Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1922-11-02
j. S. HAND|CRAFTS
ON EXHIBIT HERE
JeWelry, Silver, Pottery and
Other Art Open to Public
at National Museum.

There was quite a gathering of art
lovers. including the French ambas-
sador and Nine. Jusserand. yesterday
afternoon at the opening private
handicrafts in the National Gallery,
National Museum of Art.
All were enthusiastic over the exhi-
bition, which comprises jewelry. en-
amels. carved ivory. silver, pewter
pottery, wrought iron. decorated
china. textiles. batik and block print
ing, weaving. needlework. book bind
ing. Examinations. stained glass
| wood carving and even lacquer-all
made by hand from original designs
by American craftsmen and each ad-
Judged by an expert jury work OF
art distinguished in design and as
nearly perfect as possible in work
manship.
To many this exhibition. which will
be open to the public until November
%. proved a revelation, for compare
lively few are aware what strides
the handicrafts have made in this
country in the last twenty years and
what really excellent handiwork is
now being done by American crafts
men work comparable not only with
the best being done anywhere, but at
any time.
Collection Well Placed
The collection. assembled by the
American Federation of Arts. our
national art society. for circulation
in the museums of the United States.
mas been admirably placed here in an
lmprovised gallery between the great
rotunda of the National Museum and
the series of galleries wherein are
now shown the splendid McFadden.
ferklns and Johnson collections of
English paintings of the eighteent h
century and other works by the old
masters. 1t is Furthermore charmingly
displayed so that each piece can be
seen to advantage and yet the effect
as a whole is good.
On the wall screens have been hung
the batik scarfs. panels and hanginss,
Lending a colorful and unique note.
These are quite different from ANY,
thing that has gone before and are
perhaps more modernistic in design
than any of the other exhibits. but
even they are fairly conservative. AS
a distinguished visitor was heard to
remark there are no monstrosities in
this exhibition. To the contrary, it is
made up of beautiful things
The case Of jewelry naturally proved
most engaging and it's twenty-five ex-
nibits are indeed Of exceptional order.
beautiful, both in design and workman
snip. each individual, no two alike. and
FAR removed from the usual manufac-
tured article of personal adjournment.
Ihese exhibits have been contributed
by craftsmen in all parts of the United
states. California as we'll as Massa
chusetts. Georgia and New York alike.
Silver Designs Distinct.
Inc silver, which occupies an entire
case. is likewise notable for distinction
IN oeslgn and representative of the
produced. Included in this section is
the president Eliot Cup" its design
Deing adapted from the Greek by Prof.
n. Langford Warren Of Harvard Uni
SerSity and executed by Arthur j. Stone
OF Gardner, Mass. There is also a tea
chalces. teapots and porringers by
other well known silversmiths
samuel fellin of Philadelphia, the
leading worker in wrought iron in this
ousiy interesting Gothic chest fash
loned in an elaborate design and
wrought no less skillfully than by the
ndno OF a master craftsman in the
great age of the Gothic. From Kras
Also Co con,a OF Roxbury. Mass. has
medium. a stair rail Drought in iron
in charming design. !" ''o''
Many of the visitors yesterday
afternoon professed themselves most
Impressed by the pottery exhibit, com
pairing the work shown with thai of
Japan and China, which are stiil n,e.
eminent historically in this craft. Ger
tainly many lovely works are se,
torth, graceful in design and exquisite
IN color. showing fine glazes and
triumphant success in earnest expert
mentatIon to attain the standard OF
the great masters.
Pottery Schools Represented,
The Marblehead. the Fulper. the
Newcomb, the Lockwood, the Pau
Revere potteries are all well repre-.
/ Sented and admirable contribution
nave been received from such distin-
guished potters as Prof Charles F
Binns, Leon Volkmar. Mrs. George H
h &c T r. adelaide Alsop Robineau, EIDE
De +. curtis and Dora Clark. There is
also some excellent decorated china
notably a plate in Persian thirteentt
century design and handsome color
by Grace H. Hackett
One case Is occupied by book bind.
inss and Nominations, all Of which
are attractively set forth on a brocade
background Of sand-colored textile
Among these is an altar service book
by Eliza 1ngle of Baltimore and two
books by Mary Crease Sears of Bos.
ton: With the Examinations are two
OF st. John Baptist, Ralston, N j.
that are essentially in the spirit OF
the best traditions when art was the
handmaiden of the church.
Examples are shown Of panels in
stained glass by three different glass
workers, all of which are in the
Gothic tradition-and there is some
beautiful wood carving-a madonna
and child of medieval naivete by
Kirchmayer. mirror frames, a beauti-
full box with Italian renaissance de-
sign in green and gold-the last by
Walfred Thulin.
Venetian Ship Model.
And in this category is to be in
cluded a model Of a Venetian ship OF
the golden age with decorated sails
and lettered hull showing the good
ships were in those days-a model
historically correct, but made chiefly
as a decoration by Henry B. Culver
the foremost ship model maker of the
present time.
OF the embroideries, tho cut work
| the block printing, the weaving, only
brief mention can be made, but they
| are all finely wrought and unique in
| design-works which may well be
proudly handed down from genera.
tion to generation.
| In the foreword to the catalogue
Mr.. Macomber Of Boston. chairman OF
| the special committee on handicraftt
OF the American Federation Of Arts
| expresses the hope that the work
| shown will introduce American hand
| icrafts to wider public and serve as
| an inspiration and encouragement tc
many others to enter this field.
From here this exhibition will &C
to the museums in Philadelphia
| Providence, Boston. Pittsburgh anc
| Cleveland. LEILA MECHLIN.