Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1893-07-27
THE CZAR'S DOMAIN
How 1t Is Represented at the
Exposition.
SURPRISES THAT ARE DELIGHTFUL.

! fstics Which Run Throughout AL Rus-
sian Work at the Exposition.
WORLDS FAIR, July %. - Especial -
Nne of the most delightful surprises Of I
this exposition is Russia. Few Of us ex-
pected much from her. We had fallen
nto the mental habit of viewing the cars
vast kingdom as a semi-barbaric region
where few feudal lords rule many mill
Ions of serves We could not get out of
bur mind the notion that Russia is Wild
rude, uncultvated, inartistic. So we have
approached the Russian pavilion in Manu-
,actures building with a feeling that duty
IND curiosity are driving us to spend n
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 and skill
You can tell the Russian pavilion as far
as you can see it down the great Column
bian avenue. No flag, no imperial crest,
no sign board is necessary to enable you
to determine where Belgium leaves off on
the one side and Norway on the other.
Russia's pavilion is characteristic. 1t
marks Russia in every line of it's dark
timbers, left in natural color, in every
form used in the strong, angular architect
ure. One beauty of Russia's display here
is that everything she has is marked with
the same strong characteristics. The Rus
SLAMS are a 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 a 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
fascination to the huge cases in which the
siversmiths 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
the effects that may be wrought by this
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 1t, developed it, and it must
be admitted have perfected it.
regret my inability to describe the
beauty of these enamels for you, but the
prices will in measure serve to give you
a 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 bit of
gold in it, and yet the price is $3.50. 1t
seems 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 deft unerring
touches. One blunder and the whole
fabric will be destroyed. This explains
why this little jewel casket is worth $3.50
why a cigar case or card case is worth SS5
why toilet set of eight pieces and two
vases to match is held at 81. $50; why
souvenir spoons are valued from $40 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 show here
that would contribute to the artistic glory
of the exposition. Less than any other
foreign nation are they hungry for Amer
lean dollars.
There are several notable pieces here
One is a magnificent medallion, framed ir
carved oxidiZed silver, which was pre-
scented to the czarowitch by his regiment
of Ural coSsacks in commemoration o.
their crossing the Danube in the Russo
Turkish war of 1878. The picture in the
medallion, exquisitely engraved, would b'
ample proof of the skill of the Russians il
this art even if there were not many othel
examples at hand. 1t shows the czaro
witch and his staff crossing the blue Dan
ube in pontoons; and with low relic
there is deep perspective and perfect shad
ings. The cost of this great piece mus
have been many thousands of dollars, bu
of course that Is not given under the cir
cumstances.
The masterpiece of the collection is
giant punch bowl of gilt, enameled, strik
ing in design, magnificent in workman
ship. 1t is one Of the finest specimens o
Russian classic art, and is claimed to b.
the most noteworthy thing of the sort eve
Slone in the empire.
, No other workers have attempted to d.
that in enamel which appears easy to thes
artisans Of the far east. They ename
large surfaces with such perfect adhesion
that il the silver underneath should b
bent or indented the enamel would follow
Ut without a break. In the making o
transparent enamel, so thin that the ligh
shines through il and produces effect