New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-07-12
FRANCE AT THE FAIR.
THE COLLECTION OF BRONZES IN THE
MANUFACTURES BUILDING.
xrv DESIGNS ,ND ANTIQUE REPRODUCTION:
FIGURES WITH MOVABLE APPAREL-THE
WONDER OF VIsITOEs-A PAVILION
Ill.


IN The Manufactures Building through the archri
portal OH the main avenue extending north ana
south the first object which attracts atteI'oh
is a bronze vase Of symmetrical outlines aDou'
three feet high ir the style of Ions AN. mounted
unon a pedcstal Of fine Lisbon marble, which
stands in the centre of what may BE- called the
vestihule. This worl; Of art * from the hall i'll
the chateau Of Nine. Dc Pompadour and was
loaned 10 the French commissioners for the
service TO which it has been applied. 1t Is an
interesting object TO look upon by reason OF
it, odd design. which consists Of three urchin'
with faces upturncd and arms upliftca as If sup
nortinp the weight above their chubby legs
being intcrtwincd with the tails OF dolphins, all
of which form the stem Of the vase ON ID"
sides the bodies of the fish are family outlined
as if visible only through disturbed waters, bat
the heads are obscured entirely, and a double
rim around the top OF the vasn suggests tn" IDEA
Of dripping foam in which it is to be supposed the
upper portions OF the fish are hidden
On the right of the vcstibule there is a series
of small pavili0ns containing exhibits of ac-
cessores of the toilet travelling equipment, fancy
articles and toys including of dolls dressed
in varying costumes, which render them espe-
cially attractive to the eyes of children. In an
ale I'VE the left appears a small, though rlch'
exhibit Of reproductions of antique furniture by
B;urdeley 4 Sons And here tn" very
threshold of the Court Of the French Republic
We are abruptly reminded of who contributed
by her personal charms something OF sustaining
influence TO the Empire which that Republic sup
planted ana who by her subsequent solitary
passage through the thick clonis and darkness
of domestic sorrow has seemed like living ana
moving force of atonement for the incidental
crimes of departed dynasty THIS reminder
is in the form of a handsome bookcase composed
chiefly of ebony and gilt mouldings with mot
tied marble inlaid al certain Intervals. IL Is
majestic looking piece OF furniture, fashioned III
the style Of Louis XVI. Its chief point oil ln'
tcrcst. however. exists in the fact that it is the
only reproduction. in every detail, OF pl"cc
ordered by the Empress Eugene for the chateau
~ St Cloud and which was burned during the
troublous times of 81.
In the centre OF this alcove stands a handsome
bureau of mahogany and mldld wood, being re-
production of similar piece Of furniture belong
ing TO Louis XIV. At either end of the alcove
stand two pOrplyry vases about eighteen Inches
in height These are mounted on columns OF red
and brown speckled marble about five feet high
The exhibit is from the Hotel dc Largilliere. and
are reproductions of two vases the originals of
which are in the Louvre.
pORCEL,INS
Passing from this vestlbule through wide
door in the wall we enter the chamber cor
tanning the exhibits of the Manufactures Ma
tionale, where the Sevrcs vases an1 Gobeln tap
estrics are offered for inspection. 1t i spacious
apartmcnt, and in it the taste and skill of III"
French in the matter OF arrangement for display
are especially conspicuous. There has been no at
tempt 10 crowd the place with specimens OF prod
acts from this famous industrial lnstlt1ton
Indeed there some who complain that the
exhibit is too scanty a centrepiece in sort
of pyramidal form has been constructed Of vases
of VARYING yes and styles and colors The wood n
shelves on which they stand are covered with "A
dark maroon cloth which gives the objects an
apprcpriate background especially in the soft light
which descends through the veil spread overhead
and serving the purposes of "A ceiling. y small
marble bust representing the Republic of France
stands at the western end of tue group, ana on
the eastern end there is bust OF similar SIZE OF
President Carnot Other small group, figures
in marble are interspcrsed among the vases, as
if to relieve the monotony of the picture pre-
sented The whole affords 10 the appreciative |
mind comprehensive idea of the beauty of the
products The browning piece is vase about
five feet high of pur" white, with TWO |
handles near the top The entire group Il ar |
ranged with view as nearly possible, TO |
tasteful association of colOrs; and the complete I
collection, with its snowy white apex, produces |
a pleasing effect Turning from the centreplece |
Of the chamber closer inspection OF the smaller /
vnses and their fncness of quality is afforded by |
an examination of the contents OF an elaborate |
cabinet which stands upon the south side, where |
also appears a medium sized bust III marble of |
with one of Franklin as companion |
niece In the two corners on the north side OF
the chamber on pedcstals about three feet high, |
70 two vases about five feet IN height Of a soft
blue color Around tie rim is modelled rope OF
a bout one inch in thickness another of the same
dimensions, in which appears series OF knots,
fncircles the neck at the enlargement of the bowl
The same idea is followed at the bottom OF the
howl and again at tie extreme lower end of the
vase. These cords or ropes are gilded, and their
contrast with the rich blue tint is highly effective.
The walls of the room are hung with rich tapes
tries. Beneath frieze of garlands a series of
sgurcs is painted on the four sides of the room
Iypifying Roucn, Pallssy, Limoges, Chime, Iein-
ture Aubusson lie Brun, Beauvais, Filatnrc and
Deramioue respectively. This chamber, by reason
& its smplicity associated with its wealth OF art
,roducts and the quiet manner OF their arrange
mont is one of the most interesting Ill the entire
building.
As Won stand in this chamber a soft perfume is
noticeable and the same eject is experienced as
,ou advance in every section of the Court just
.evond the door opening toward the staircase
famous French perfumer has his pavilion, and
around about this all the time, are grouped women
md Young girls and lovers and their swecthearts,
.very one holding forth a handkerchief for few
irons of the essence which is dispensed Gberally
DIV the attendant; and as the people come and
TO- they carry their handkerchiefs in their hands,
frequently applying them TO their faces, and rarely
eturning them TO their pockets; and thus The
,dors are carried hither and thther from pavilion
% pavilion, and incidentally permeate not ONLY the
FIR but the exhibits themselves Hence the deli
,ious fragrance which has already rendered the
French Court famous-and makes it such pleasant
xla for, u