RARE ANTIQUES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 240, 10 October 1934, Page 13

RARE ANTIQUES.

VISIT TO COLLECTION.

The members of the arts and crafts circle of the Lyceum Club enjoyed a rare treat yesterday when a visit of the circle was paid to the home of the Misses Prince, in Grange Road, Mount Eden, to see a magnificent collection of antiques. The collection included some very beautiful pieces of old china, paintings, porcelains, period furniture, a wonderful array of clocks, and crystal chandeliers. There were also beautiful marble and ormolu consoles, on one of which rested a Louis XV. clock in ormolu and buhl, the face carried out in raised blue and white enamel. Among the many clocks which were shown were also two grandfather clocks, ono with the maker's name, Lancaster, written across its face. The other was a beautiful modern example. A huge bevelled mirror of irregular oval shape with a framework of Dresden china, in which there was practically no repetition in flowers or figures, was also admired. It had at the top a crown of flowers, and at each side a branch of candles. A collection of candelabra (one of Sevres and ormolu) also brought forth remarks of admiration. A very rare and lovely thing was a Sevres vase in turquoise blue with a Watteau sccne painted upon it and signed by the famous painter himself. Next to it was another Sevres, which also had a Watteau scene upon it, but not signed. It was also in the exquisite colour of turquoise blue. Tapestry foot- | stools over a hundred years old, crystal griffins, Venetian ruby glass, brass fire screens were also to be seen. A particularly interesting object was a little silk painted fan with ivory carving, once the property of Nell G wynne, inset on the ivory on one side was a tiny mirror. Cameos of white Wedgwood, one of Napoleon's Empress Josephine and another of Kink Henry of Navarre, were of further interest. A tiny book about an inch long and an inch wide, encased in leather was another rare thing that was admired. The covers were of cedar wood from trees which had been taken long ago from Palestine to Ethiopia. The leaves were made from the skin of a gazelle; the letterpress was in Anharie, the official language of Ethiopia, written in ink 'made from the sap of trees and fruit. At the close of the afternoon the visitors were most enthusiastic in expressing their thanks to the Misses Prince for the delightful time they had spent.