International studio (54.1914/1915)

Antique Chinese Cloisonne Enamels

utecl to the close of the Ming dynasty (1368-1643);
fashioned with spreading mouth and base. The body is
divided by floriated bands into five horizontal sections,
which are filled with typical lotus and leaf scroll designs
in red, green, white, brown and yellow enamels on a
turquoise ground.
No. 83. A Pear-Shaped Vase (Hua-p’ing) of the Ming
dynasty (1368-1643); with spreading base, bronze lion-
head handles with loose rings on the shoulder. The
vase is divided by floriated bands into five horizontal
sections, which are filled with characteristic lotus flowers
and scrolls rendered in low-toned enamels on a pale
turquoise-blue ground. Its height is 16X inches.
No. 90. A Large Ewer (Chiu-hu). In form of an
ancient Persian gulap or gulabpash (used as a rose-water
sprinkler), with slender handle and spout, supported by
a dragon’s head of gilt-bronze. The body, with a deep
turquoise-blue ground, displays conventional lotus blos-
soms and leafy scrolls, in typical enamel colours of the
Ming dynasty. The two flattened sides have circular
panels, with separate Buddhistic floral and fruit motifs
(emblems of abundance), notably the pomegranate and
the “ Buddha’s hand ” citron. Its height is 13X inches.
The Ta Ch’ing dynasty is represented by exam-
ples of the K’ang-hsi, Yung Ch’eng and Ch’ien-
lung eras, which are distinguished for the excel-
lence of their enamels and technical finish. Vide
illustrations Nos. 27 to 31 inclusive.
A gilt-bronze and cloisonne enamel shrine set
(Wu hung shih), composed of the following pieces:
No. 27. A Censer-Tripod (Hsiang-lu), made era of
Ch’ien-lung (1736-1795), with gilt-bronze mounting,
rim handles and original cover. The cloisonne motifs
include a bordering of archaic, mask-like lineaments
known as t'ao-t'ieh yen, or gluttonous ogres, alternating
with eight gilt-bronze rosettes. These are followed
below by a border of green enamelled palm leaves, with
archaic ornaments, on a blue diapered ground, showing
red flowering. The three feet display similar latticed
diaper and archaic forms. The cover is of gilt-bronze
open-work, surrounding cloisonne panels, and is topped
by an open-work gilt-bronze finial in form of a coiled
dragon, amid cloud forms. Its height is 16 inches.
Nos. 28 and 29. A Pair of Beakers (Hua-ku) en suite
with small ovoid bodies, slender trumpet-shaped necks
and spreading bases. Decorated on the neck and base
with long green enamelled palm-leaf bordering, which
encloses archaic ornaments in lapis blue, on a ground of
turquoise. The ovoid centre section is divided into four
vertical compartments, each showing lotus blossoms in
India red, yellow and white enamels, surrounded by
arabesque scrolls. The upper and lower rims are
finished with engraved fret (Zef-wew) bands. Height,
17X inches.
Nos. 30 and 31. A Pair of Pricket Candlesticks (Chu-
t’at) en suite with arabesque scrolls and conventional lo-
tus blossoms matching the beakers. Height, 15P2 inches.
Note.—This article will be concluded in our next
issue, when further examples will be shown
illustrative of the Ta Ch’ng dynasty, followed
by examples of the champ-leve method.
The Art Alliance of America is an associa-
tion of workers in art and users of art in all
branches, working toward a single end. It has
been formed to promote co-operation between art-
ists, art students, artisans, publishers, manufac-
turers, advertisers and all others who are engaged

in artistic activities; with the assistance of experts
to aid, direct and advise art students, artisans and
artists in their studies and pursuits; to provide a
general registry for artists, art students, artisans
and employers; to provide a department of infor-
mation; to hold exhibitions; to publish information
relating to the objects of the Alliance.
ART EXHIBITS AT THE PANAMA
/\ EXPOSITION
■L The various collections of famous
works of art to be shown in the one
hundred galleries in the great fireproof Palace of
Fine Arts, long since completed, at the Panama-
Pacific Exposition have been augmented by the
receipt of many large shipments from the East.
Eugene Pirard, the Belgian expert in charge of
their installation, has just moved into the Palace
to carry on the work of partitioning off the maze of
galleries and of hanging the paintings and etchings.
Among the art shipments, in addition to half a
carload already received from Boston and several
cases from St. Louis, is a carload of paintings
which lately arrived from Chicago for the Exposi-
tion. A second large shipment from the Chicago
Art Institute Museum has appeared and another
carload from Boston, containing rare sculptured
works and canvases, followed in due course. J. E.
D. Trask, chief of this department of the Exposi-
tion, now is in the east, arranging itineraries of the
travelling art juries, and securing the best historical
and modern art works in America. Enormous ship-
ments of art works from all of the warring nations of
Europe have been recently shipped on the United
States naval collier Jason, which carried a shipload
of Christmas presents to Europe’s destitute. Ow-
ing to the eagerness of Germany, France, Holland,
England, Italy, Spain, Greece and other nations
to get their artistic masterpieces into a less unsafe
region, it has been possible to collect from those
countries the most valuable and the largest collec-
tion of works of art ever shown at any exposition.
Hospital Decoration—-Indianapolis has set a
good example by beautifying its city hospital with
the aid of Indiana artists. Two buildings, known
as the Burdsal units, have been added to the gen-
eral scheme. Several local artists, including
Wayman Adams, who recently exhibited here in
New York, at the City Club, have been busy dur-
ing the summer in planning wall paintings of a
suitable nature for the different wards, corridors,
dining and other rooms.

LXXVIII