The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-07-25
THECZAR'S DOMAIN
How 1t Is Represented at the
Exposition.
sURPRIs THAT ARE DELIGHTFUL

Boyars-Aa Art of the Ancients Revived
by the INSTRUMENTATION Character
istics Which Run Throughout All Rus
sian Work at the Exposition.
WORLDS FAIR, July - ISpeciaLl -
One Of the most delightful surprises of
this exposition is Russia. Few of rs ex-
pected much from her. We had fallen
into the mental habit Of viewing the ear S
! vast kingdom as Il semi harbarie region
where few feudal lords rule many mill
ions of serves. We could not get cut OF
our mind the notion that Russia is wild,
rude, uncultivated, inartistic So we have
approached the Russian pavilion in Manu-,
features building with feeling that duty
and curiosity are driving Us TO spend a
few moments inspecting the back-country
exhibits OF the steppes OF eastern Europe.
Imagine our surprise when we find the
Boyars outstripping all competitors in
some lines Of manufacture which require
the highest form of art ard skill
You can tell the Russian pavilion as far
as you car see it down the great Column
bian avenue. No flag, no imperial crest,
no sign beard is necessary to enable you
to determine where Belgium leaves of On
the one side and Norway on the other
Russias pavilion is characteristic. 1t
marks Russia in every line of its dark
timbers, left in natural color, IN every
form used in the strong, angular
ure. One beauty of Russia s display here
is that everything she has is marked with
the same strong characteristics The Rus
slams are people to themselves their art,
their architecture, their designs, their
methods, are things apart from the re-
mainder of Christendom The pavilion
dates nearly three centuries back. 1t is
cathedral-like. One corner has great
vestibule, wherein you see examples of
ceiling and wall decorations in vogue in
the Greek church. Along the entire front
of the pavilion runs broad platform, dec
grated with urns and vases of hewn mar
BILE and other hard stones from the exile
mines in Siberia
Passing within, one is drawn by some
silversmiths of Moscow and St. Peters
burg present the first of the delightful
surprises which we are to encounter here
1t is the enamel ware. We think we have
seen enamel work in the Belgian section,
in the Italian, the Austrian and elsewhere.
But till we see the enamels Of the Boyars
we do not know what enamel is, we have
no conception of the marvellous beauty of
ha. hot l. \
most difficult process.
Here we learn, moreover. that to the
Russian must be given the credit of reviv-
ing lost art. Enameling on silver was
an art with the ancients. Then for ages it
disappeared. Twenty years ago the Rus
slams revived it, developed it, and it must
be admitted have perfected it.
! regret my inability to describe the
beauty of these enamels for you, bat the
prices will in measure serve to give you
hint. Prices do not always do this, for
it is as easy to say five thousand dollars as
one thousand, and there are exhibitors
here who exercise a great deal of license in
this respect. But the Russians, so the ex-
perts say, have not done this. Their prices
are a true measure of value. Take, for in
stance, this Jewel casket. 1t is not large,
its material is silver, with not a bit Of
gold in 1t, and yet the price is $3.50. II
seems a high valuation, but stand near
and examine the exquisite character of the
fligree decorations.
The value of these articles consists not
Of their material but of the workmanship
Silver is cheap, and enamel composition is
not costly. Neither is gilt. But the
melted enamel composition must be
poured with ten thousand def, Ulnerring
touches. One blunder and the whole
fabric will be destroyed This explains
why this little jewel casKet is worth $3.50;
why cigar case or card case is worth $50; |
why toilet set Of eight pieces and two
vases TO match is held at 81, 150 why
Spoons are valued from $50 to $50 |
each; why little vase that you could hold !
in your hand is worth $500: why an inlaid !
with enamel silver tea and coffee service is |
priced at s., 275. These are large figures. !
but the value is there. The Russians are /
not here to make big profits They have /
felt so grateful for Americas assistance /
during their famine period that they have /
spent much money in making a show here I
that would contribute to the artistic glory 4
of the exposition. Less than any other /
foreign nation are they hungry for Amer |
lean dollars.
There are several notable pieces here.
One is d magnificent medallion, framed in /
carved oxidized silver. which was pre-,
sented 20 the czarowitch by his regiment
Of Ural coSsacks in commemoration of
their crossing the Danube in the Russo
Turkish war OF 1873 The picture in the
exQuisitely engraved. would be
ample proof of the skill of the Russians in
this art even If there were not many other
at hand IL shows the czaro-
witch and his staff crossing the blue Dan
lbe in pontoons; and with low relief
there is deep perspective and perfect shad-
ngs. Tae cost Of this great piece must
have been many thousands Of dollars, but
If course that is not given under the cir
The masterpiece Of the collection IS a
giant punch bowl Of gilt. enameled. stink
ng IA design, magnificent in workman
'hip. i Is one OF the finest specimens Of
Russian classic art, and IS claimed TO he
he most nOteFvnr by thing oE the sort ever
lone in the empire.
No other workers have attempted 10 do
hat IN enamel which appears easy 20 these
artisans Of tAe lar east They enamel
srge surfaces with such perfect adhesion
hat Ii tne silver underneath should be
bent CT iateuted the enamel would follow
{ without q break in the making Of
transparent enamel, 50 thin Ihat the light
hines through * and pro1ace= effects
most Charming. they are Absolutely
Unique. None OF their inai.ators haze a.
eDpted, 1aGch lsss accomplished, this
-i!.icglt feat. The EEssiarss p-o5uce some
marvellous effects z tie imitation IF nap
las IL silver. AGREES . bowl or plaque
les what On casual 0hserTa:iuz appears to
e a linen napkin. Y0z might. Il esrcs1Tn-
fAnces layoree. Nlrlc n ~ CTR 70 do %