The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-02-13
NEW RUSSIAN ExAmEL1ED WARE.

enamoi or other composition.
NEW RUSSIAN ENkArELLED WARE.
Usenrl Articles or Great Beauty Made Upon
Suggestions rrem America.
e The Russian enamel, which 1t has been found
impossible to produce in this country and which
hitherto has BEEN used only on costly and clab-
orate pieces. Is this season being applied to arti-
cies OF greater usefulness. Desk and dressing
case appointments, small photograph frames.
ash trays. bolt buckles, and various details of
table service are now ornamonted with II. The
ware Is heavy and substantial, for tho silver
groundwork has 10 be thick and solid TO allow
Of the elaborate OVERLAPPING Of enamel; but each
article is 90 gracefully shaped and ornamented
as 10 do away with all suggestion Of heavincss.
The tiniest salt cellar of the lot or even the
cover of o box for Lip salve or an unobtrusive
little ink we'll or stamp box is O study in color
and design.
american cnamellers have tried time and
again to duplicate this Russian work here. but
they have always failed" said an importer.
"It is agreed now that some peculiar element
or quality in the soil Of Russia, something In
grained in the clay to DO had there as contrasted
with the kind available here. accounts for the
difference in result when what are thought to
be tho Same processes are used.
"The enamellers who do this work in Russia
are born and bred in the trade" he added.
"Their fathers and Rrandfathers were enamel
lers before them, and 80 1t has been for genera
lions. and they take to 1t naturally. They are q
peculiar class Of men, not steady workers but
getting at 1t by fits and starts. They are illit-
crate and dissipated, and when they choose
to go on o debauch the enamelling has to
come to q standstill, because there Is no
body to take their place. They understand
every detail Of their trade thoroughly,
and take infinite pains with the many
processes that go to make their work so UNI
usual. Every one Of the fine lines on this cup
is first marked out with a fine wire and then
filed in and burned, little by little, as many
times as need be, until the spaces arc evenly
full, American workmen may DO Just as deft
and smart, but they do not get the colors 30
true, and they fail in certain other processes.
both for lack OF the raw material to work with
and for lack Of knowledge how to treat It. The
Norwegians have tried to initiate the Russians
in enamelling. Just as we have. They have out
stripped US at It, but their work can be distin-
guished in an instant from the original. even by
q person not ordinarily a Judge"
At first glance q tea service of this Russian
enamelled ware looks something like china.
There is u softness, a. depth OF tone to tho psrti-
reality far more servtceable and valuable than
china, because 1t cannot break. No matter how
crisp and delicate the curved edges may be. or
how dainty the quaint handles. the articles can
stand pounding and knocking about without
seHItns eh oe q ee i nor S maaSe. nor e0 Brown rnai no ,s
gray, but yet. is warm and rich In tone. forms
the main background. and the blues. russcts,
vermilions, and peacock dyes that enter into
the raised work are vivid and varied in the ex.
IRENE. The shapes OF tho curious coffee urns.
essn% 5 ana h and d sssaiE d9 Srsso sTs are fsn feeoG.
nized either in the spout or handle. or else arc
Introduced somewhere in the hlagree work;
deep seefS t a!s%S' gold g'' TSis pebb lleds Surface, formed
some curious pointed instrument, is one OF the
distinguishing characteristics of the real Rus
Perhaps no better idea Of the rich hues of this
colored enamel can be given than to call to mind
the glowing. tints that blend in n Persian or an
surface, are small and fine and very intricate.
Whatever the article be. big or small, II Is
the more expensive articles are copies of an
cient tankards. canisters. trenchers: and cru.
cts. A small tea chest, on which the enamel
CLEANS like jewels. has a top that screws down
as if to keep in the odors OF paradise. and to
match this piece there is a quaint drinking cup,
with the mouth of a dragon for a spout and a
The half 9o Gs, cups 5, that &C. aceo%pany a $500
tea % set are OF SeIdsiins Sh boidje SCI 81 d aSs ene enSh ID
tho thumb would rest. is mounted with a fiat
coin, engraved with Russian characters in an
enamel that looks like velvet.
The belt buckles in this rich striped and
plaided and checked subsistence ere unusually
fasten expensive wraps and coats. buttons as
handsome and moro rare than gems. The cir
markable fastenings are OF heavily tinselled
braid, a copy OF the braid used on the imperial
o on The O. R sas Enar army uniforms IS also so" pressed ssed
into service. and other girdles are of slender.
octagon-shaped pieces Of the enamelled ware.
ability. For S55 a beautiful photograph frame
of Russian enamelling can be had. This is the
"The Russians can do beautiful work. but
they seldom think Of trying new designs. or of
| uniting their aT talent Hn TO Pra'ff y aut sse 70 s seiae t os
q new idea. and 1t was an American who sug.
gested to the enamellers that II they would make
would find Increased sale for their goods. Mod
ern patterns have been introduced by the Amer
lean buyer, and the Russians are e~xperimenting
new work has not been put on the market yet.
with choice Siberian stones right at their door
their ensmeiled buckles and fastenings until we
suggested Il The truth is; though. that the
establishment, and, such pieces ms have stones
set in must be Of snbdued and simple pattern to
gain anything by the combination"
Nothing can exceed the beauty of the antique
liqueur sets, the berry. and fruit dishes. tho
trays that are wrought In this ware, the shapes
stance So substantial. yet converted 70 almost
enamellinR. Handsome as these larger pieces
are, the ink wells and stamp boxes. ash trays
and little card receivers and toilet essentials
all share their distinctive quality. Desk and
toilet appointments Of this Russian ware have
the supreme virtue of being uncommon. and are
wide apart from the general'run OF fine silver
ware, plate, and pottery. They are as delicate
In appearance as china. yet of the durability Of
silver. ana as costly, as, precious stones.
One use only to which the Russian ware has
been applied has failed to give satisfaction, and
that Is when used as handles and clasps for
leather reticules and portemonnaies. Beautiful
bags have been made out of rare skins and so
hnished, but the women complain that the
e~nannellinF Ia too heavy for that particular use.
WOMEN AS TEACHERS.
The Proportlsu Largest IN the unitea atateu