The sun., 1919-04-03
ANCIENT KINGS ART
TEXTILES ON VIEW
Popes Also at One Time Owned
Many Of the Rare Antiques
to Be Sold Here.
MORE THAN 1000 ITEMS
velvets, Damasks and Tapes
tries Come From All Over
Europe, Asia and Africa.

| GuIUpCs AbIo uuu hAAiO0s
The Benguiat collections, which were
placed on view yesterday In the galleries
Of the American Art Association. form
not only one of the most sumptuous.
but one OF the most extensive exhibit
| lions Of important textiles ever to be
shown in New York There are more
/ than 100 items, but as many Of the
"items'' are fittings for entire rooms
, the space covered by these trophies
from other climes and ages can scarcely
be apprehended till seen.
Suffice Il to say that all Of the many
galleries of the institution are fully
utilized and that In each gallery are
specimens that would have dazzled the
eyes Of the Queen of Sheba herself In
deed. the Queen Of 9heba probably never
saw such textiles as these, for 1t can
not be pretended that the apogee OF the
embroideries occurred during her reign
or at the court OF her interesting neigh
Dor. King Solomon.
So splendid are the hangings that the
sentimental visitor is at first disturbed.
These are the things that victorious
armies In other days would have brought
home in triumph from the fray. Kings
and Popes owned many Of them once.
How many national debscles were
necessary before they could fall into
one collection? How did they get TO
America, to this republic. anyhow. any
how? What countless noblemen went
Into bankruptcy 80 that the dilletanti
Of far distant land might acquire their
most priced possessionsi
History. with all It's cruel tragedies
meets one at every turn. To the Sc. i
tive II might almost seem as though a
future tragedy Is being invited by the
partition OF such prizes among simple
citizens OF a republic. But, II the SEN
tlmental visitor happens to have money
In his purse. he soon forgets these
broodngs and bends his mental faculties
to the more agreeable task OF making
u choice.
After all there has been so much
tragedy in the world Of late that It Is
A safe wager that soon we will be in
for an era OF gayety. But the choice
even with q light heart is difficult
Places of Honor to the Gorgeous.
Those with the latest purses will
choose from. Of course. For them the
iectioni has been admirably classified,
and they will have occasion to 60 only
10 the places of honor In each room.
where they will. ind something gorgeous
Hut there are rare antique velvets
everywh and bits OF damask, cloths
OF gold. silver brocades. laces, gros point
and petit point and possibly every stitch
OF the embroidersrs and weave OF the
hard looms that has been known TO
the workers Of all the nations in Europe
Asia ar Africa. And these are In all
~ nd a. no IA NyiT ~
cupidity will be excited in tho bosoms
OF all beholders no matter how fat or
slim their purses
There are tapestries. That one behind
which Polonius hid to meet his horrid
end Is not included. but there are others
that could unfold tales II they would,
even though they do not parade the &C
tuai slashes OF the sword thrusts. They
are all. in fact. intact. in spite of being
ancient. They include Gobelins and
Flemish work OF the sixteenth and sew
enteenth centuries and several painted
Italian arra8
Among the Flemish renaissance hang
iilgs are two OF allegorical subjects
THE rural courts OF Francis /. and
Henry w." and n Brussels panel OF
great beauty. enriched with gold. '-rhe
Resurrection of Our Lord" Among the
Gobelins are a Taps de sale Manager"
with fruit and scrolls upon a lavendar-
purple ground. and THE Growing OF
Silenus."
Attractive Gothic velvets.
But the great centre of attraction Is
the group OF Gothic velvets. Many OF
these are In delightful single colors
which must have always been rare. but
which the bloom Of time has made rarer
still. They have the vigorous, beauti-
fully drawn patterns OF Venice. and with
sometimes the "Boucle" stitch of gold on
the vclours pattern. One OF the latter
has the added interest of double cut
pile In exquisite rose velvet.
The feature exhibit, however. is that
marvel OF amethyst velvet known as the
Garland cape. This came from the
James A. Garland sale. but since then
Mr.. Benguiat has been able to ind a set
of orphreys executed In raised and solid
stitches OF gold. with delineations OF
saints in the panels. 30 that the cape is
truly superb.
There are many other capes. each
with a special point OF excellence. in
Guiding one In a rare tone OF sapphire
blue. There are portieres OF pigeon
blood velvet and jardiniere velvets In
quantities sufficient to line room. A
Botticelli green Baldachino Is In a
BTeoH tHdt Will utilBHt
lists, but since artists as a rule are not
In the class with the fatted purses al
ready referred to II may be that a
museum may see it's duty In this regard.
Among the Persian and Chinese vel
vets is q sumptuous flame pink palace
hanging with extraordinary workman
ship In the weaving. There are many
sets Of Italian, French anG Spanish silk
damask and brocateile portieres. The
sixteenth century Spanish and italian
filet lace lattice curtains exhibit many
fantastic and amusing animal forms
Several point de Venlse lace fiounces
and collars are also Of the greatest in
terest
Group OF Sacred Judaic objects.
A novel division in this exhibition Is
given to a group OF Judaic objects which
Vital BenguiAt had collected for his
private pleasure. These, In addition to
their artistic and intrinsic values. are
rich in sacred associations. One Is a
'Mezuzah," diamond and pearl
mounted case containing infinitely writ
ten parchment scrolls recounting the
history OF the Jews departure from
Palestine. Another Is a "Megillah'' In
a rare repousse gold case with history
of Esther and Mordecai.
The Hebr@o-Spanish valance dates
from the fifteenth century with a design
illustrating the history Of King David
There are two richly jewelled Cohen
ctiffs silver gilt hlagree Cohen shoes