Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1893-08-04

over which decorations of enamel were
poured with fine touches. Then the thin
silver wa beaten up between the LAYERS of
enamel. Nine years was the
maker of this amazing piece at work be-
fore he succeeded in finishing bowl with
out breaking it with the light blows of his
hammer. How many bowls were destroyed
before a perfect one was obtained only the
maker could tell, but for his perseverance
he asks a reward of $1,000. OF course the
trinket is not worth that sum from N
standpoint of art value, but if one wants q
bowl that is absolutely unique and that no
one will try to initiate he should purchase
this.
Visitors are impressed by the fact that
as a rule the Japs have small prices on
their articles. In their wonderful clois-
onne ware, their porcelains and similar
goods their prices are from l to 500 per
cent. below those of the European makers
of articles of approximately the same
grade. Many Americans are taking adj
vantage of this fact, and for ten, twenty
or fifty dollars are buying vases, bowls.
plates and a great variety of trinkets
which in any of the European sections
would cost hundreds of dollars.
It is in cloisonne the Japs show their
most artistic touch. All visitors are
shown just how the ware is made by means
of various stages of the process. First the
design is engraved upon a copper plate.
Then fine wires are cemented into the
lines made by the engraver's tool. In the
third process a certain quantity Of the pot
ter's clay is pressed between the lines of
wire, painted and sent to the kiln to be
fred. Then another lot of clay, that for
another color in the process of building up
the picture, is put in and painted and fred
in turn. Thus from four to eight and
sometimes ten and twelve layers of clay
are added and fred. With this tedious
and delicate process the Japs produce won
derful effects.
Some of their wareis surprisingly cheap.
other pieces are rather costly. For in
stance, a small pair of cloisonne vases sell
at $3.50, though ear by is a pair almost as
fine that are marked $40. The best thing
here in c%loisonne, according to the Japa-
nese commissioner, who escorted me
through the section, is a pair of flower
vases of purple background, five feet high
and worth s.. $500. Another pair, covered
with exquisite chrysanthemums is valued
at $500, but the commissioner said while
more snowy than the other it was not as
artistic. The prettiest thing l saw was q
little tea set, a pot, cream and z
bowls, and only two cups and saucers. It
Is not eXpensive-s50-but as dainty and
charming as it is possible for anything to
be. The design is flowers, and each leaf
Of the growth is not much bigger than a
pin-head, but of rich and perfect coloring.
OF course the Japs must show what they
q do in their national wood, the wonder
ful bamboo. They have here a carved
cabinet Of that wood valued at $1,000. In
n case they show a dozen walking sticks
OF young bamboos, valued from 20 cents to
go each. At first sight you would say the
20 cent n was nearly as fine as the $50
stick, but closer examination will show
you that the latter is magnificently carved
and inlaid. These sticks find ready pur-
chasers.
The lacquer ware is here in immense
variety. We are all more or less familiar
with this ware, but here you see it's won
derful possibilities. Take for example q
lacquer screen, in four leaves, set in q base
Of carved wood and ornamented in gold
and painting. You never beheld anything
more gorgeous in all your life, and with a
play of freight upon it paradise would
be we'll initiated. Yet the price is only
$2,5OO.
It would take columns to describe even
the most noteworthy things which the
Japs show here in profusion. They have
magnificent embroideries on silk, done by
men, and worth hundreds of dollars the
square yard. They show velvet tapestry,
about eleven feet square, which is priced,
and not exorbitantly, at $500. They
show a chamber set, bed, washstand and
bureau, OF such beautiful inlaid work that
one considers the price, 81, 200, but q mere
bagatelle. They exhibit anobleman's par
lor, in little pavilion all its own, and
with faithful imitation Of all the details
and furnishings that would be found in
the apartments of a rich Japanese gentle
man. They have q pair of screens painted
In embroidery with gold thread that il
worth e1,1e0, and occupied one man two
years in making.
The Japs contribute one Of the most in
teresting exhibits in the Art palace. In
horticulture they show acres Of roses and
other flowers. In the Agricultural build.
ing they have q splendid exhibit of their
surprising resources and preparations, and
in the Forestry building still another. On
the plaisance they have a bazaar where all
the cheaper ware is for sale at moderate
prices, and on the shores of the lagoon