The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-02-25

HAT always interesting achieve
y" ment OF making successful de-
parture from the beaten racks
" Of art has brought into favoraoie
distinction the recent work OK
Mrs Clio Hinton Huneker, the New YORK
sculptor, 'in the small
Mrs Huneker devites herself 10 the mod
cling OF the tiniest imaginable bits OF art.
which remind one. so far as size goes OF
the small ivory images Of gods and men
which the engravers OF China ana Japan
produce, and which. in their delicscy anu
their feeting fancies, suggest the evanes-
cent quality Of dream. Each bit on the
table in the studio looks like the vision
OF a revery caught and given substance.
One is certain while looking at any or
them that II the idea portrayed has not
been caught al the moment and instantly
worked out It would have been lost for
ever This does not mean that these
miniature art pieces lack in largeness Of
conception. One OF their distinguishing
characteristics is a breadth OF feeling that
is usually associated only with space.
A bit of work that drew particular at
tention at Mrs. Huneker's recent exhibit
was the statuette entitled The Breeze"
which shows the figure OF a maiden, her
arms flung out and her draperies blown by
the stirring air. her attitude and face ex-
pressive of keen physical joy0usness- This
bit Is done In sronze and. like the other
productions Of the same sculptor. would
not IN a mans hand
Some Of Mrs. Huneker's sculptured It'd
bits are dedicated to the service Of utility
as well as OF ornamentation Particularly
conceived and artisticaIly executed, a
microscopic bronze mermaid reposes on
the leaf of a water lily. her water gar
ments c.inging or waving In folds which
serve every practical requirement OF a pin
tray. Other equally dainty designs. II not
- ia. -.
useful articles from ivory or precious met
ais, gem here and there finding lodg-
ment in some 1T spot to lend additional
charm.
Within the last several months these
beautiful miniatures have obtained vogue
amounting almost TO furore, and Mrs
Huneker can Justly lay claim 10 having
practically created new art form Notable
society leaders. In fact. most women
blessed with suffcient means TO satisfy
their love OF the beautiful. have WED with
each other TO secure specimens Of Mrs.
Huneker's genius and some prices almost
fabulous, especially when the diminutive
size Is considered, have been paid for some
Of the better known work.
The work is mostly In small bronxes and
in figures to be reproduced in ivory. with
ornaments in metal and color. They are
feiicitous and extremely charming. one re-
cent creation ia figure of goddess. in
much the position Of the reading Madonna.
10 be reproduced In ivory. with a gold band
about her forehead, and the cover IN
bronze An order in the nude. about a quar-
ter life size. IL 10 be cut in yellow marble.
against a background OF tho rough stones
in the same color Medalllons, medals
canoes and finger rings are delectsble mas
terpieces when they come from her hands.
Although OF late Mrs. Huneker has been
attracting attention mainly through her
work in the small Il IL interesting to note
that originally she made her success
through theereation Of several great bronxes
OF heroic proportions Her first PERFORM
ance of any note was q magnificent bust OF
Mrs. James Brown Potter. which was uni
versaly admired and following that came A
life size figure of the famous Pathfinder .
John c. Fremont. Immediately afterward
came "A characteristic head of Paderewski
IN has relief. and then a bust Of the great
conductor. Anton Seidl, the idol OF the
Wagnerites, whose tragic and unexpected
death In New York two years ago plunged
the musical world into the most profound
grief.
All Of these fne works. interesting not
only because OF their intrinsic worth, hut
also as having been her first notable ex-
pressions IN art. were created while study