The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-05-20
ROTRsCHILD TREASURES.
Gems of the Waddesdon Bequest Now
in the British Museum.
London Letter in New York Post.

London Letter in New York Post.
Ever since it became known, soon after
the death of Baron Ferdinand Rothscnild
in December, 1898, that he had left one of
his princely collections of art to the ma
ton, collectors and connoisseurs have been
looking forward eagerly TO the time when
these should be put on view in Blooms
bury. That time has come. At Waddes-
don, the 265 objects forming this collection
were arranged in a single room, and Bar
on Rothschild desired a similar arrange
ment at Bloomsbury. In order to meet
the terms of the bequest. the museum au-
thorities have been obliged 10 consigh to
the basement the Roman antiquities of
Britain, hitherto 10 be found at the top
of the fine staircase Immediately to be the
left of the main entrance.
On Monday, for the first time. the pubic
will be admitted to what as an inscription
tells, is to be known as the Waddesdon be-
quest-room. Under the supervision of the
keeper of the department, the objects have
been admirably arranged-as far as posi-
Bile according to catalogue order-.n glass
cases, which admit for the most part of
an all-round view. The catalogue, !'lus-
trated by some fifteen Plates, and having
as frontispiece a portrait of the donor is
an object-lesson in what such things
should be. Mr.. Charles Hercules Read has
scholarly and informative introduction,
with careful descriptions and notes relat-
ing to the individual pieces
There are several objects here which,
singly, would have exhausted fer years
the purchasing funds at the disposal Of
this department of the museum-in other
words, they could not have been put on
permanent view save by the gift Of a pri-
vate individual. In case A, the most i'm
mediately attractive object is the famous
circular shield of hammered iron, with
subjects in relief, damascened with gold
and plated with silver. In the center is
represented a combat of horsemen, with
frame surmounted by male and female
warrior; around, are female figures sym
bolizing Glory, Fame, Strength and Pru-
dence. The central panel bears the name
| of the maker, Georgius de Ghisiis the
well-lSuown Mantuan craftsmen, aud the
| date 1874. This exquisite pageant shield,
Wrought with the skill of the goldsmith
rather than that of the armorer, was an
outstanding object in the famous collection
| of Prince Demdov of San Donate sold
| in 1870 and it's worth is said to be not less
| than $500
Among the Renaissance cups ewers,
vases, etc, in gold and hard stones, are five
pieces eXDlDlleu at the burlington Elne
Arts Club in 1897. One of the finest of
these is an antique Roman vase of chal-
cedony, the surface decorated with vine
branches and grapes in high relief The
bold and harmonious work of the Roman
| lapidary attracted, IL may be, the Renais-
sance goldsmith to add the lovely mounts,
whose enamelled decoration, partly en-
crusted, partly translucent, gives to the
vase as a whole unusual interest and
charm. The breadth and gertrude of the
Roman worker in hard stone are here
welded to the delicate briniancy Of six
teenth century Italian goldsmith. The
other four pieces are a deep-toned lapis
lazuli vase and cover set With Jewels
the enamelled group of Vents and Cupid,
and the mounts, being probably of Italian
sixteenth century work. jasper vase and
cover, the double head of Cupid surmount-
ed by large crystal ruby, mounted in the
Germany of the sixteenth century; an
oviform ever of blackstone, set with Jew
els and mounted in gold, and an oval
taxa of variegated agate-and what more
fascinating than TO Look through the semi
transparencies of Its sides-enriched with
enamel and jewels. This quintet OF pieces
formerly belonged to the Duke of Devon
shire, and the estimated worth of them
ALONE is about eos, 5000,
As Mr.. Read points out, the general
splendor of color indicates a taste on he
part of the collector rather for the rich
productions OF the late Renaissance than
for the severer art of the fourteenth n
fury. or for that bequeathed to the world
by Greece. Four examples there are, how
ever, of the classical period. After maxi
ing a careful survey of the varied treas
ures, the connoisseur will return TO casa
A, assured that despite ell the wealth Of
color the deiicacy of touch, the glittering
stones, the costly metals, he yet finds
nothing of such signal beauty as a couple
OF bronzes that date from the third CEN
fury before Christ. Attached 10 these cir
cular medallions are loose rings, TO form
the handles of a litter, and on each medal
lion, 81 inches In diameter. Is the head
of Bacchante in high relief wreathei
with ivy. More than 1000 years have passe1
since the bronzes were wrought. and It Is