TITANIA'S PALACE

Evening Post, Issue 60, 11 March 1936, Page 9

TITANIA'S PALACE

PEEP INTO FAIRYLAND

What- joy for the children of, Wellington—and moreover for many adults tcj probably. .There is now present in the city the niuchtalked-of "Titania'a Palace," designed by an artist, Sir Neville Wilkinson, and carried out in a: Dublin workshop; under his directions.-,'' Sir Neville,; /when painting a truly fairylike scene; in Ireland, was inspired with the <idea (that fairyland was 'there, and he must do something to make "Midsummer Night's Dream" live tor ;tiie children,'and now we all can ."touch ■with' 'our.'finger-tips the 'ivory gates and • golden" of a fairy palace. , '•■ ■'■■■: .'•■'■ i '(■■.':.*:'.

' The proceeds of the tour round the world of this marvel are to be used in aid of sick; children.; The "Palace" is on view ,yrithin the:hosipitable doors of James Smitt,' Ltd, Manners Street. ;>'Specially'iwbnderful* is the tlirone room, where a diamond peacock keeps guard at the back of the throne (this having been made by a French jeweller for the Paris exhibition in 1856; the gold figures on the arms are the work of the great Benvenuto Cellini, while the plaque above is of Sevres biscuit: china. There is )a painted mosaic ceiling, freize.and floor, and the young people will have the opportunity of seeing a gold, enamel, and diamond cup from the palace «f King Thebaw himself. Titania's boudoir contains many wonders, including a spinet modelled after that used by Handel, and there are some delights interpolated from the much-loved "Alice in Wonderland." There are tapestries, which bring to mind some of the -i'grown-up" ones of the Old World, and which will serve Jo show the children miniatures of these lovely works.

In the "Hall of the Fairy Kiss" there is a casket with insignia, and a royal sleigh standing, on a floor inlaid with 2000 pieces of wood. In the hall are portraits of Queen Mary and Queen Alexandra, bringing the palace up to date. There are valuable bronzes, vases of marvellously valuable china. In the tiny chapel there is a reredos which took Sir Neville four years to complete, too beautiful to describe, while in front of this is a copy of the Cross of Cong and a miniature of the Ardagh Chalice, both representing early Irish work. The windows are of enamel, quite unique, and there is a boxwood group of the Holy Family, carved in South Germany about 1600. Still older—about 1450—is an illuminated Book of Hours, open on a stand. The font was once the private seal of the Duke of Leinster,,and the smallest rosary in the world is to be seen there also. Oberon is represented as musical, for there is a tiny 'cello and violin in his study, also a warlike man, for there are shown miniature claymores and a Bdhnie Prince Charlie There are pictures, equipment for the toilette of a king, and many other wonders in his dressing-room, as well, as in his study, where there are genuine antiques, and other interesting caskets, etc.

However, it is little use to enter into too much description—"Titania's Palace" has to be seen to be believed, for the mind of man, woman, or child can hardly conceive any thing so truly fairylike, and those who come away from visiting it may really feel as if they had entered into Shakespeare's "Midsummer Night's Dream," and wtk'e with a start when they come away out into the humdrum life of the city.

The palace is a much-travelled one. It delighted many thousands during three years' tour in the United Kingdom, followed by three years in America. Then it went to Amsterdam, artf then away to the Antipodes, first to Australia, where it is estimated that 200,000 people were privileged to see it. So far it has been the means of raising more than £50.000 for sick and needy children. '■"< '