THE QUEEN’S LOVE OF ART.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIII, Issue 255, 25 September 1933, Page 9

THE QUEEN’S LOVE OF ART.

SURPRISE VISITS TO THE SHOPS (By A. C. 11. Carter in London Daily Telegraph.) “Tlie Queen knows.” Such is the unanimous and spontaneous verdict of everyone, great or small, connected with the art world. Her Majesty’s natural flair for the beautiful and rare has been fortified by assiduous and continuous practical study. The experts say: “The Queen is always learning—and she never forgets.” No bric-a-brac shop, whether at Cowes or elsewhere, is too small for a thorough inspection when Her Majesty can give time for it. Every dealer worth his sign will toll you that his calling is the most interesting of all. A visit—especially a surprise one—-from the Queen causes him to be convinced that it is also the most fascinating. “I do not think that is really a portrait of the Duke of Cumberland,” she will gently say, when examining some old Staffordshire figure. “Are you sure that those ladies in the picture really are the daughters of George III.?” she will ask, and forthwith give historical clues to a proper identification. ***** Her Majesty’s keenness in the welfare of “the trade” is proved every day. When the British Antique Dealers’ Association courageously held their wonderful exhibition last autumn, the Queen not only gave a lead to the public by making frequent visits, but bought a graceful Adam satinwood cabinet and an exquisite French etui. “Do you think that if I sent a telegram of good wishes, it would help?” she asked the chairman of the first “Antique” dinner some years; and, of course, it was done. For many years the Queen made a profound study of every type of old English pottery and, porcelain, and it is no secret that her mentor in that period was a very erudite sergeantmajor, who, although over 50, went out to France in 1914 —and fortunately returned. But all advanced pupils learn to be attracted by the splendours of Chinese porcelain, and the Queen now knows as much about the glories of K’ang Hsi as ever did that out-and-out votary, Lord Kitchener. Every expert loyally “takes off his hat” to the Queen’s unerring taste in English furniture, and here, again, her studies are carrying her back to the comeliness and grace of the Stuart and Jacobean styles. * * * * * Not long ago Her Majesty made a discovery of signal importance. Finding that there was a comparative dearth of early English furniture- in the Royal collections, she began to wonder why Louis furniture predominated. Then it w r as found that George IV.’s preference for ornate French furniture had been largely “played upon” by his very clever French chef, who helped greatly in the substitution of “new lamps for old.” Yet it cannot be denied that the French suites which supplanted the proud old English furinture are of the most superb quality. Sometimes some of the old English pieces return, as witness that pair of oak and lignum-vitae cabinets which were made for Queen Henrietta Maria. “The Queen will put us right,” is indeed often said by picture-dealers when the identity of some Royal personage—some former Queen —is in doubt. And every one bears witness to her unfailing considerateness and kindness of heart.