The New York herald., 1921-02-20
Early American
Furniture Shown in
Myers Collection
Rare Paintings Add to Interest
in American Art AssOcia-
tons Exhibit.

The remarkable collection Of early
American and English furniture belong
ing to Louis Guerineau Myers which
was placed on public view yesterday
at the American Art Association. viii
awaken widespread interest. and TO give
added Importance TO the occasion a gal
lery OF old masters. including a Rubens
and a fine collection of Chinese art
\ treasures, were shown.
The enthusiasm for fine American fur
niture increases in the same ratio as
that for the best OF the native paintings,
and this fact has been one OF the most
marked developments of the present war
period. Every fresh collection of the
best in these lines accents the trend of
the public taste in these directions. and
the Myers collection will be suro 20 make
further history, as II not only maintains
a high level throughout but includes
many pieces of unique excellence. Mr..
Myers. who is an acknowledged con-
noisseur, has gwen many years to form
ing il, and tor the result he must be
congratulated. Both artisans and artists
viii view II with pleasure and profit,
but beyond that such a collection has a
more important though subtle mission
that Of stimulating national pride in our
own achievements.
Imposing Groups of Chairs.
There are entire roomfuls OF American
Chppendale and American Hepplewhite
pieces, imposing groups of American
Windsor chairs. piecrust tables, pieces
by Duncan Phyfe and William Savery
American Heppewhite mirrors. rare
desks, clocks. old china and old glass.
In such display it is impossible 10 fix
with certainty upon the star exhibit, but
doubtless this will be to most people the
pair of American Hepplewhite china cab
inets which cannot elsewhere be
matched. They came from the Barton
Willing sale in Philadelphia. They are
Of mahogany with inlays of satinwood
strips and were made in 1890 Duncan
Phyfe IN whose work there is now such
interest, Is represented by a group that
Includes a mahogany card table, a mir
ror a side chair and a corner wash
stand.
Mr.. Myers has been unusually success
ful in finding rare mirrors, most OF
which are framed In walnut and gold.
the gold being generally the original
gold There is one of them that Is con-
sidered to be the product Of Chippen-
dales own shop. although II was found
on Long Island. An exceptionally elab-
crate American Empire sofa IS supposed
TO be the work of Phyfe Among the
tall clocks there is one made In Holland
IN the Chippendale style that is espe-
cially handsome. OF the mantel clocks
one interesting example is by Joshua
White Of bingham, Mass
a pair Of Chippendale chairs are said
TO have belonged to the famous Dolly
Madison. and a second pair OF Ameri-
can Chippendale chairs match an ex-
ceedingly interesting card table. An
American Hepplawhite sideboard made
IN lfS6, higaboy in satinwood desks
and chests OF drawers with block
fronts. Sheraton work tables, and 'sil-
yer tables represent other phases OF
fine workmanship Among the old all
yer there is William Hollingshead"
teapot and an Anthony" tea set. Two
groups of English Worcester. OF
Bennington ware dogs in white are
unique. as is also Staffordshiro
pitcher In silver resist in combination
with a pink and blue decoration. The
Whieldon and Lowestoft. are beyond
what Is usual in American auction
rooms. but that indeed may he said
Of all the various divisions of this rare
collection.
Rubens and Van Dyck.
There Is both a Rubens AMI a Van
Dyck among the pictures shown, and
both belong TO Col. Leon Osterreth of
Antwerp. Belgium. The Ruhens is
charming study of graceful little
page. with cloak, lace ruff and feath-
cred hat. and Is placed on the canvas
with unerring decorative skill. The
picture occupied a place OF honor in the
reconstructed house OF Rubens ut the
Universal Exposition at Brussels in
1910. The Van Dyck is also A ror-
trait. representing a middleaged man
standing by a pillar. and with the
usual Van Dyck care bestowed upon
the painting of the hands. BY Detaille
there Is an oil painting OF a Sentry
that is brushed in with more than the
usual ruggedness. and BY the late Will
lam VI. Chase there is one of his famous
fish still-lifes. In this work the model
ling of the fish and the peculiar slipper
| mess of the textures is achieved with
] the brush OF a magician
The Chinese antiques belonging to n.
Douglas Rodgers and X. T. Wong of
Shanghai illustrate much that Is sig
nifcant in the art OF the Orientals
; There are fine jades and crystals. with
interesting trees carved from precious
materials. coral, amethyst and amber
| necklaces, ancient ritual carvings. early
| figure potteries, single color and dec
| Grated porcelains and sacrificial temple
| lars Among the rugs Is an especially
| fine Chien-lung carpet in blue and white,
| with added decorations in warmer colors
The Myers collection will be sold at
auction i'm the galleries on February "a.
25 and rs. and the Chinese antiques on
February % The paintings will be sold
az the Hotel Plaza on February "a.