Evening star., 1901-05-11
A r T N o T E S.

as surprised to learn that one Of the most
remarkable sets of china ever decorated in
the history of ceramics, over which much
enthusiasm has been demonstrated in Eu-
rope by royal personages, artists and con-
nolsseurs, has now it's resting place in this
city, In the home of Mr. Joseph S. Potter
whose property and work it is.
The collection consists Of plates cups
and saucers. and number of vases, and
represents Mr.. Potters leisure hours for
twelve years, incredibly short space
OF time when the accomplished results are
taken into consideration. The work was
begun in Stuttgart, while he was United
states consul to Wurtemberg, and COM
pieted ere he returned to his home in Vir-
slnla A merry wager, made with the
ladies of the consulate, who were studying
the dainty art of china painting led to
the nrst lesson and the discovery of Mr..
fotters unusual talent. Then came the
desire to make something more than pref
ty fancy work of ito embody in the dec
orations valuable thoughts and historical
events, as well great beauty of line
and color, and this he did, arriving, with
| out any previous knowledge of drawing or
painting, and no apprenticeship in this
special branch, at finer results technically
and artisticaIly than MANY who had la
bored life time.
1he flrst set was a series of forty-eight
Pla'es, each with the portrait of a crowned
head IN the center of it and on the mar
GIN four tiny pictures of places Intimately
connected with the royal persons life
Back OF these, and forming a border are
tahds OF color and gold, overwrought with
the most elaborate and delicate designs in
tracefy and engraving, every element of
0hich has its own appropriate Significance
Ihus the design on the gold marginal bor-
@ uei 0l lhe plate bearing the portrait of
.ile belslan ruler is that of the daintiest
OF brussels lace, and that of Greece the
Hreek conventional pattern. The coors
100, are often embematic, though softened
10 harmonious tints, and the favorite flow
er, the crown, and coats of arms in MANY
cases enter into the designs
Inc portraits are miniatures Of the high
es' orcer. eXquisitsly drawn and colored
ana strongly modelled. They were painted
many cases especially for Mr. Potter. but
alWays sent by their majesties and are
ialthful and pleasing likenesses. Seldom
IN fact. are those which are done on ivory
so good, so soft in outline, yet so strong
ana true These are set in frames as it
were, which also are original in design and
peculiarly suitable. Next in historical in
teIest is the set of four dozen CUPS unon
which may be seen miniature portraits of
the same order of famous women such as
Queen Louise, Joan of Arc, Josephine, Ma
RE Ahtolnette and others-and with them
again the orders and insignia of their fam
1i1es, the tiny views of castles cathedrals
ana landscapes, in dainty colors with the
subservient conventional designs. Their
shape Is very beautiful. odd and dainty
the cup being somewhat vase-like in form
with single frail handle, and uniting with
the saucer most harmoniously. The minia-
ture views are distinctly feature of the
set, and are very remarkable for though
less than two inches in diameter many
contain exact reproductions of the great
est architectural structures in Europe in
which every detail may be clearly seen
by the aid OF a strong mapnifyipp eplo In
almost all Of these human figures have been
introduced as a unit of measure, and some
are SO tiny that they can be more than
covered by the head of an ordinary pin
In the cabinet with these is tete-a-tete
set. which was once the late King VIII
liam's, but since given to Mr.. Potter. 1t is
decorated with a solid dull gold ground and
bands of flowers of several varieties, and
was painted by famous decorator of the
eighteenth century. This set Mr.. Potter has
himself completed, and with such accuracy
that 1t would be well nigh impossible for
any but an expert to distinguish the old
from the new. These with set Of eighteen
plates, upon the upper decorated margin of
which is painted the arms Of the several
states OF the Union, compose the cabinet
collection, besides which, however, are the
vases. Two Of these represent the old and
new worlds: four pictures being painted on
the body OF each typifying the continents
OF the eastern and western hemisphere and
setting forth in allegory the difference in
customs, etc These are altogether origi-
life. Two Of the other vases, with what
would probably now be called a fernery,
were designed originally for Ambassador
White, and are of very special interest.
The vases bear his likeness and that of his
wife, and the miniature pictures which
here form an important part of the decora-
ton, represent their old homes, the cities
in which he had had a consulate Cornell
University, and other places Immediately
connected with his career. The other pair
of vases is decorated with copies of his
torical paintings, rare and beautiful. In
connection with which may be seen the
same miniature views woven together in
thought as well as by a net work Of dell
cate design. So perfect, in fact, is the gold
engraving that it seems incredible to think
it could have been done, as 1t was without
mechanical assistance.
The historical value of this collection is
very great, and to thoroughly appreciate
or become familiar with 1t would REQUIRE
hours of careful examination and study
To fully insure the preservation of this
value the painter has placed as part Of
the design inside of each vase and cup
and on the under portion of every plate
and saucer the name Of each picture Mr..
Potter has also prepared most elaborate
and perfect catalogue of the collection. In
this may be found not only the descrip-
ton and explanation of the designs, but
also the original photographs from which
the portraits and pictures were painted as
well as the letters of commendation which
he received from his royal sitters. These
are artistically mounted, and the text is
beautifully ornamented and illuminated,
making in itself a valuable contribution to
art.
When this collection was first brought
to this country the Boston Museum of
Fine Arts wished to purchase a portion of
it, the first series of plates and cups, and
previous to that agent of the London
Museum had offered $4,000 for the entire
set, but both offers We're refused promptly
it Is Mr.. Potter's desire to keep it to-
gether, and in this country. Upon these
conditions he would be willing to dis
pose of it, and it is earnestly to be hoped
that 1t may some day find permanent
home in our National Museum, where it
would be preserved with safety and give
pleasure to many as well.
The modelling class at the Corcoran
School had no less distinguished visitor
last week than St. Gaudens the distin-
guished sculptor, who said many kind
things about the work that he found being
done there, and gave as we'll some helpful
words Of encouragement and advice Here
tofore the class has worked mostly from
casts, copying the antique with consdera-
BILE accuracy, but now they are studying
directly from the living model, which
though vastly more difficult they are han,