The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1895-01-09
A PEACHBLOW VASE.
AMYsTERY OF SEVERAL YEARS SEEMS
TO BE CLEARED UP.

The Peachblow vase is in this city.
That is the verdict of an amateur Sher-
lock Holmes, who set about tho elucida-
ton of the profound mystery surround
ing this celebrated piece of porcelain for
which SIS, 900 was paid when it was
sold at auction in this city some eight
years ago. Moreover, it seems apparent
from what this amateur detective has
discovered that, while the famous Peach
blow vase belongs to Mr.. Brayton Ives
and is now in his house on Thirty-fourth
street, even Mr.. Ives himself is still
mystified about some things concerning
it.
Mr.. Ives did not pay SIS, 900 for the
Poachblow vase, and yet Mr.. Moss,
brother-in-law of Mrs. Mary Jane Nor
gan and the executor Of her estate, af-
firms that that enormous sum was paid
into the estate for the vase after the auc-
ton sale.
Nobody can tell who it is that is out
of pocket because of the mystery sur
rounding the Peachblow, but it is GER
tain that somebody for reason best
known to himself paid out several thou
sand dollars and has concealed his iden-
tity up to this date. Mr.. Brayton Ives
appears to be as much mystified as every
body else
But now that Mr.. William T. Wal
tiers of Baltimore is dead and promise
of secrecy made by Mr.. Ives at the time
tho vase came into his possession has
been fulfilled, he has consented to dis
close some facts not hitherto known in
connection with the mystery.
1.-The vase which is now in my posses
sion,' said Mr.. Ives, twas bought by
me from the American Art association,
which had conducted the sale Of the
Morgan collection. From the outset
there was something very mysterious
about it. Twas given to understand that
was to sec something very rare and
precious, but that would have to prom
ise to keep it quiet and not tell anybody
about it for q certain length of time.
Thon when my curiosity and interest
had been fully aroused was conducted
alone into q shaded apartment. After
the doors had been locked and my COM
panion had looked under the table to be
sure there was no one concealed there,
O safe was opened cautiously, and this
vase was taken out from under its cover
ings. 1t looked to me like the Peach
blow, which had vanished SO mysteri-
ously."
Zone moment, please, said the anna
tour Sherlock Holmes. chow long after
tho Peachblow was sold for $18, 900 to
Mr. Walters, as Mr.. Sutton alleged, did
this occur?"
"From nine months to year after
ward" said Mr.. Ives. II bought the
vase which was exhibited to me, but l
said nothing about it for long time. l
kept it locked in my house. Before got
it had to promise not to speak about it
for a specified time, but that time has
elapsed. /"
GLOW much did you pay for the vase?"
"That | am not at liberty to state, !"
said Mr.. Ives. "When ! bought it,
made two promises, one that | should
not say anything about it for specified
time, the other that should never dis
close the purchase price. :"
"What is at tho bottom of all this
mystery"
81 am unable to guess, answered
Mr.. Brayton Ives "Whether or not the
vase / bought was the Peachblow vase,
thore was no reason that / am aware of
why the facts should be concealed. F"
Mr.. Ives admitted that the price he
paid for the vase was considerably less
than $18, 900, and as an example Of ORR
entail porcelain he considered it worth
what he had paid for it. He said that
during tho years the vase had been in
his possession many things had come to
his knowledge about the Peachblow, and
that at times he doubted whether the
vase in his possession was in reality that
famous little mug 1t seems that when
the vase was sold to him under the mys-
terious circumstances described there
was no guarantee that 1t was the Peach
blow vase, and that the comparatively
small price at which it was offered tend
ed to prove that they were not identical.
On the other hand, there are those
who assert that Mr.. Ives believed no
was buying Ino TeacHploW Naooi anu
was at any rate willing to take "fier"
on that assumption. The facts which he
has subsequently learned seem to prove
beyond any question that he did in real
ity buy the famous vase, and that his
investment was a judicious one.
"Here is one fact" said Mr.. Ives
when discussing the pros and cons.
"There is lady in this city who is a
friend of Mrs. Moir, who was the sister
of Mrs. Morgan. This lady frequently
visited the house of Mrs. Morgan, and
there she saw and handled the Peach
blow vase many times, examining it
carefully. Upon one occasion when Wis
iting my house she saw the vase now in
my possession and exclaimed: I have
handled that vase many times. 1t is the
Peachblowp A careful examination
made by her only confirmed this opin-
ion.
1.-THE death of Mr.. Walters, together
with the examination Of his collections,
have cleared up some of the mystery
which surrounds this subject, said Mr..
Ives. at is now pretty well established
that he never had the Peachblow vase. !"
New York World