CHINA FIGURES.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIII, Issue 9135, 2 May 1908, Page 7

CHINA FIGURES.

AT £IOO AN INCH. A thousand guineas seems a high price for a china figure only eleven inches high, but that was the sum recently paid for a specimen of the portrait of the Countess de Koeasel done in Dresden china, and now this record may be beaten, for another example of this rare figure is _ to be offered for sale at Messrs Christie’s. It is a beautiful example of old Dresden work. The lady is wearing a pink bodice and a large crinoline decorated with daintily painted flowers. Under one arm she carries a pug dog, and another dog rests at her feet. The pedestal on which she stands is finely painted with small landscapes and Watteau figures. The figure is one of the gems of the splendid collection of old Dresden and Sevres porcelain which is being gold at the famous auction rooms. The collection, which was made by the late Mr C. J. Dickens, the wellknown draper, is one of the finest in this country, and it contains many examples of Drench and Saxon ware. Some idea of the individual value •of the pieces may bo gathered from ■the fact that although only three hundred and twenty-eight arc being offered during a sale which will extend over three days, experts expect the collection to # realise well into five figures. These porcf lains were so precious, even at the time they were made, that only the richest could buy them, and such vases and figures as this collection contains wore reckoned present- worthy to he given by Kings to Kings. Ami the struggle between the Saxon and French porcelain factories forms a picturesque hit of eighteenth - century history. For some time the French were aide to make what is '■S’ known as “soft paste, ’' and it wan unsurpassed in beauty of form and richness of colour, Hut the soft paste was fragile and couid he very easily broken, while the Haxou wuto _ was hard and more durable. Ho for a long time the Haxong had, so far as popular taste v/ent. the best of the struggle, Tl t>-ir factory at the castle of Meissen was almost like a prison, its se rets being jealously guarded by the most solemn oaths.

But the secret of of hard paste finally found its way to France.