The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-10-13
OUT AND ABOUT.


opened in the galleries of the free pub
lie library the first exhibition Of
prints and photographs of the season.
AS this year marks the 400th anniver-
sary of the birth of Van Dyke, it has
been thought proper to take cognizance
of the fact by exhibiting all the photo
graphs owned by the library of Van
Dykes chief works. There are SS Of
these Braun photographs, and these
are hung in the next room.
The most interesting part of the ex-
hibition, however, will be found to
consist in the splendid series of chro-
mo-lithographs illustrative of the
Walters collection of oriental ceramics
in Baltimore. There are 116 of these
plates. Hung around the walls of the
middle and south rooms, as they are,
they resemble nothing so much as so
many exquisite water colors. The eff
feet Is lovely.
These acknowledgement are a part
of a superb work in the possession of
the public library entitled Oriental
Ceramic Art and descriptive of ORR
entail ceramic art in general and the
Walters collection in particular. Only
500 copies were printed. The great
volumes are bound in yellow and or
namented with the royal dragon of
China. They are protected by port
folioS of sage green canvas and red
Chinese hgoglyphics, while the insides
of the covers are beautifully embossed
in a floral scroll.
The late William Thompson Walters
of Baltimore died in 1894, leaving be-
hind him superb collection of oriental
ceramics. Mr.. Walters laid the founda-
lions of it 40 years before his death, be-
ing the first in this country to create a
collection of the kind. The ceramic
store of the United States has never
been great. Of oriental porcelain
very little found its way to colonial
families and only a few traces of it re-
main. George Washington had do
nestle service of Chinese porcelain, and
it was very fine in its way; but it be-
longed strictly to the category of COM
mercial porcelain, that is to say, 1t was
made for export and fashioned for
household use or conventional house
hold recorations, and bore no relation to
the native art of China. Probably the
most artistic of the countrys early ac-
QUESTIONS of Chinese porcelain were
the pieces of blue and white that New
England ship captains brought back
from their voyages.
So far as the broader awakening of
taste for oriental porcelain goes, it
must be referred to the centennial ex-
position of 1876
There are thus far no national col
lections in America, although there are
objects of interest in the METROPOLITAN
Museum in New York, in the Smith
sonlan In Washington, D. c., and in
several private collections. In Eng
land the British Museum and South
pieces.
The Sevres museum contains an ori
entail collection Of value, while the mn
scum at Amsterdam and The Hague
are rich in porcelains brought over by
the Dutch East India Company in the
10th and 18th centuries. The Dresden
oriental collection is probably the most
ancient in Europe.
The Walters collection is classed by
many as the choicest private collection
IN the world, and while it is smaller
IMAM the collection at Dresden, it is
considered by many experts as finer
IN quality, Mr.. Walters aim having
been the collection of beautiful and
perfect rather than merely curious.
specimens. It is remarkable for its
single color or monochrome examples,
Inc mountings are of gilded bronze of
french workmanship, dating from the
10Th century. Several are of gold and
goid nligree; there are also Persian and
Japanese mountings. Some of the
mounts are interesting as aids in deter
mining the age of the pieces, Like the
Elizabethan silver gilt mounting, with
the hall mark of 1885 on a blue and
white jug.
Oriental Ceramic Art" as the vol
umes containing these plates and ac-
companying them are entitled, are SUI
perb specimens Of the bookmaker's art.
There are 437 black and white cuts re-
producing specimens, and DIR. S. w
Bushnell, physician to H. B. M. lega-
ton at Picking for % years, adds to the
descriptions Of the separate pieces a
complete history of oriental porcelain.
making the work a most important
monument upon oriental porcelains.
But, in the present connection the
most interesting part Of the work is
the plates. The task of Reproducing
in this form the treasures of the collec-
ton, was assigned to Louis Prang, in
competition with the workers of Europe
and artists were employed for over
seven years IN making water color
drawings from the porcelains. The
printing was done under Mr.. Prang's
personal supervision, and the constant
scrutiny Of experts. Those who heard
Mr.. Prang lecture in Worcester last
winter upon chromo- lithography, will
recall his interesting description of the
many processes by which the full col
ors are given to a print. From the
chromos of wide awake and Fast
asleep" which used to be given away
with a pound of tea, to these ft-toned.
exquisitely harmonized reproductions of
the rich daintiness of oriental china.
what far cry!
The Marquet club of All Souls church
held a social last night at the home
OF Mrs. Richard Healey.
Elghty-four ladies-quite the largest
attendance in the history Of the organ
lzation-attended the meeting OF the
worcester McAll auxiliary yesterday
AFTERNOON, at the home of Mrs. Martin !
Green of Green hill. Mrs. S. A. iIar-
low, president, was in the chair. and
presided at the brief devotional service |
Which opened the meeting. Miss Jennie !