The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-10-19
FOR GERMANIC MUSEUM
TREASURE BROUGHT BACK By
PROF. FRANCKE, OF HARVARD.
Notable Gift from Leading Citizens of
Be~rlfn-Many Objects of Beauty
and Interest.

CAMBRIDGE, Mass, Oct. 16.-Prof. Kuno
Francke. of Harvard University. has re-
turned from a year spent in Germany in
behalf of the new Germanic museum which
is being built up in Cambridge and which
benefited so largely by the munificent gift
of the Emperor William. conveyed to Pres
ident Eliot last spring at the hands of
Prince Henry. Professor Francke says
that the casts comprising the Kaiser's gift
will probably arrive in this country next
February and will be Immediately set up.
with funds contributed by the Germanic
Museum Association. in the new hall pro-
vided by the university. At about the same
time, too, will come a notable collection of
reproductions of the art OF German work
ers in silver and gold, contributed by lead
ing citizens of RIGHTEOUSNESS men. mem
bers of the university. sculptors, men Of
le~tters-the value of the gift amounting in
all to something like 5000 marks.
In many ways this special gift, which
was expressly designed to supplement the
Emperor's. and received his cordial APP
prevail, will possess special interest to
Americans for its s~uggestiveness in the
development of a craft in which we are
already beginning to excel. The first sug-
gestion that such a gift should be made
came from DIR. Richard Schoene, director
general Of the Prussian museums, and DIR.
Julius Leasing, director of the Arts and
Crafts Museum, as it may be called, in
Berlin. Toward the end of last March a
meeting was held at this meueum at which,
ing. Prof. Kekule. rector of the University
IF RarIin. prof IJorpooI Do,I>, o-I
Erich Schmidt of the same university; DR..
Althoff. the Prussian minister of univer-
stiles; and Herr Gwinner, director of the
Deutsche Bank. and probably the best
known banker in Berlin, was present. Ad-
dresses were made, including a particularly
sympathetic and enthusiastic speech by
DR.. Althoff, and DIR. Leasing displayed a
number of pieces of gold and silverware,
comprising the gems OF the museums COL
lection-by all odds the finest in
AS examples Of what IL was desired to
reproduce for the new Germanic Museum
across the sea. AS a result of this meet
ing a private circular was sent out to a
number of selected names in Berlin call
ing for a subscription of $4,000 marks.
This subscription is still in progress, but
in the meantime the money required for
the purchase of the special pieces selected
by DIR. Leasing has been contributed by a
single donor and galvano-plastic repro
auctions have been ordered from the Arts
and Crafts Museum.
FINE REPRODUCTIONS
These c~opies-about fifty In all-can hard
ly be told from the originals. whether in
gold or In silver. and comprise the most
representative collection of the kind. In all
probability. ever seen In this country. The
magnihcence Of some OF the pieces is sur
prising to anyone unacquainted with this
division of German art. The range of time
is from the beginning of the fifteenth CEN
fury to the end Of the eighteenth-the
period. in other words. when the art of the
silversmith was at its best. and when the
succession of the various styles il also
most interesting to the student. The nu-
cleus OF the collection IL the superb table
service. In gold and silver. including some