il
had been requested to contribute to one2'
THAT is part of the amusement. Young ladies
levy contributions on their friends those with
whom they are sufficiently intimate, to add to
the attractions of their 'Mikado rooms, and it is
not at all the proper thing to take a young lady
to see the opera without sending her some Ja-
panese curio as souvenir of the evening, and to
be placed in her sMikado room Rather an ex-
pensive amusement WE'LL that depends You
can make it expensive or not, as you like. But
have you any idea how much money is invested
in 'Mikado rooms to give them that name in this
country9 Not much, you Think WE'LL I'll tell
you about some of them.
Henry G. Marauand, who lives at Sixty
eighth street and Madison avenue. has Japan
ese or 'Mikado' room which has cost at least
$l5O,OO0. have been through the East and can
say confidently that there is not a temple in
Japan which has more beautiful, expensive
carvings, or decorations than that room. There
are two door-panels in it of lacquer, inlaid with
ivory and precious metals, which cost 5000 each
to import. The carvings bought in Sec
tions and ingeniously fastened to the ceiling and
walls, and fitted to each other. Then it is
decorated with bronzes, porceans, swords, fine
lacquer and other curiOs III profusion. One En-
glsh collection alone, small but very choice,
Mr.. Marquand paid 8S, 600, or nearly $40. 900
for not long ago. Mr.. A. r. Bishop, of Fifth
avenue is another enthusiast who has fine col
,AEr I'LL
carvings and one of the finest collections of Jade
in the world. He is the owner of the famous
Heard vase of Jade, for which he paid So, 600 at
auction.
1.-The late Mrs. Morgan wife of the founder of
the Morgan line of steamers, left q 'Mikado
room and collection of Japanese ornaments
and treasures valued. l told, at $500, 900.
They are it is rumored, to be sold soon, and all
the collectors are on the qui vive. Mr.. w. Ell.
Vanderbilt has a 'Mikado room that was built
for him by the Herter Brothers, and it is said to
be very handsome. Mr.. w. r. Walters, Balti-
more gentleman, has 'Mikado room,' with
collection Of swords which are alone worth $780,
000."
.Are swords expensive2" "Why some are
very expensive, and it is not the handle or scab-
bard as you would suppose, but the blade in
which lies the value. Momotaro here can ex-
plain that to you"
'You see," interrupted the little back-eyed
gentleman addressed. many of the swords are
very old and some of the blades have been sold
as high as $4,000, and many are valued at
$1,000 and more. The most valuable Of
modern swords are those which were
made three hundred years ago by
man named Masamune He kept his secret
and it died with him, but he was a great
maker. The quality of the steel is remarkable
much better and finer than the famous blades
of Damascus. About 1870 law was passed in
Japan, making it an offense to wear swords or
carry weapons. Prior to that there were great
number of 'two-sworded men, who wore a sword
oh do fh..xY 10i Ia
men were supported by the Tycoon, as sort of
retinue. but after they were done away with in
1870 there were great many of these swords
thrown on the market We sold the ordinary
ones to the makers of carving knives, to be-
ground into knife blades. and the finer ones were
bought up by collectors"