Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1902-06-01
RUSSIAN CURIO TRADE.

Foreign traders are shut out of the
RUSSIAN curio trade. The curio dealer
in that country is indeed 4 lucky fell
low. For the last ten years. to say the
least he has been making his fortune
rapidly. a fact net to be wondered al
when we consider that he has as his
own private preserve the whole OF Rus
sia's great colony in central Asia.
which stretches from the Caspian sea
10 the borders OF China.
10 foreigner may land on the eastern
side of the Caspian without having
first obtained a special permit from the
foreign office at St. Petersburg. The
permit is very rarely granted to any
but Russian subjects, and never to for
eigners of the mercantile class; so thar
the Russian cUrio dealer has 10 one to
interfere with the splendid monopoly
upon which he is growing so fat and
sleek. He has his emissaries all over
the country. in Khiva. in BOkhara. in
khokand and in Kashgar. which last
named being a Chinese border town.
i of course open to all Many of these
emissaries are OF the Hebrew race. and
this point is greatly in their favor. for
il enables them TO gain IN easy admit
lance to the houses of native Jews,
which in themselves are mines OF
wealth to the collector of antiquities.
l came across one such e.llissary in
khokaud and was interested in look
ing over some Of his latest booty. which
consisted Of several Greek coins on
which it v.as easy to distinguish the
name and features Of Alexander the
Great. Il Roman one OF purest gold.
on which we read tie Inscription of
/ : N
tifully carved metal baskets.
How do YOU know these coins are
genuine ?' I asked
SHOW me the man in Khokand VINO
could make one OF these" was the
quick reply.
ITO whom do you sell these ccins?"
was my next question.
/ 4 sell a good many to private gentle
men in England ana Scotland. who are
themselves clever numismatologists
and possess priceless collections that
have been handed down from father to
son for generations. l also sell a great
many in America. but the Americans
/ only began to collect about fifteen OF
twenty years ago. They are keen at
it, but have not the understanding that
I find in Britain. Still, they are very
ready to buy"
The Russian curio dealer has his
agents in every capital in Europe, but
! the two principal marts for his wares
are Moscow and Tidis. Moscow. in
particular is Il grand center for the
purchase Of central Asian antiquities.
Five years $50 the traveller might yet
pick up in the bazaar a Bokhara I
curious cooper vase, 4 turquoise COW
cred saddle OF a sword of ancient date;
any article bearing the stamp Of age
{ In Merry it is the same. We have ali
heard OF the exquisite carpets made b.
the Turkoman women. which rival in
their beauty and durability the finest
rugs that India or Persia can produce,
but now the Traveller searches for them
in vain in their native land. An in
ferior quality, frightful in pattern and
hideous in colOring. but dear to the
heart Of The Russian iIausfrau, has en-
tirely taken their place. The genuine
article is still to be had by those who
are willing to pay the enormous price
that is asked; but it is III the ware
house of 4 merchant prince in Moscow
that it viii be found; to go further
afeld would be useless.
Among the native population of
Turkestan there are yet many skilled
Workmen. but their masterpieces ara
predestined for the curio shops OF Mos
COW. They Will never appear in the
native bazaar. where their place has
been taken, sad to say, by 4 class Of
goods, cheap and nashy. that have been
manufactured in Moscow with the e2l-
press view Cf pandering to low taste
/ for paitry SHOW and color. that never
existed in the country till the Russians
Il
mel Cial.
We have noticed that the man who
/ begins a FIGHT with velvet hand, is