The record-union., 1892-11-09
JAPANESE ART IN METAL.
Nothing to Equal 1t Can be Found !
ANY Other Country in the World.

Nothing to Equal 1t Can be Found in
Any Other Country in the World.
The Japanese have excelled all other
people in the manipulation of iron. AS
an extraordinary example of the pains
taken IN iron working, the Springfield
(Mass.l Republican mentions a knife
handle (kodZuka, in which a horse is
represented seen from behind, on a sur
face not three-quarters of an inch wide,
the whole figure being not two inches in
hight. The foreshortening of this figure
is simply marvellous, and there is nothing
III 1t except dot of gold for the eye OF the
horse. The workmanship is of great
skill and grace. A striking Chinese
piece is a bronze vase of very graceful
shape, with eight deep swells outward;
on two opposing swells curious catlike
animals, with names and exaggerated
tails, serve for handles. The vase is set
upon teak bases. y square tirepOt, whose
cover has been lost, has rich designs on
the sides. y little frepot in light yellow
bronze has peculiarly handsome design
III the open-work cover and the sides OF a
cone-shaped fruit and leaves like the bay
tree. There is a teapot in Shibuichi
which is full of effective grace. An incense
burner, which rests on beautiful teak
base in the shape of a leaf, is adorned on
the top with creature which is some
thing like dog, but has hoots and a head
that looks like an alligators. The Japan
ese artists just let their tancies work when
1t came to details, and many Of the most
attractive pieces in the Smith collection
seem to testify chiefly to the treakish
fancy of the artist-although without
knowing to the bottom the mingled
theogony of Japan and all its legends,
one cannot surely express an opinion in
these matters.
y number of figures of much interest
are also included. One OF these is un-
doubtedly OF HindOo origin, represent
ing some parsonage OF the Hindoo pan
theon. This is figure half reclining on
the right arm, the left arm resting on the
left knee, and a curious, half-moclling
expression IN the open mouth. This is
III very dark bronze, the effect of age. A
very odd bit III rich yellow bronze shows
a grOtesque person, bent on his LETT knee,
endeavoring with much strain to lift
upon his shoulders heavily laden sack
which lies behind him. The expression
on the face is funny in a notable degree:
his mouth is wide open, showing his
teeth, his eyes are fairly starting, his
bushy eyebrows ana chin tufJ which
1orfnS his only Whiskers are all alike con-
tributive to the humoristic effect. An
other of these little figures is the god
"Bishmon," in light bronze Of a brassy
tnge. He is all wrapped in a mantle.
"" II ONOA AIS HCttN; LIS Nlue NOUN,
his furry eyebrows, his wrinkled counte-
nance, combine to show him a very wise
individual. But the most curious of all
is a fat-laced fellow with both hands
propped under his chin, who is simply
tied up in a blanket done in a double
knot on his back. He is riddle Of which
we do not possess the solution. A small
but interesting bit is evidently q perfect
likeness OF the Hindoo yogi or nendi-
cant magician: his lean leps his neaper
frame, whose ribs can be counted. and
the whole physiognomy are unmistak-
able. 1t is probably not only Hindoo
subject, but specimen of Indian bronze
work. 1t is not finished in the same ex-
quisite way that the Japanese bronzes
are, nor does it resemble the Chinese
work in this line.