New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-10-31

nortant transactions in Persia arc conducted IN
this manner"
Mr BENJAMIN writes Of the arts OF Persia Win
fulneas and enthusiasm fine @sthetic sense
inspires the most ordinary WORKMAN ana ."o
product of his hand. show grace and originality
upon which Europeans may look with despair inc
Persian artisan has generally neither rule, com
pass. level. hatcbet nor bench. To plane board
he puts it on the ground To saw, he holds the
wood with his toes and draws the saw toward
him To bore "a hole he uses prod aud DOW
string IL no is to ra So "a pillar no sets up the
trunk Of a poplar aud plssters 1t around with
stucco until his eye tells hi that it has the rigbt
shape Then the pillar is tlutsd and Crowned witr
An elegant capital. made with no help but that OF
the trained eye and hand Despite these rude
methods and imperfect tools, the architecture is
delight to the culti, ated spectator; even humble
modern buildings apt to contain some beautfui
feature 1t is the elaborate decoration with
intricate patterns stuccO designs in glazed tiles
or bricks. soft harmones of glowing coiors ana
gold that first attracts the travellers notice; but
the contours of the finest eii6ces show striking
merits of construction also; and IN the matter OF
decoration the brauty goes far beyond that OF
detail for the Persian architects fully understand
the secret of massisg effects and of using ornament
as an integral part of broad constructive design.
The splendors of the palace of Nasr-ei-Oeen nave
long been famous The grand au hence chamber is
one of the largest and most gorgeous in the world:
The ceiling and mural decorations are of stucco,
but so were those in the Alhambra. The boor Is
paved with beautiful glayei tiles, arranged III The
most exquisite Mosaic. In the centre OF me nall
10 q large table Overland with beaten goli, and a
long row of arm-cbars are massively splendid with
the came costly material covering every iucb OF
space AT the end of the hall, facing the entrance
is the famous Peacock Throne, brought from Delhi
by Nadr Shah, covered with gold and precious
stones in prouslon that places the lowest
estimate Of its value at not ie-s than Sl3,OOOO0O
The ma ieence of the Suahs audience-hall is
still further heightened by the fact that here
also stored many of the crown jewels. ne
reserve of coin aud bullion which the Shah has
saved from his revenues, equal 1t s SAID, TO sum
of $50, 10000, is safely locked up IN the vaults OF
the paace. But one need only see the tre' snres In
the audience-ha to obtain al idea thai Persia ~
still land of wealth, and that the tales OF
splendOr recounted in Oriental story were not
wholly the tctions of a fancy stepped III opium or
b'hang. Among the spolls OF ages gathered III tne
Sbah's treasury are sdperb crowns and Iewelled
coal s-of-mai dating back four centuries, to the
reign of Shah lsmael. In glass case one sees
large heap of pearls dense as pile OF sand on the
seashore Diamonds. rubies. e reralds ana sspph-
Tres catch the eve at every turn. sometimes nasn
ing forth like cTmson or green bre on me boss
of bucKler or helmet worn at tho ironi OF oaStle
ates ago. One ruby there is in that mine OF
spendor which, being placed IN water. radiates
a red light that ooors the water lko tho blood OF
the vine of Burgundy. There too, is globe OF the
world, twenty inches in diameter turning on a
frame of solid gol Il the surface OF the earth IS
being used to Indicate the divisions OF land ana
sea: the ocean entirsly OF turquoise. ami Persia
is Represented by a compact mosaic OF diamonds
The famous Dar--nOoT. or Sea OF Light the second
of known diamonds in quality. size and value. is
kept carefully locked in double iron chest mt is
shown rare occasions, and Is worn by MS Majesty
great stale days.
The manufacture OF decorative tiles has been
carried to a high point of excellence, and the
production is still extensive although 1T is far
! inferior in quality to that OF Did times BrlcRs
| glazed like tiles are much used as facings for
| buildings and the Persians know how to employ
| them in such manner as to produce broad designs
effective at a proper distance instead OF suffering
them to be dwarfed by useless scrupu osty III the
rendering of minute details visible only on close
inspection. The most interesting relics of the bes
period of Persian ceramic art the rtaet tiles so
called from their mldescent axe; enormous prices
are paid for them, as much $500 being not an
uncommon charge for the choicest specimens:
A playful fancy has interviewer vines and flowers
among the lovely combinations Of the caligraphlc
art which ,m tue otss pssht re across the
entire width of the tile are generally OF a
magnificent nltramarine blue on a. q dell, deii,
cate cream or buff ground while the vines
| and flowers are of varlegated but harmonious
tints inerIaced with gold. The entire, surface
CLEANS with massive polish or glaze, which IN =
broad front light gives the effect of polished
marble; while n glancng sde-light reveals the
MYSTERIOUS opaescent fame of the inany-co ored
tints, flashing out IS from the depths OF the sea-
and 0ickering with weird and fascinating
SD endor. The secret Of comp0unding those in ense
the lost arts. buried with The millions whose genius
| has illustrated the historic pages of Persia; there
seems to be tradition. however. that gold entered
| into the composition of the So glaZes.
Beautiful examples of CALI graphy book-covers
IN stamped, OVERHEAD and many-tinted leather
wood-carvinQs and inlayings of every variety,
cases for ink and pens in decorated papier mache
| al mil
brass or enamel, and marvellous embroideries on
silk or cloth, among the treasures which tempt
the collector. Among the best of the old cmbrod
cries now obtainab!e are wonens house-garments
corresponding with what we call pan'alettes; the
| home dress of the Persian women Is not so modest
as it used to be. and this article of apparel has
been largely discarded the rich specimens formerly
handed down from generation to another now
find their way TO the dealers. Metal work, IN iron
steel, brass. copper. silver and gold. has been a
special accomplishment with Persian artisans fol
ages. But nearly all tbe artistic industries of the
country are in a decline SwOrd-blades used to be
made little if at all inferior to those of Damascus
but they are now of far less perfect temper and the
wavy lines like waterei silk are produced by acids
on the surface alone. The process of damaskeeninp
| or engraving steel and inlayiDg with gold or silver
wire hammered into the cut lines has generally
Civ en- place to an imitation ART. which consists II
OVERLAPPING the steel with thin leaf of the precious
metal and fixing the snrface with Kind of var
nish. Brass is wrought in a SNOWY style, in cheap
| imitation of the antique, mainly for the foreign
market and the demand for the best work has
ceased. Still the naying of braS" with silver II
often excellent, and the designs 'are generally
| beautiful. Old carved ron-work is becoming very
rare and costly and the modern artisans do not
attempt to rival it. In the preparation of colors
as we'll as in gazes for ceramics. there has been a
general decadence. 1t is curious fact significant
of the decline of the artspir that valuable secrets
| of manufacture should be lost lille the manufact-
| ure itself continues in uninterrupted activity.
Thus there has been no time for ages when the
Persians have not been manufacturing rugs ana
! producing their own dyes; vet they have entirely
| lost the secret of the superb blue color which dis
| tinguishes the finest examples of old Persian tiles