New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-12-31
ART EXHIBITIONS
The Furniture and Bric-a-BraC
of the Late GEORGE Croker.

The curiosity that Is felt by the general
public as 10 the manner in wnlch the
homes of prominent persons are furnisheo
Is perennial. and occasionally II is graft
fled. Such an opportunity will be available
during the next three days 10 those Sc
curing cards OF admittance from the
American Art Association to the house OF
the late George Crocker, al No. ! East
9th street In Mr.. Crocker's will, It was
provided that the contents Of his nome
should be sold for the benefit OF ColumDla
University. this being a part OF his oe-
quest to that institution. In order TO give
the furniture and brc-a-brac the advah-
tage of being seen in their own surro"no-
ings. as whole, the house has oeen
thrown open, predatory to the sale OF its
contents at the American Art Galleries on
the last three days Of this week Thurs-
dav. Friday and Saturday afternoons ana
Friday evening. In this sale Mr. Crocker's
collection OF paintings will not be included.
They will be shown at the American Art
Galleries prior to being dispersed at auc-
ton on the evening Of January "a at the
Plaza Hotel
The Crocker house is spacious and 1t con-
tains enough to provide a catalogue of more
than eight hundred numbers. The owner
appears TO have been catholic in his tastes,
and despite the presence OF much thai -
interesting IL is not evident that he coll
Iected with any marked instinct or feeling
for what was irtrinsically worth while.
Few men are gifted with the collectors
instinct; Mr. Crocker's household posses
sions Indicate that he bought discurslvely,
new acquiring rugs and porcelains and
small art objects that appeal to the "du-
Gated amateur, and again taking into his
home furnishings elaborate and costly, in
deed. but OF no very high or enduring
beauty.
OF uneven merit. the Chinese porcelains
include some good specimens. acceptable
I'm form, texture and color. OF these may
be mentioned two sang de beuf vases,
pair Of powder blue vases. some celadon
ealIipots and other pieces, most OF them
in the library An example of Mr.. Crock
cr's readiness to mix styles is found In
conspicuous old Chinese vase in the draw
ing room. which has been mounted In gilt
ormolu OF Louis Ky design. Such a piece
Of eclect!cism will stsftle orthodox collec-
TORS. II was not happy experiment. There
STYLES and periods. and some OF the jddeS
and other small cabinet pieces. in the draw
ing room and elsewhere. viii please the
exact!ng.
Perhaps il is in his rugs and fabrics that
Mr.. Crockers selections were most iortu-
nate The Persian rugs on the drawing
room and reception room floors include sew
eral decidedly handsome in color, the blend
ing Of tones producing effects of mellow
beauty. Again, there IL pair of Flemish
tapestries. with designs after Vatican COLI
veying a plcasurable message to the eye
while one Of tho best things in the as
eortment IS the large Italian embroidered
altar piece. No. ,O2, with its rich but not
Glowing color and its clear and balanced
design. There are crimson portieres that
reward the visitors glance; there arc quaint
Jspanese clocks, amusing little silver but
ter plates with centres OF coins. elaborate
sets OF furniture much OF 1t quite unin-
spired; some hundreds Of books, collec-
ton Of guns, profusely filled dining room
and much else.