The times., 1899-12-10
MANILA-MADE JEWELRY.
The Native women Both krtiacerS
and Merchants

point. many interesting things may be said
pro and con regarding the question &c IS
unquestionably fact that one OF the most
interesting features OF Manila Industrial
life is the wonderful skill and ingenuity 81
its lapiddriss and gem letters who. strange
to say. are The Wcnen of the pogul5Jiou
whose taste AMI workmanship aaye far .r-
passed the 9owers OF men.
visitor 20 botn Spain and N0s1cro who
was interested in the production Of jewel
ry must have remarked the superiority cl
the Spanish aru5cgr. yvho has taught all
OF the eNcellencies Of his craft 20 the ua-
tiYes OF his colonies. In the case OF the
Philippines, however. il is undeniably true
that the pupils have improved on the
teacher, and their art has become famous
throughout the Far East
The shops are small, often mere ders.
with a gloomy interior. making strange
setting for the beautiful work done with
I IN the interior Rents have been exorbit-
antly high, and under the Spanish system
OF taxation IL was imprudent for a shop
keeper to display much stock
Inc customer IN many instances who had
[ been advised OF the beautiful things made
/ by the natives would be disappointed at
/ the meagre assortment shown. and would
go away irritated that he had been per-
suaded 20 leave his name and address.
Later in the day, or perhaps the 70 low
I ing morning. he would receive an invita-
tiOn and even be urged to repeat hi5 visit.
\ and, II refusal Is made he is inveigled
I there il possible in one mode OF another.
/ should he prove Obdurate, the persistent
I gentle, little brown woman calls on him
/ or waits patiently on the steps OF his hotel.
I her wares in locked box under her rebosa.
z rFe
/ the customer is really well repaid
/ Such sparkle Of color and glitter OF
/ treasure! The broiiiug sunshine sleeps the
| streets, and all Manila quivers IN the AN
/ guor OF the tropics but the tiny shop is
/ cool Before the wonders now exhibited
| one fOrgets 10 remember the thermometer.
I Among the treasures Of one OK these lit
/ lie shops are necklaces OF delicate pink
] coral. coral balls for the decoration OF
| grandees' caps. dainty statUettss CT coral.
/ with the body and limbs formed OF the
stem and its branches; rosaries with beads
/ llks drops Of blood, pendants OF pure white
I pearls, lustrOus and peaT-shaped; chains
I OF pearls, drOp-shaped ear jewels, which
I the seller assures one are the offspring OF
/ tears and suffering; great yellow pearls.
/ the fayorite purchase Of the Chinese mer-
/ chant, and costly strings Of pink pearls Of
I peculiar iridescence.
/ garnets, consisting OF earrings. pin. and
/ finger ring and other sets Of the orange
I red variety that emit light in the dark
I like flame Indeed, the kinds OF garnet
/ displayed are bewilderiRg-siIve fiigree
I set with yellow garnets. mother Of pearl
I drinking cups, with handles thiekly cover
ed with pale green -garuets; nacre knife
/ handles that sparkle with the lightning Of
carbuncies and small bowls Of Opa- -esceut
Z NJ hnT M ha OH glrfF rf..-r. -
/ fire.
/ Inc native saleswOman is astute noting
/ every evidence OF surprise or admiration
/ shown upon the face OF the visitor who has
T at last been admitted TO the beauties Of the
{ inner portals.
I She turns insinuatingly, and says in her
rich alto voice, Very pretty; lock YOU
/ The visitor has now no desire 70 do other
wise than look, and the pOcketbOCk is sure
TO purchase As a matter Of fact it does
not seem possible that the work she is
showing can be gOld-CnIy gOld-so fine
and lacelike are the patterns. There is a
chain. a necklace. a chatelaine. a hatpia,
and a brooch, all OF the deepest yellow
gold from eighteen 10 twenty-five karats
and OF exquisite handiwork The chain
looks like a long yellow braid Of hair, tied
at the clasp with a true lovers knot that
it may not unravel itself. The necklace is
a flexible, delicate veined stem from
which branch pendants OF the daintiest
I golden ferns. Anything more graceful or
I artistic than this work il would be difficult
7 TO duplicate, except, perhaps. in the gold
( smitheTiss Of famous CeyiOn. The chate-
/ laine is composed Of solid ropes Of gold
/ (eXact copies Of Manila hemp rope even to
the threadsi, with clasps designed ike fish
I hooks. The hatpin in miniature Malay
I cTeese, with a water lily leaf for a handle.
and the brooch a golden alligator OF young
I cayman, the scale work being most in
seniOus imitation of nature
( The sum Of 15S Spanish p=setss .S205el
gold purchases this entire set Of fve
/ pieces-less than would be asked for shs
/ necklace alone in New York London. or
/ Paris. This woman has brought the Grade
gold from the country. made Ter own al
/ l0ys, drawing out the gold wire and 6ea--
/ ing it with hammer and anvil. 10 lowing
/ step by step the most modern and scientific
/ processes of metal smithing.
I These metal workers are as kllfUl W IN
silver as with gold. Marvellous bangles
/ of chased silver set with precious stones.
/ and brooches and pendants OF quaint de-
/ sign all manifest the most thoughtful hg-
/ man labor One can have no idea Of hos
much can be done with silver until ne has
| seen This confusion Of devices in which
/ is used
/ Very likely the collection viii contain
[ some exquisite bTcaStpinS and StItEplns or
rubies, some lovely poppy red. others Of
/ deepest carmine. like drops Of frozen wine.
/ but the astonishing feature is the superb
/ taste and ingenuity which these women.
often il.iterate and entirely uEl-tLered,
I demonstrate and many a jewe er whose
/ designs are mOnotouOusly conventional
might learn a useful lesson from these
/ Philippine Iapidaries.
'Look you. again says the woman. and
She holds out a necklace blue euame ed.
| set with grey pearls. the harmony OF stone
and setting perfect.
Why not amethyst instead Of pearls
/ enc asks. but she shrugs her shoulders dep
rscatingIy. Amethyst looks vulgar with
gold nina" she answers.
Fewer rings are to be noticed among her
productions. perhaps. than any other or
nament. the betrothal rings being most
universally enameled gold. but earrings.
necklaces, bracelets, chains, buttons,
small pins and brooches are abundant.
These lapidarieS combine the ability OF
the Moorish gem worker with the patience
and originality of the Chinese and Japan
ese craftsman. because they are adept en-
ameIIerS. and sacrifice even design to color
in this branch of their work. and in all Of
heir jeweiry a dainJiuess and personality.
altogether irresistibly attractive. are felt
The longer one looks the more ne becomes
convinced that the display before him is
the expression of mind the outcome Of
personal art and this belief is wholly
satisfying for, above all else. ir is an IN
daniable fact that Jewel should be unique
While it is undoubtedly true that we can
teach our new Oriental c0lOuists much IN
methods and ways yet it is also likewise