Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-09-28

MANUFACTURE OF DEVILS.
An odd Art which Flourishes In Chi
Desp CITY.
Cst. Louis Globe-Democrat)

(St Louis Globe-Democrat)
IAN odd art industry in Annoy 'on-
sui Bedloe SAYS in report to the state
Dapartrnent "is the making OF tiny I'M
ages which are variously known h5
.dgurettes.' or little devils They are
statuettes ranging from half an inch 20
three inches in length. and are Inoideu
from a uaste whose composition Is
trade secret. II would be- better To use
the plural than the singular TOT 'a.h
community Of mOdeler5 uses paste
different from that Of the others. Ah''ns
the ingredients employed are hard wax;
insect wax, glue, vegetable gum i''H'S'
gum. papier-maChe, burned umber' s'pli'
kaolin. ultramarine, yellow ochrr' chrome
v.lIow vermuion. white OF egg, ana pui-
yerized egg-shells. Father wide field 10
choose from The backbone OF the hsure
IL a stick Of hard. dry wood l.tt ''ush
ia give a better purchase 70 the paste
I-non this are nodded the head, toes anu
one. leg. The other leg ana the d'il9 a.
stifTcnpd by wires or thin pieces Oh "o1i'
The coarse work iS done by poy5' b",''
women. or apprentices. VINO are Ieh.,,i n
ably quick and skillfuL Ihey use @ @uh'n
,,ncers in outlining, and "A variety OF niue
wooden tools In producing leAluieS' "a,i, i
boards and weapons. The hgufes are
,bsp handed over 10 the artists, VINO ars
,l,,,,,s men They finish the FEATURES
~. an expresslon - the face, anu rem
edv any defect or mistak" ot thcF SUI
oriinates The figures are then caIetuily
dried According 10 the coiHposi''o' ~
,ba naste this Is done in "A warm room
a cool current Of air, klln OF the open
sunlight. The best kinds are dfled III a
uarn room, and require from 'nIte
eigbt weeks before they are thoroushS
done. ,. ,,, ,oct,.
.,r,e epnrettes are divided into two
cIasses-toys and art obJecJs. nc ~ ~
NOR are built upon long SUCKS Hhe
turoping- lacks The wired arms
ioinfed loosely TO the body, 80 that VIZ
80 .tick is whirled they gyrate IN a
very amusing manner. Inc "o'hli'",'a'alP .1is
a. coarse. and the cost a mere tIlhe'
I,n,,t,,,, from one cent 10 two cents per
e,,,,rs ar from ten cents 10 twenty cents
,.',, d,zap The other kind are bnilt upon
sh,r, sticks. which are fastened into sIhali
.,-,oden nlatforns so as 10 stand upright
,rbeir workmanship varies, some Deils
rude and clumsy and others very I@le' @
Tbeir variety Is infinite. one set Oh iV
ra,resents all the characters IN great
classic drama Another set OF the Same
number embOdies the various types III
,b. armies OF a heroic Chinese king ana
a savage monarch whom he mas coz
ouered. 4 third consists or ZVD hsures VI
the various vocatiOns Of daily llfe. OtheE
sets are those OF distinguished Sehcs as
f,mous kings. heroic queens, poets. law
',t,,ars engineers. and admirais. The lead
,n0 artist in this quaint industry claims
., carrv Z o.0 separate faces In his memory
a,d m he able 10 reproduce any one IN
pasta at the word.
.Drbe dourettes are made In colors OF
rnonochrome When colors are employ
cd the greatest care Is bestowed upon tne
correct tinting OF details. The crown u
gilt the bracelets siivered, ana the cVa's'
undercoats, and trousers colored acco'u-
inc 20 the style and age 20 whlcn lheg
bsione The historic accuracy IN many
cases is admirable On the other hand'
tie modelling OF colored figures Is usually
mediocre or worse. The features are poor,
Iv outlined and the fingers, weapons anu
ornaments indicated rather than m0iusp'
'In monochrome the reverse 10 the case
The paste Is dark red, brown or olasN'
and every detail IL wrought out with the
Greatest OF care. on figure an inch IN
| bstght the eyeIlds. earring holes ana
| 0rsyer-nails are often so well executen AZ
90 hear scrutiny with n strong magnify
In1 glass "A might be q oposed' the eos'
~ This class l. higher than that OF ths
other and runs from three cents 10 siS
cents per figure or from thirty cents u
| s,xtv cents PER dozen. How the arus'
1 manages 10. live upon the rates Is a pro
| found mystery
The Chinese have happy knack ol
displaying all kinds OF hgurettes py plac
ing them In miniature theatres, temples
| or pleasure grounds. glass poA' elsn
by ten by five inches, containing . sl,sn
u,ive trees. rocks and twenty-five hgure'
can be purchased for one dollar
Next 20 a trip through China. notnlns
| can give better notion OF the enales'
variety and briiliancy OF costume than
| set OF 30 figurettes. or little devils