DOI issue:
No. 28 (July, 1895)
DOI article:W., G.: The Manchester arts and crafts: second exhibition$nElektronische Ressource
DOI Page / Citation link:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.17294#0151
The Manchester Arts and Crafts
inlaid piano-case morris and co.
In Manchester, on the other hand, the danger lies practice could be kept within bounds once the
rather in the direction of inclusion than exclusion, principle were admitted that modern work should
Judged solely by the exhibits in its gallery, with no be submitted to the highest test, of being shown
knowledge of rejections (if any), it seems doubtful side by side with its prototypes of earlier periods,
if the committee had quite made up its mind This preamble is in no way intended as a slur
whether the show was to be of local products, upon an admirable scheme, well worked out;
with a flexible standard of excellence, or of the but rather to point out that the ideal of a purely
best only, drawn from all England. The presence local self-supporting exhibition is hardly likely to
of models of steamships and machinery, and of be attained at present. But, all the same, this
certain home-made curiosities, give colour to the system of periodical exhibitions is the most
first view, while some of the most admirable items feasible way of securing the desired result. If
already seen at the New Gallery support the the advance in design and the interest in local
second. Be it as it may, there is enough of the products is sustained for another ten or twenty
very best, and a goodly majority of quite excellent years at its present rate, then indeed the
objects, which will atone for the
presence of a few less worthy.
If the exhibition, as one
imagined, is limited to contempo-
rary products, one is at a loss to
understand why a collection of
Indo-Persian manuscripts is in-
cluded. Here again, however,
the practice is wiser than the
theory, for this really unique col-
lection is as full of vital interest as
any of the modern contributions.
If one compares the illuminated
addresses of local origin with
these emblazoned pages, the
wisdom of including old mas-
terpieces is apparent; but it
is difficult to see how such a TOp of piano-case morris and co.
132
inlaid piano-case morris and co.
In Manchester, on the other hand, the danger lies practice could be kept within bounds once the
rather in the direction of inclusion than exclusion, principle were admitted that modern work should
Judged solely by the exhibits in its gallery, with no be submitted to the highest test, of being shown
knowledge of rejections (if any), it seems doubtful side by side with its prototypes of earlier periods,
if the committee had quite made up its mind This preamble is in no way intended as a slur
whether the show was to be of local products, upon an admirable scheme, well worked out;
with a flexible standard of excellence, or of the but rather to point out that the ideal of a purely
best only, drawn from all England. The presence local self-supporting exhibition is hardly likely to
of models of steamships and machinery, and of be attained at present. But, all the same, this
certain home-made curiosities, give colour to the system of periodical exhibitions is the most
first view, while some of the most admirable items feasible way of securing the desired result. If
already seen at the New Gallery support the the advance in design and the interest in local
second. Be it as it may, there is enough of the products is sustained for another ten or twenty
very best, and a goodly majority of quite excellent years at its present rate, then indeed the
objects, which will atone for the
presence of a few less worthy.
If the exhibition, as one
imagined, is limited to contempo-
rary products, one is at a loss to
understand why a collection of
Indo-Persian manuscripts is in-
cluded. Here again, however,
the practice is wiser than the
theory, for this really unique col-
lection is as full of vital interest as
any of the modern contributions.
If one compares the illuminated
addresses of local origin with
these emblazoned pages, the
wisdom of including old mas-
terpieces is apparent; but it
is difficult to see how such a TOp of piano-case morris and co.
132