Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1895-10-19
ecp VALUES At Sxs, 900.


Sung Dynasty end Hes q history.
The lover Of rare and antique fur-
niture and cabinet art work wodld
20 into OBSTACLES could he but zee .
bed that Is now owned by james l..
hudson, Of Washington. ID. c.,
which was built seven hundred years
ago for one OF the Chinese emperors
Of the Sung dynasty, and which for
thirty years was the imperial throne
by day and couch by night. It 10
valued at $25, 600.
This mammoth piece Of furniture,
weighing over a ton and constructed
OF rosewood, ebony, teak, mahogany,
lockwood, sandal wood and bamboo,
and inlaid with lockwood and ivory
figures cut in cameo, tells the history
Of the famed Sung dynasty from the
founder, Tai.tsu, 06O b. c., until the
overthrow by the Tartars and death
Of The.Sing. in 1870. On the upper
portion OF the bed Is told the corr
responding NEUROLOGICAL history, and
oil is worked out In the most clearly
defined tracings and inlaid carved
work. It was constructed by Chung
Ye, one OF the most profound and
learned historians Of the period, who
who was also an artist.
When the Tartars and Mongolians
overran the empire and made i'ckin
the capital. In 1870, A. d., they
sacked the city and looted the pail
aces OF The-Sing, and among the val.
liable treasures hypothecated was
this piece Of furniture. The emperor,
who was tho last Of the dynasty. es-
coped capture and drowned himself
and family In the river. near Canton.
The bed was next heard OF In Ming
Pc, at the time Of the opium war, in
1910, when the city was taken by the
British. It fell into the hands OF
Robert Haywood, an English naval
officer. who shipped II on q sailing
vessel that was to make Liverpool,
but which two years later sailed into
Golden Gate harbor, San Francisco.
At that time there were only two OF
the present six Chinese companies
on the coast, yet they at once made
an effort to get the bed, and appealed
to the United States officials for an
order restraining It's removal from
the city with the intention OF send.
Ing IL back to the orient, claiming
that It was one Of those rare and
valuable works Of art that their laws
forbade leaving the empire. John
Hudson, uncle II the present owner
who was then In San Francisco, OBJ
tanned possession of the bed md
shipped Il to New York by smiling
vessel, and In 1874 presented 1t to his
sister, the mother Of the present
owner, who on her death gave il to
his wife.
The bed weighs 2, 400 pounds, is7
feet 6 inches long, 4 feet 10 inches
wide, with IL inch prefecture on
the front, and z feet 3 inches in
height. It is composed Of forty.three
separate pieces, that 60 together like
a curious Chinese puzzle, not o nail
or screw being used In It's construc-
ton. It has seventy deliberately
carved panels OF different sizes that
depict the history Of tho reign OF tho
Sung dynasty. Tho panels are Of
carved teak. with inlaid figures Of
sandal wood and ivory in cur,ously
wrought designs, over seventy full
length figures being used. ~ the
LOO different figures being used no
two are alike In carving or In their
positions. and the features OF tho
faces OF the persons represented IRE
rs expressive 90 they could be In .
| painting. The figures are carved aud
then inserted into the panels in
some kind OF adhesive preparation.
the panels being dowelled out In the
most perfect and artistic manner to
admit OF 1t.
The history OF the period as told
by the carving is being translated by
Mr.. Hing Chong, q wealthy dealer In
Chinese curios In the capital city.
Despite the great age OF the bed 10
is in a wonderful state OF preserva-
tion. Mr.. Hudson has used It con.
tinuaily for the past forty years..
with the exception Of three years,
when all trace OF 1t was lost. He
removed with his family to Rich
mond, Va, and left tho bed In caro-
OF q furniture dealer In Washington
until he should send for 1t. About
three months later on o visit to that
city he found the store closed and
learned that the dealer In antiques
h I'D left the city and no trace OF the
property could be found. Two years
later he heard that the bed was in
the possession OF Y wealthy tea dealer
OF Philadelphia, and he was COM
PEELED to resort to litigation to recov-
er It..
Many people have seen the bed and
Mr.. Hudson has been offered 80, 900
for 1t many times. but places much
higher valuation upon IL. P.Z.Leiter,
the millionaire Chicago drygoods
man, who has the finest collection Of
Chinese and japanese art treasure in
this country has made overtures to
purchase tho bed. Mrs. Hearst, wife
OF the California senator. desired to
secure 1t, but Mr.. Hudson did not
wish to part with 1t.
The members OF the Chinese lega.
ton say there 10 not In existence
such work OF art and such q genoa.
logical record, and that another such
could not be produced in this age.
1t 10 like a picture OF Raphael-iin-
possible OF duplication.
The top OF the bed 10 composed Of
lattice scroll work, upon which .
canopy Is placed and Chinese tapes.
try Of the finest workmanship and
texture hung. The sixteen-inch pro-
lection, which extends at the head
and foot vnakas a1Cova aaats