New-York tribune., 1902-03-16
RAREST OF PORCELAINS.
J. p. MORGAN's GENEROSITY TO THE
METROPOLITAN MUSEUM-OVER A
THOUSAND PIECES.

J. Piernont Morgan who has done much tow
ard securing for the Metropolitan Museum OF
Art many of its treasures, has added an i'm
portant item to the notable list of his gifts by
purchasing for the institution the unique Gar
land collection of Oriental porcelains. When
the collection came to the museum about seven
years ago. it was understood that it would be
Allowed to remain there for ten years, and the
authorities of the museum had it placed in
conspicuous place in handsome cases, which
Were made especially for the fragile specimens
Of Chinese art. The cases alone cost ABOUT
$4,000 and a large sum was spent in making
catalogue. Although there was agreement to
hat effect, the Metropolitan Museum authori-
lies believed that Mr. Garland would leave the
Chinese porcelains to the institution and they
We're surprised upon his death to learn that no
such provision had been made in his will.
The greater part of the collection was pur-
.hased for Mr.. Garland by Henry ]. Duveen,
who made trips to all parts of Europe for that
purpose and sent representatives to people who
possessed rare specimens which they might be
induced to sell He knew the value OF the col
lection, and when it was offered for sale by
the Garland heirs and the museum did not have
funds to purchase it the firm of which he is a
member bought the porcelains and decided to
Jell the collection pecemeaI in Europe. Within
a few hours, however after this made
Morgan, who will give it to the museum.
General di Cesnola said last week that he
lad not yet received official notification of the
purchase nor would he say what the value of
the porceains was, but it is understood that
specialists in that line of art have valued them
at from $500 600 to 100000. The number OF
pieces in the collection is 1873 The cases are
TO be removed to the gallery at the north end of
the recently completed wing of the museum. and
the pieces will be arranged that students
may have a better view of them.
The collection which is still known by the
tame OF Garland, embraces various types i'm
portant and noteworthy for their cOored decora-
tons and their component paste, including not
brly the beautiful but the grotesque and curl
Gus. AS 1t is on view, no attempt has been
made to arrange the specimens chronologically.
The examples the history of Chinese
ceramic art for the periods which are held in
regard at this time.
Case No, l contains fifty eight pieces, the
predominant decoration being in green enamel
Among the especially noteworthy objects are
two large jars with covers and two tall vases.
The painting In fusible cOlOrs was done on these
examples after the glazing had been applied TO
the white paste. In the next case the objects
enameued a colored foundation The
notable ones are of fifteenth, sixteenth and sew
entcenth century manufacture. Four black
vases Of beaker form are strikngly beautiful.
The deep blue vases, bottles and ewers in Case
No are among the most precious objects in
the collection. Case No. contains the four
Hawthorn jars, which said to be valued
at $4,000 each. The card in the reads:
Each OF these four jars represents continuous
linking OF former collections notably from the
Blenhem Castle collection, England" The Blen-
helm jar is considered the gem, but it has not
the original cover
Case No. 10 contains twenty-five roseback
soufIle and other esgsheH plates. and two egg
shell lanterns 4 teapot in Case No. is also
OF the highly priced pieces Of the collection.
1t is in the shape of the letter S The only
similar specimen in existence is in the Gran
didier collection, Paris.
Mr.. Duveen says that the Garland collection
could not be duplicated, matter how much
money were devoted TO the purpose because
the only pieces Of porcelain like many In the
collection. are in the possession Of museums and
OF noblemen in China who would not sell them
at any price. In speaking Of the Garland por-
celains, Mr.. Duveen said:
1t is one OF the possessions which make the
Metropolitan Museum stand out distinctly
among the art institutions of the world, and II
would have been great misfortune to have
had it removed.
The gallery in which the porceains are now
exhibition has always been popular with
visitors to the museum, but since it has become