New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-12-19

hundred illustrations IN the book good half
tones from interesting specimens
Mr. EIlwanger's monograph on 1.-THE Oriental
Rug" has not the Importance of Mr.. Mumferd's
recent volume on the subject. and it is far less
richly illustrated, but within its limits it is a
meritorieus piece OF work. The general classih-
cation of rugs is first sketched; the author then
gives chapter the making of rugs. on de-
signs borders. etc. and, after some notes on
dyeing he takes up the different kinds of rugs
and briefly describes them. The book closes
with a chapter on auctions and come other mis-
cellaneous data which should be helpful to the
prospective buyer. Housewives will value what
Mr.. Ellwanser has to say on the cleaning OF
rugs. The Illustrations are excellent plates in
colors.
"Old London Silver is a book for collectors,
who will find in It all that they need to know
about their hobby in order to avoid being taken
in by the vender of spurious objects. They need
advice. Good old silver is rare, and the demand
for it brings many forgeries into the market.
What does an expert do when his suspicious are
aroused?
He considers the style OF the period that the
hallmark calls for: frequently the counter
feiter does not pay much attention to this mat
ter. The expert looks carefully at the piece TO
see how 1t was made-the ways OF manufactur-
ing silver have changed from time to time. The
appearance Of antique silver is very difficult to
initiate, and although 1t is almost impossible to
describe Just what this old appearance is like,
nevertheless it is quite real to one accustomed
TO examining plate. While the price of an arti-
Gle of old silver does not necessarily prove it's
antiquity nevertheless If is offered by
dealer an antique much below the current price
1t may be an indication that something is wrong.
Defects in article must not be taken as
signs of age for they are very easy to produce.
One must be careful that the article does not
antedate its Introduction; for instance an eX-
pert would not buy ElZabethan teapot, or
four pronged fork Of the time of Henry VIII.
Mr.. Howard puts the collector in the position
to take precautions when he is making his pur-
chases. by giving him descriptive notes the
plate of all the historic periods and by cata-
loguing the makers marks from the fifteenth
century down to time. This part Of his
book is obviously Of the highest value. We must
not leave unnoticed his historical sketch Of the
silversmiths' art in England. This is illustrated
with admirable portraits, including OF
St. Dunstan the patron saint of the craft in
England. Mr.. Howard gives a picture of the
present Goldsmiths' Hall, and another of the
great dining therein, a stately and sumpt-
uous interior. In addition to these illustrations
there are numerous Photographic reproductions
of typical objects in silver. One forgery is
figured. illustrating the ingenious manner in
which a fraud of the kind be perpetrated.
The haIl-marks on this handsome jug were
genuine, but that because the forger had
taken an authentic old tankard and fitted to it
the large round body. the handle, the cover and
the spout. on the strength of which he asked
the piece to be taken as q veritable and splendid
survival of the period of Charles II.
The second volume of Mr.. Gulland's Chinese
Porcelain" completes a work of much import
ance to the connoisseur. 1t is really a kind Of
gloriled catalogue, the authors text taking the
form Of notes on the pieces shown in his illus
trations These are chronologically arranged so
that the student and collector can turn at once
to a period and obtain the information he needs.
The specialist and the layman alike are con-
sidered in this painstaking. infinitely compre-
hensive treatise.