The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-02-20
Black peoples, roses. and viole.s are the pre-
vailing blossoms In the new spring hats.
HEAUrIFUL CARRIED SHELLS.
Wonderful Work Done bJ tho Patient Pens,
ants In Italy.

Novel appointments for the cabinet shelf,
corner bracket. or other drawing.room decorn.
ton nre the miniature plaques and mcdall.ions
of hnnd.carvcd shell that come from southern
Italy. Corchs having pictures carved on the
main surface and left unframed nrc popular
sometimes they arc mounted in
gilt or in vari0usly tinted frames. A conch OF
moderate size showing Canova's dancing girls
cut in the solid shell can be bought for $3.50. The
carving is as clear cut as a cameo. and shows
out beautifully against the ~lustrous brown sur.
face of tho shell. The limbs Of the dancers.
their airy drapery. and classic features arc
as perfect in detail as thorgh the space
of the picture were measured by feet
instead Of inches. All OF The scenes
wrought on these conchs are ideal in charac.
ter, having to do with clouds md waves and
NEUROLOGICAL figures. 1t Is n matter OF surprise
that so many figures and such intricate designs
can be cut in such Il limited space OF shell. Nep-
tune and his mermaid nymphs are pictured on
one conch. with the natural accompaniment OF
dolphins and sea lions and winged and filmed
monsters. On another shell Jupiter and the es.
pecial goddesscs he favored are shown In a mist
OF cloud waves and aurcoles. Bacchus and his
devotces are not neglected. and are represented
as surrounded with the vineyards and garlands
that give an innocent pastoral air to even the
tipsiest OF rcvels. Dancing maids md fairy revels
and picturesque peasant cnrnivals are other
subjects chosen.
MedRllions OF the carved shell scarcely three
inches In height nro framed in mosaic work and
placed on tiny easeis. They ARE nonrly all heads
or busts OF NEUROLOGICAL characters. Every
curl OF hair. every dimpic. and every fold of the
drapery stands out clear and iifeliEe. The
frames of the fine mosaic work are as handsome
MS II formed OF parti-colorcd Jewels, and the
l-.-N. n-1-..- l.--. G,- .-II. ~ H.
wilderness and purity OF the carving.
Larger carvings are framed in gilt and mount
ed on easels. Tho gilt is wrought into wreaths
and garlands. each leaf and petal looking as
It might be picked from tho rest. These medal.
lion settings sell for from $50 TO 800 and over.
"All this work is done by peasant carvers In
the neighborhOod OF Florence aud thereabouts."
said the importer. III an artist who had at.
' 's%t on rs g Sonch a0 Il Wore Would 10 sell f"f fOs { sh R,ssq fiSe l,S ss
much. The humble shell carverS In Italy do not
mind how long 1t takes them 10 do a piece OF
sometimes for months. Often the workers In
shells are intelligent enough TO devise their own
weii.denned idea in their head Of what they
mean TO bring out, Sometimes these men evolve
t pSPes'yh %na Original sssn a RSsSsssFtsfh; them Gop I'll their fsi th iiRss
and been used TO shaping. Gondolas are
z s.rs dsyO E,sas s OF 'sSs, an. aad bl sSsni In t tSa o a,s,
OF these NEUROLOGICAL pictures. a pattern 10 sup
piled them. and they go by that and never de-
| viate from II In any particular. All tho tools
are supplied them from the factory. and those
who display unusual taste for the work arc in
structed by tho artist who designs the pictures
Ing 20 the thickness OF . shell Is tho beauty OF
the carving, that is. II il is intended for a has
relief bust TO be framed. Some shells are much
thicker than others. On most OF the ordinary
she'll working the carving is not deep; but
whether deep or shallow. 1t is the groundwork
OF the dark shell showing underneath that gives
It its beauty. The mosaic work for the frames
10 done individually by the peasants also. 1t IL