PERSIAN ART IN LONDON

Hokitika Guardian, 7 March 1931, Page 6

PERSIAN ART IN LONDON

MOSQUE BY MOONLIGHT. INVISIBLE RAY GUARDS. CROWN JEWELS. LONDON, January 6. i lie avowed aim of the great Persian exhibition at Burlington House is to enable Western peoples to “gain some insight into the mainsprings of Persian character and to appreciate the Persian outlook on affairs” in response to the great efforts which are being made in modern Persia to bring Western thought and scientific method before the-younger generation.

i His Majesty the King and his I .Majesty the Shall are joint patrons | and the American Oriental expert. Mr l Cplumi Pope, is the originator am; presiding genius ol this ambitions effort to show sample's oi the finest examples of all the arts of Persia ancient and modern, 'flu* same friendly rivalry which inspired collectors of all nations to give of their best at the recent Flemish. Dutch and Italian exhibitions has once more enriched this latest venture. and even the Soviet Government lias collaborated to the extent of sending a priceless collection, comprising a sword go veil by Path Ali Shall to Nicholas 1., two copes of the sixteenth and eighteen centuries of embroidered cloth of gold and silver, and an. armlet sprinkler of enamelled gold set with rubies emeralds and pearls, which were included in the inventories of Elizabeth and Catherine the Great. These lovely tilings, whose scintillation is almost blinding, are much more fascinating. with their .smaii well-set jewels, than the Appurtenances to the Persian crown which are also on view guarded by an invisible ray which operates a hooter and light ill the entries. At the alarm, either by hooter or by light signal, every door in the building is closed so that no one can enter or leave it until the all-clear is given. The collection of Crown jewels belong to the early nineteenth century, and the crude setting of the huge uncut emeralds and other jewels does not i do them justice. More lovely are the i smaller and more delicate pieces which are to he found in other show cases. DELIGHTS' FOR AVOAIEN. There is almost- everything here to j d.'light the heart, ol woman, from the I most famous carpets in the world to | ravishing lengths of what is 'described as “lady s trousering,” l ings which were made- for tiny fingers, .strange necklaces and delectable earrings. A waitress who was serving ten to some f of tin- privileged visitors could not re- j sist a peep into one jewellery case its slu* hastened past. Does she dream of ! Persian princesses a.-> she whisks round with her trays Y

There are many tilings to please the romantically minded, not least tlie model of tin* great portal and pool of the Royal Mo-qile of Isfahan, which Is fitted with lights giving an effect of moon light as the blue and gold architecture is reflected in its pool of black glass. One thinks for a moment that the Taj .Mahal must he just a little like this, hut of mucli greater beauty Another sot-piece is the little circle of cypresses which encloses a mode] of the tomb of Shah Abbas If. at Quin. The tom Ii irsel.f is covered with a small sill: and gold carpet, while beside it a great silk carpet from that closely guarded shrine is exposed to AYestern

y Bninilor objects which are of special c- interest include l the ivory elephant )f 11 ml; from :i Florentine museum, which | * ■ 'do mil suvs once fonned part of ;t ie chees set, given to Charlemagne by d ii a i onn-a l-iS aseliid. Ot hers will want >r to see the actual copy of the Rubaiyat ■ r of Omar Khayyam which was used by o Fiizgerakl on his translation, while a n helmet given to George 111. h.v Fa til d Ah’ Shah, and lent by U..M. the King e is also interesting, t f, s FARIA BROCADE. n | Tim earliest known example of PerI sian brocade in English seventeenth _ j centui'v costume is also there in the I ! form of breeches worn by Sir James • j Fowler at the coronation of Janies 11. ; I here are various specimens of astro- . ! nomica I and astrological instruments , which recall the Persian tradition, and . a pair of scales, dating from the sixeenth century, "of steel damascended with arabesque ornament in gold” , complete with steel weights, and a beam of ivory come from the old mint at Isfahan. i The Persian love of making their everday implements beautiful is seen. everywhere, not only in their famous tiles and pottery, but in such tilings, j as “a slid) on which to sharpen pens,” j ' the “top of a water-pipe.” which is enamelled on gold, beggar's bowls, en-i velopes for letters of cut pile velvet on j doth of gold a circular panel intended for the top of a tent, in cut silk vel- | vet. with a fawn ground, and limiting scenes in green and crimson. Most amusing of all is a “scrubbing stone” j in the form of a duck, only lOem. long We are not told who was to he scrub- 1 • bed with it. or if it was only used on 1 inanimate objects. Another interesting exhibit is a bottle of “Shriaz” wine j presented to Queen Anne by a Persian ! Embassy in 1708 and kept in the "Duke j of Rutland’s cellars since 1758. ■ i QUAINT INSCRIPTIONS. 1 The inscriptions which appear on 1 nearly every object are also a source i of the greatest delight. Who could rejsist a correspondent who used a seal j engraved with good wishes? Sefssors <■ with the words. “0 Thou Opener of 1 Door’'' on them would be an encoura- - l

ging New Year gift; and the words i “Slave of the King of Sanctity’’ are glorious. We have also an Imperial ! Astronomer who describes his astronomical globe as “the work of the , meanest of slaves.” On this desoripj tion in a manuscript of Jami’s Kliamsa, dated 1022 of which the title is i “Ladies of Egypt, astonished at the | beauty of Joseph, cut their fingers ’ with fruit knives in their confusion.” j The manuscripts alone are worthy volumes, and the miniatures which form part of them are equally entranc j ing. They bring hack the Arabian Nights at a single glance, and the | 1 titles are delightful. Could anything I beat tl lis one: “The Parrot's Evidence I in a Love Affair. j The only regret which one has about this wonderful and inspiring show is that we cannot all go separately or an small numbers to savour its delicacy in that atmosphere of soft colours and tinted lights in which the subtlety of the East is so well expressed. ———- |