Evening star., 1936-09-12
ARTS AT HARVARD
Learning Stands on Equal Footing With Fine
Things of Life as Scholars Gather
at Tercentenary

by Houdon, modelled at Mount Vernon.
Medallions of both Washington and
Franklin by Josiah Wedgwood are
shown.
Turning now to the crafts. The
showing of silver Is exceptionally ex-
tensive and fine. These pieces come
from over 40 different lenders. but
in almost very instance have a direct
or indirect connection with Harvard
College, having been owned by for
mer presidents or tutors or by early
graduates; practically all the out
standing silversnliths of Boston are
represented. Among these now fa-
nous craftsmen we're such distin-
guished artisans as jeremiah Dum-
mer. John Coney, John Burt, Jacob
Hurd, Samuel Minott and Paul
Revere, and the 162 examples set
forth include tankards, beakers. bowls
porringers. teapots. spoons. candle
sticks, etc. the majority Of which
are fine in design as well as work
manship.
Of earlier date is the pewter. Pew
terers were known to have piled their
craft in Boston as early as 1643. but
no outstanding examples are dated
before 1920 or thereabout. Pewter
was the poor mans silver, and in
common use among the colonists. but
it dented and scratched easily and
was often recaSt or reformed. When
Harvard was established, the students
used wooden treuchers, but in 1914.
according to record, there we're in
the buttery SO pewter platters upon
which food was brought to the tables.
The shapes of some of the mugs and
tankards are by no means unpleasing.
THE collection OF glass is smaller
but of no less interest, very choice
examples having been secured. Among
the most notable Is a beaker made at
the glass mandatory situated at New
Bremen in Maryland in 1889 by John
FIR. Amelung and Co. which bears the
inscription, Our best wishes for every
|GlasSmanufactury in the united states
God bless the city of Boston" This
beaker was presented to John Phillips,
Harvard, 1888 the first Mayor of Bos.
ton, 1922, by Amelung.
In point of time, the earliest glass
manufactured in this country was
made by Caspar Wistar in Southern
New Jersey. This was about 1879. Later
| came Pitkin, Stiegel and Sandwich
| glass, each mandatory using differ.
ent methods, chiefly borrowed from
abroad. Most interesting in this coll
! lection are two examples of Stiegel
| glass-a covered sugar bowl. once
owned by Lord Timothy Dexter, sap
phire blue, and a flower vase of the
same color, dug up on the site of the
old glass house. These both have great
beauty OF form. There is much va.
! riety in the Stiegel glass in this exhibi-
ton. in color as we'll as form and deco.
| ration. For instance, covered flip
glass of clear white flint in engraved
| in floral pattern very similar to ex-
amples which now come to us from
Sweden or are produced in this coun.
try by the Corning glass works in CO.
operation with contemporary artists.
FOR the majority Of persons, the
furniture in this exhibition will
prove of the greatest interest. Begin
ming with the 18th century, it shows
the evolution of style up to post-Revo-
lutionary days. Some of the examples
shown are by such famous makers
as Nicholas Disbrowe of Hartford,
while others were home products by
yhak fAIN
craftsmen. Such is leather chair
made by the Rev. Edward Holyoke,
president of Harvard, 173T-69, long in
| use in the Holyoke family. There are
chests and cupboards as we'll as chairs,
from the plain and substantial to the
ornate of late Colonial days. Many
show wear and recall use, the touch
of many hands, which enrich and en-
shrine them.
There are several interesting clocks
in this section and, most interesting,
unique, an ''orrery' made by Joseph
Pope of Boston in 1888 which was the
forerunner of the present-day plane
tarium. This 'orrery," which in dimen-
sionS is about that of living room
round-table. stands on legs and has a
glass top, representing the heavens and
the movement Of the heavenly bodies,
and was regarded as the last word in
ingenuity and scientific invention.
Sponsored by the American Academy
of Arts and Sciences, it was purchased
for Harvard College through the me-
dium of lottery, approved by act of
Legislature, signed by John Hancock
and was eventually deposited in the
Philosophy Room at Cambridge. The
Legislature. in authorizing this lottery.
for which 5000 tickets were sold at AZ
each, and 673 prizes awarded, justified
itself by the pronouncement that
thereby ingenuity was encouraged. a
worthy mechanic rewarded and
science advanced. The drawing ac.
tually took place in the Hall of Rep.
resentatives, the proceeds were an.
proximately $3.50 of which f450 were
paid to Mr.. Pope, the maker. A foot
note in the catalogue states that the
"orrery' is still in good condition, but
hints that century has made a
change in the estimate in which
orrerles are held. At least it witnesses
to the advancement of science and to
Continued on Page B-6)