WEALTH OF THE PAST

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21774, 13 October 1932, Page 10

WEALTH OF THE PAST

EXHIBITION OF ANTIQUES A REMARKABLE DISPLAY The attraction of articles of furniture and decoration which on account of their great age are rich in associations with the past is strikingly demonstrated in the loan collection of antiques which was opened for exhibition in the Pioneers’ Hall last night, in aid of the Free Kindergarten Funds, and the large attendance was a tribute to the efforts and the generosity of those who made it possible for the public of Dunedin to see such a magnificent display. Hanging through many centuries and representing many •different countries the exhibits provide a unique opportunity to study the work of craftsmen who, in their time, were unsurpassed in their arts, arid have left in their handiwork such a heritage as will cause their names to be remembered while a love of the beautiful remains in man.

In his opening remarks the chairman (Mr H. Mandeno) said they all hoped that the exhibition would be a great success, and the members of the committee felt that they had reason to feel gratified with the very fine show. It now remained for the public to patronise the exhibition freely, and be was sure that those who had seen it once would feel impelled to make another visit. He would like to thank all who had lent articles, and in this connection there had been a wonderful response. Although it was invidious to select anyone in particular, it would have been impossible to bold such an exhibition bad it not been for the self-sacrificing work of Mrs Sleigh and Mrs Jackson Purdie, who bad - been engaged for weeks in preparation, and bad had to inspect every article, besides carrying out the cataloguing and many other necessary arrangements. Sir Lindo Ferguson,, who officially opened the exhibition, said that it had been arranged to assist the Free Kindergarten, which had found itself in difficulties as the result of the withdrawal of the Government grant, and as £IOOO had to be raised it was a case of the very old being used to help the very young. Speaking of antiques he did not pretend to be an expert, but for that matter no one could know really all about such a subject. He did not think that one who was considered an expert derived the same pleasure old things as did the less knowing, because he was constantly criticising and could see flaws where others saw only perfection. The exhibition comprised a magnificent collection of articles, but it made one regret that there was not a permanent loan exhibition in connection with the art gallery, so that people could see it from time to time. To enjoy old things one must love them, and the more that was put into an article in the way of affection the greater would be the pleasure derived from it. In making possible such a , display Mrs Jackson Purdie and Mrs Sleigh had performed a regular labour of Hercules during the past few weeks, as bad the secretary (Mr A. C. Matheson), Mrs R. A. Ewing, and Mr F. Bai - ron. Sir Lindo referred to the various periods represented by the exhibition, and spoke of the memories associated with them, dealing in an interesting manner with the probable origin of some of the articles and with the men who had made them.

The exhibition comprises a remarkablyvaried selection. Some particularly fine specimens may be seen in the Chippendale section, two very interesting pieces being serpentine chests, one of mahogany and the other of the very heavy padouk wood. Comprising many different articles of furniture, this section represents- in the beauty of design and execution some of the finest -work of the famous Thomas Chippendale, who lived in the eighteenth century. One of the outstanding exhibits in the Sheraton section is an inlaid mahogany bureau, which was made between 1780 and 1800, and visitors will also be impressed with an exquisite tea caddy of unusual design, a mahogany shield mirror, and a much-sought-after pole screen with a Bartolozzi stipple engraving after Angelica Kauffmann. The bay containing Continental furniture makes an especially interesting and striking display, being set out on an Aubussori carpet of a very rare type, Italian chairs delicately inlaid with ivory are placed, beside a Spanish cabinet of the sixteenth century, and one of the best pieces in the section is an Italian marquetry writing table whose age is estimated at about 160 years. An interesting example of oak and country-made furniture is a day bed made from old pews of a church at Bury St. Edmonds, and it is notable for some Saxon and Norman carvings, while an example of the earliest type of table, an oak drawleaf table of 1630, bears evidence of many years of useful service. An oak Bible box of about 1650-is a very rare piece, and an unusual exhibit is a grandmother clock of about 1750, which is slightly smaller than the recognised grandfather clock. The trials of Daniel in the lions den are illustrated by a darving on an oak mule chest of 1710, and a similar type of chest of Spanish make extends into the depths of antiquity,’having been constructed not many years after the Armada made its assault on England. Some beautiful work may be seen in the walnut section, which bears testimony to the delicacy of the work of the eighteenth century craftsmen, a particularly striking example being a William and Mary table, exquisitely inlaid with mother-of-pearl. One of the finest things in the exhibition is an Adam period mahogany bureau bookcase, with beautifully painted decorations, which was made between 1760 and 1770, the original glass being still intact. A wealth-of associations surrounds -an old North Persian sarcophagus drape which originally belonged to the Prince of Persia, who presented it to the present owner Mr b. de Beer. In pictorial form it first shows the dragon of death about to take the crowded king, who appeals in vain to his servants for assistance. Then there W the day of judgment, with the desert eagles, the jackal, and the lions waiting for the corpse, while the angels and sei vants of Satan await the passing of the soul only to be frustrated as the king, seated on an Arab horse, to his seat in Paradise, attended by ins ‘"Sc “s” d . tof Station »t .WM, in which the Chelsea, Derby, other types are represented by . s ?me very striking specimens m .which a hirfory ot his fonn of decoration may be traced over a great many years, ihe glass also makes an attractive display, one very fine niece bein- a glass of fragile beauty with rsphaT'twistld stem. .For those whose tastes lie more in the, direction of the practical than . the ornamental there is a wealth of attraction m the exhibits of the Regency and English Empire periods, which contain a eanteeu used by Sir John Moore at the. battle of Corunna, an officers campaigning set and table and a table and chairs winch belonged to the Duke of Wellington, while many will be interested in a fane mahogany table of exquisite design and execution. A brass-mounted case containing a rule and a pair of dividers used by the Duke of Wellington is also on view. During th<s evening an eightcenth-cen-turv playlet in costume, arranged by Alia R T Little, was presented, and made a fitting interlude. The players were Mrs Little, Mrs Richard Hill, Mrs Frank Turner, and Misses Dorothy Scoullai, Beryl Service, and Betty Barling. Mrs Hill sang the solo, “ Pastorale, with very pleasing effect, and joined Mrs Turner in the duet, “Sweet Kate,” while Misses Service and Scoullar performed a period dance. Mrs Little was the pianist. The exhibition will bo open for the next fortnight, and to-day Mr Josef Szigeti, the Hungarian violinist, will lend a. fourteenth ‘century violin inlaid with ivory, which should attract a good deal ot interest.