The sun., 1916-11-18

duced by this exhibition IL not that given
ny the pictures but by the furniture, for
u comes VIII moro OF an element Of sur.
prise. volumes have been written about
Iitian and Signorelli and the public
knows about what to expect from these
Two masters. but the slories Of the fur
nHure OF o days. much Of II designed
oy inc greatest artists, are almost u new
ctoty.
In every direction objects are con.
nance Of medieval Italy. Boecaccio and
s~nvonarola are suggested by turns. This
taoIe WITH its elaborate carvings was de-
s,sned by Pint'ricchio. and tho chair be-
siue IL - one that A. drea del Sarto used
and painted into one Of his pictures.
Tha princely beds In l'rof. vo,pi's COL
lection sre as royal as much carving and
nne gold can mako them with damasks
asd old velvets by way Of eoverinn. The
uniqye bed OF the occasion, however. IL
an early. fifteenth century piece Of ram.
elled walnut. which IL built upon = wide
oaiB Any number Of .reiainers or couf.
ticrs could cit about the bed on this dais.
The going TO bed In those days vas q
fofnfai and intricate affair for royalty.
and this wonderful relic helps q modern
10 appreciate u.
There ara many great benches In the
collection. noble In desien and Of great
solid'ty.' One that bears the arms Of the
Orsini family apo . scroll was, Il 10 Be-.
iieved, designed by Dian Bologna. The
table by Pinturicchio II Of Cmbrian wal.
nut. q . moulded edge to liz square
Top, with intricatsiy arranged acanthup
leaves carved upon the legs. Its worn.
manship Is almost jswsilike In anish.
The writing cabinets are OF every
description. There II ons. no doubt from
q duchess's 6oudoir that In all In rcd and
gold. with pamela Of paintings conceived
In such . primitive style that ~paradoxi.
caIly. they eeen almost modern. Others
In severer lines and OF moro sober work.
manship were probably used by cardinals
secretaries.
Marriage Chests Preninent.
A. might b expected In Q collection
so purely italian. the cassoni. or mar
rage chests. are very prominent. and
they include many that have been en-.
rlched with painting or figures carved in
relief. II - doubtful II moro interest,"
Ing specimens Of the chairs populaSiy
named after S~ayonarolA have ever been
shown here.
1t 10 said the Davansati Palace con.
tanned forty rooms. and to complete
he pictures OF ~msdiEvalsm ct which
Prof. Volpi aimed. he ransacked all
Italy for the minute necessary for the
various rooms. These include many
quaint objects such a. the Kitchen mill
iron standards for fat candles. brackets.
brasiers. wood chests. torches. spinning
wheels. and 30 forth. all Of which IL
iustrate various phases OF ingenious
workmanship.
To many the interest Of the whole
show will centre in Prof. volpi's ma
jolica. These include not only the much
prised 0ubbio ~iustres, but IN important
group o. primitive majolica recently un-
esrthed al Orvieto. which aroused the
greatest interest among European con-
n%olsseurs. No specimens have been
shown here before. DIR. Bode OF Berlin.
| who studied them with enthusiasm. has
stated that tho greatest antiausrioe
have valued even fragment Of majoilcs
In restoring their palaces"
Designs Well PresePvea.
The voipi specimens Of this ware ere
intact. however. and the designs upor
tho bowls. pitchers and tureens are re-
markedly effective. In . primitive way
and we'll preserved. The disposition Of
these unusual wares will Be awaited
with extreme interest
One OF the 0ubbio iuStres 10 q deer
plate. Sichiy decorated by the famous
maestro Giorgio. A sixteenth centur,
bowl 10 by francesca do Medici. whs
had the honor Of producing the lrst
porcelain in Europe. The present speci'
men Is marked with the dome Of the
Florence Cathedral. Only thirty piece,
Of his work have survived. most OF It ir
museums.
The Venetian glass. the armor. th'
antique linens and tapestries arr
worthy Of detailed descriptions for which
space lacks. The chief of the tapestries
has the place Of homo In the iarg'
gallery. II 10 Of early Flemish weaving
and hung for generations In the palac
OF the Princess Aitieri near Lucca. !
IL a marriage tapestry. the desisl
showing In quaint fashion h orriva
of the bride to be with her attendants q
her future home.
The sale OF the Davansati Palac
fittings begins at the galleries on No
vember Fl. The paintings will be auc
toned at. the Piazza Hotel on the even!nI
Of November 81. =.
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