The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-04-02
THs PETER MARIE c0LLECrIoN

THE PETER MARIE COLLECTION.
At the American Art Galleries an exhibit
tion u being held OF the objects Of art, the
books and literary treasures. collected by
the late Mr.. Peter Marie. previous TO the
series OF sales which commence tomorrow,
The gallery devoted to the objects of art
presents very animated appearance,
containing varied assortment Of ceram-
ics. bronzes. sculptures, enamels, decor
ated fans, snuh boxes. watches. miniatures
on ivory, patch and powder boxes, glass
and furniture. Among the ceramics at
tention may especially be directed to pair
Of statuettes (ss in Crown Derby. repre-
senting Art and Science; to a set Of six
statuettes (sD. 'The Musicians very
dainty examples Of French porcelain, and
to vase of Chinese design (so). and a very
handsome example Of the Minton ware.
Again. from the WedGewood potteries are
two urns; one Of them (l2o). decorated In
brilliant enamels; the other Q24), more
characteristic Of the special classical style
for which the firm was famous, having fig
ures and festoons Of flowers on a sage
green ground. Other lots OF special in
terest are a Sevres mantel garniture OF
three pieces lo2). mounted In ormolu; an
old French china dinner service (203), an
other OF old Stahordshire ware (204): and an
old Worcester tea set. These last three are
sets Of particular quality and interest.
In one case are two extremely quaint
little 'coupes' (2oO OF eighteenth century
make with decorations In Limoges enamels;
while near them stands q Japanese per-
TUNE holder (3ill, exquisitely wrought in
silver by Kosho Kaisha. In another case,
filed with glass, a pair Of tall flower hold
ers (<D Of brilliantly clear crystal glass
make q very distinguished showing. and
between them stands a beautiful specimen
OF Venetian aventurine glass (45), In which
phins.
Among the collection Of ten fans, the
one described as "A Royal Italian Fan
(sSe). bearing the arms OF Princess Zap
parently OF the House Of Savoy Of the
eighteenth eight niu century Is specimen Of un-
ample Of the period of Louis XVI. (333),
with Watteau-like scene painted on the
kid and sticks Of mother Of pearl, pierced
and carved, and decorated In iridescent
color; while. most notable OF all, Is -ver-
mis- Martin fan (s40) from the Magma
collection. London, 1892.
The watches include some very beautiful
and curious specimens: among which will
be noted the repeater BY James Debaufre,
London (ssi); a watch and chatelaine Of
the eighteenth century (3o2) by Blanc of
Geneva: and another Of the same period by
Patro 1sss); and q gold watch 600 in the
form OF q Tyre, attributed to the period
deeim.
But. without much doubt, the piece de
resistance OF this exhibition is to be found
ures,. The collection OF manuscripts alone
is OF extraordinary interest. They are
decorated with borders and with miniature
paintings, and many OF them have their
antique bindings. OF the fifteenth cen
on vellum in red and black, with ornamental
initials In oolors on beaten gold with minia-
lures OF rare beauty (S81); another (5e3),
q Book Of Hours with borders Of fruits and
flowers and numerous paintings: "Hore
Beat Mari Virgins. executed in Flanders
trail panels IN enamel. But in the case in
which these lie are other specimens equally
rare and beautiful In craftsmanship, Offer
ing the finest examples Of the old devotional
books, exquistely Inscribed and decorated;
volumes which II is privilege even to
charged are they with the preCiosity Of the
antique.
Among them are three Persian manu.
scripts with the beautiful characters In
black upon a gold ground and with curious
]. II , SSsht .n cGlU Indeed
We shall find q purity and brillianoe Of
especially In the vermilions and
greens. Any one OF their pages represent,
. gem, exQuieitely and infinitely wroughts
and their profusion through the volumes
and the number Of the latter combine to
give this collection mote Of high distinction.
Perhaps 1t reaches it's extreme of interest
In the miniatures. catalogued 62S and e2i.
Both are from the Crawford collection,
the former comprising, over 100 exquisite
on. vellup by Italian, Spanish
French and Flemish artists OF the fifteenth
and sixteenth centuries, some of them being
attributed to Paul Veronese and Tiepolo'
In purity Of color and delicate mastery
Of expression these are probably as beauti-
full specimens Of the art as 1t would be
possible to find included within the covers
Of one volume. And a worthy rival 10 il
Ia the following lot, which contains a head
Of Christ In gray and gold, and ten elaborate
pictures, representing incidents In His life.
each miniature accompanied by a page
decorated with flowers, butterflies, birds
and other devices. These are exceedingly
choice. though an even choicer feature OF
this book Is the delicate beauty of the land
scapes introduced into the pictures.
In the cases in the centre Of the gallery
will be found q large collection Of fine bind
Ings, representing excellently the best
French. English, German and American
binders, and including also many examples
Of the Grolier Club publications and OF
such famous presses as the Kelmscott
md the Essex. Space will not permit
my detailed reference TO these specimens,
but they will be found to have been selected
18th pou ~ for what Ia oh m