The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1893-08-23

country. The frontage TO this section
shows the reproduction-On a colossal
scale-of the Copenhagen municipal
crest, the three towers, with their red
flag embellishing the whole. Outside
on the walls forming the section they
have good paintings, showing scenery
from Denmark and from the Danish
colonies in Iceland, Greenland and the
West Indies. They, too. have brought
over, under proper guarantee, the
s'Flatev Book" the Icelandic mann
script bearing strong evidence that
Danes or descendants Of Danes were
the Vikings who first discovered Amer
lea. This alone Is a precious exhibit.
worth the exhibits from many a larger
country.
Close to the main entrance to this
section is an exact reproduction Of the
study in which Andersen. the master
Of fairy tales, lived and died. Most of
the objects and the furniture shown
are the genuine ones, even unto the
umbrella of the poet and the fire.
screen. pasted all over with thousands
of small newspaper illustrations which
Andersen brought back from his trav-
els abroad Thorwaldsen, the great
sculptor, Is seen on the opposite side
partly by Photographic reproductions
Of his last creations and partly by pic
lures Of himself
The chief exhibits which Denmark
shows are terra Gotta. gold and silver
objects Of art. chinaware and fine fur
niture. The beautiful things fashioned
in terra Gotta were sent by four firms,
of which those Of Ipsen's Widow, all
masterpieces in their way, are the best
made in the world. The other three
firms have sent goods that are much
inferior, but even they are still superior
10 the best English terra Gotta Most
of the terra Gotta Is polychrome, but
there is, too. black terra cotta-ap-
proximating the effect of bronze-and
pieces which show but one or two
cOlors. Perhaps the finest piece on
view IS q reproduction Of Thorwald-
sons famous marble frieze illustrat-
ing the eonquering tour Of Alexandria
the Great Nearly all this terra Gotta
portrays, in shape as well as in pic
torial decorations, classic art Yet
nothing is initiated. but every pic
ture. every form Is the creation OF .
Danish artist, inspired. however, by
the study OF the Egyptians.
AssYrians, Greeks and ROmans-and
nearly all the subjects. too. are taken
from mythology OF ancient history
The extreme hneness Of the grain IN
al this terra Gotta is. Of course, due 10
the unexeelled quality of the Danish
clay. but the skill with which the
glazing and the burning have been done
IS solely matter of experience and
great care, while the designs speak
very highly of Danish art inspiration.
The exhibit in china and porcelain
: extensive and fine, there being no
doubles in it. Most Of the objects be-
long 20 table use, there being COMPARE
lively little in vases and other purely
ornamental forms.
The spirit OF the ancient North
breathes in nearly all the artistic pro-
ductions in silversmithing and gold
which Denmark shows us. The find
ing not many wears ago, OF ancient
9cwclry in graves Of the vikings Of
@,ooo and even 5000 years ago. fur
niShcd their descendants OF to-day with
welcome motifs" and thus we see
choice samples of the hardy North
mans ''driSlehorn~ drinking hornj.
81 armiets, OF brooches and breastpins.
cf bracelets and diadems and other
iaubles Tor which those warriors used
L. shed their blood. The Original, OF
al these are in the Royal m-seun IN
Copenhagen, and Shese modern coun-
tcrfeits are only made in silver and
gold instead Of in bronze as was then
the ease.
The most beautiful piece IN this col
lection Is a silver shield chased rnosa
beautifully, and showing scenes from
1he life OF brave King Valdernar and
the battle Of Volta. This piece Is
valued 1t $4,000. There is also fne
table plate Of silver, fashioned in the
style Of the ancient north. and an as
sortment Of pretty eRameled jewelry.
but this Is inferior 70 that shown by
Russia In furniture Denmark shows
rs solid things-ta Dles and chairs
and setrees and sidebOards that viii
wear for ages. handsomely carved out
Of strong oak or walnut or birch. And
IN design and form we again may no
tioe the revival Of the old Viking
taste. Peculiar. too. IS the art OF ere
ating new effects on furniture. cspc-
cially screens. with inlaid mother-of-
pearl In artistic bookbindirg and
printing, in fine hammered iron, in 4
new stvle Of art embroidery lexecIi~.