CHINESE AND JAPANESE COLLECTION.

Evening Star, Issue 3527, 12 June 1874, Page 2

CHINESE AND JAPANESE COLLECTION.

Mr Small, who is so deservedly respected by the public of Dunedin, having lately visited China and Japan, while there procured some beautiful articles, the manufacture of those countries, that are well worthy of inspection, both on account of their intrinsic value and as illustrative of the state of art in those lands. There are vases of porcelain of elegant form and excellent quality. In fact, even in a country where labor is so cheap as in Japan, they are costly products ; and we are informed they are doubly more valuable than anything of the kind hitherto introduced into this Colony. The ornamental designs are elaborately worked in, and as it is not likely thac such really valuable goods will be frequently offered, they should meet with ready purchasers. Next in order of arrangement are some bronze Japanese ornaments of very excellent workmanship. Of course there is a peculiarity in all Eastern designs which distinguishes them from those of Western nations. This is strikingly shown in some embroidery on silk; hut they are only the originals of many European patterns, and in most respects excel the copies. The jewellery in gold of Chinese manufacture is superb. We know nothing of the value Mr Small sets upon the_ splendid bracelets enclosed in highlypolished ivory cases; but we can appreciate the skill, patience, and .labor bestowed on their details. One or more heavy bracelets are formed of tigers’ claws,. well polished and set in gold ; another is of gold, frosted in places, but carefully and minutely worked into endless varieties of form; a third has a number of designs of flowers elaborately carved from a crane’s head bones, and set in gold The effect is exceedingly rich. There are pendants for watch chains of various designs, each of which is carefully and accurately worked out; there are brooches and rings of rare form and pattern, enclosing precious stones of great value; there are card cases in ivory, rich, in ornaraentation, and of beautiful workmanship • In fact, although we do not doubt the skill of European artists, nor their ability to equal the work exhibited, we do not think they could profitably afford the time requisite to produce such goods, even with the advantage they possess in superiority of tools. The Chinese paintings in some respects prove that what is looked upon as a fault in Chinese pictorial art is absent; at any rate, in those exhibited. It is said the Chinese do not understand perspective ; that they are brilliant colorists and painstaking delineators,but that their pictures are flat. If this be the general characteristic of art in China, it is not shown in the paintings on view by Mr Small. One is a view of Macao 5 in which both lineal and aerial perspective are well observed ; there are also a number of sea views, in which their proas, with their picturesque forms and sails of matting are well pou rtray ed, but chief amongst them in finish and design is a splendid copy of a European P lc ture-we suppose a Sultana. It is the head and bust of a beautiful woman in Eastern dress. Ihe coloring and working are very fine. But perhaps the most extraordinary effort of Chinese painting, from a mere photograph, is the portrait of a gentleman well known to us. It is somewhat less than life-size, but a most striking likeness, and, barring the Chinese background of blue-grey, a very excellent picture. We have seen less portraits, and decidedly inferior paintings, for which very high prices have been paid at Home. Mr Small, in addition to the works of art, has imported a number of very useful articles of furniture, such as drawers, writing-desks, easy-chairs, &o. The chairs are of bamboo, and afford hints for comfort and cheapness which should not be lost upon our own artizans. Many of the contrivances for the writing-desks and wardrobes are well worthy examination by our cabinetmakers. We do not suppose they will copy them in all their details, because of the difference of material they have to work on, but we commend the adaptation of the arrangements to circumstances to their consideration, for they show how much may be done for comfort and conservation of material at a, very small expense. Amongst the minor curiosities are several walking-sticks or riding-whips, silvertipped and mounted, made of the horn ef the rhinoceros; they are very elastic, highly polished, and semi-transparent.