The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-08-18
IVORY CARyERS.
Tho Notable Work Of the Early Gold
smiths.

lNOh SAh GANos
The Notable Work of the Early Gold
smiths.
A writer in the jewellers Weekly says:
In the early days of goldsmithy ivory carv-
ing was one of the highest accomplishments
of the workers in metal. In no other
branch Of his work did the ancient gold
smith attempt grander achievements, and
some of the sculptures in ivory which have
survived the ravages of time are viewed
with the highest degree of admiration by
the connoisseurs of to-day. The excellent
preservation of most of the specimens IS
due to the fact that the material itself is
got so valuable as gold and silver, and was
likewise not susceptible, as were the pre-
cious and semi-precious metals, to be
wrought into other forms by the favorite
artisans Of victorious invaders. While it
possesses an intrinsic value in the form OF
raw material, when once employed in the
arts its value for other uses is much i'm
paired.
The fifteenth and sixteenth centu ries
were the most productive in works of this
character. Nearly all that now exist in the
European collections are of either Italian or
German origin. The art was not, however,
anese had practiced it for centuries before
the production of the Oldest specimens now
preserved in the various art repositories of
the continent. It is quite probable that the
art was imported from Asia and largely
Dracticed by the Greeks. It cannot be
back than to the Byzantine period. 1t is
not discreditable, however, to the Germ an
and Italian goldsmiths to assert that the
Chinese and Japanese specimens which
antedate the Oldest known European works
of this character are superior, often in de-
In one of the prominent japanese stores
of New York there is. or recently was, q
specimen of Chinese ivory carving supposed
to be nearly as old as the Christian era. a
marvelously beautiful work of art. 1t is
true to the subject in the unimportant de-
American artisans are accustomed even to
to this day to omit in their finest works. A
magnificent ivory vase is one of the numer-
GUS art works collected by Archduke Ferdi-
nand, of Tyrol, who was bora in 1929, and
who therefore lived at time most auspi-
cious for the collection of works of this
kind. The archduke began collecting THE
armor of the famous men of his time, and
as his success in this line was phenomenal.
he gradually extended the scope of his mu-
scum until it became repository for all
sorts of artistic metal work and sculpture.
~ A6b UOou A0pt AutdCb " tulb OdyS AdVAAk
been removed, however, from the arch
dukes castle Of Ambras to Vienna, where it
is open to the view of the public under the
title of '"The Ambras Collection"
The vase IS only one of large number Of
beautiful ivory carvings in the Amb-as col
lection. unfortunately, its story is in
volved in mystery. The ornamentation of
the vase is, perhaps, representative Of sla-
very. One of the figures is bowed beneath
heavy burden, another is in the act of
lifting his load, and third is PROSTATE on
the ground in shackles. The stem support
ing the cup represents wrestling, a favorite
athletic sport of the period. The base of
the bowl Of the cup is decorated with Gu
pids, and above gracefully nodded table
bacchRnalian scene is represented. The
lid contains representations of four mytho-
logical personages, and the whole is sur
mounted by female figure attacked by a
wild beast.
Like many of the sculptures and bas-re-
relieves of the times, the expressions of the
features are not in every instance consist
emit with the attitude of the figures. This
inconsistency, however, is not so ludicrous
in this ivory vase as in some of the other
specimens of art work in the Ambras col.
European ivory carving seldom encoun.
tered in the productions of the Chinese and
Japanese. who seem to have acquired the
true artistic instinct long before the Euro
pean competitors. AS they carried colorlnl
in their metal work into the minutest de.
tails, SO their chisels have not neglected
small matters and degree of consistency
that is truly refreshing in their carvings
in ivory.
Something of general character concern
ing the Ambras collection will not be i'm
proper IN this connection. When the
Archduke Ferdinand concluded to make 8
collection of the armor of the celebrated
men of his times he did not find it neces
sary to incur heavy expense. Perhaps ne
other collector or patron of art ever founc
it SO easy to accomplish his purpose. Be
ing one of the famous mobiles of the period
himself esteemed for his valor and his posi-
ton, all he had to do was to write letters tt
his compeers and his royal friends request
ing the gift of such articles as he coveted
Many of the letters accompanying thes,
presents are preserved in the collection
! and they are not the least valuable of it,
treasures. It is not unlikely that the fir,
collection of worries and other art works
was also chiefly procured by donationl
made to the collector.