DOI Heft:
Nr. 44 (November 1896)
DOI Artikel:The Arts and Crafts Exhibition, 1896 (second notice)
DOI Seite / Zitierlink:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.17298#0139
77ic Arts and Crafts
of affectation—of the pride
that apes humility. It is
quite possible that this
structure is destined to re-
ceive some painted decora-
tion ; certainly at present
its modesty is rather un-
duly self-evident. A very
beautiful Chest stained
green, with metal lacquer
spots of colour, is one of
the most satisfactory objects
in the gallery, but it owes
so much to colour that it
would be useless to repro-
duce it in monochrome.
cup, beaten copper and cloisonne enamel The jewellery of Mr C
by nelson and edith dawson t, a i l j i ■ i ■ i
rr x Ashbees design, which
[Graciously lent by Her Majesty the Queen) . . .
is here illustrated in ten
examples, is not less im-
the object, instead of hiding it underneath a super- portant than the table-ware. Of all shop win-
fluous mass of applied decoration. In the Pierced dows to-day the jeweller and silversmith (if he
Boivl (page 130), one of the most elaborate confine his wares to modern products) is least
pieces, how much plain sur-
face is left ? Even in the
three spoons, the simply
twisted handles and the
severe outline of the bowls
keep the elaborate decoration
to its rightful place, subsi-
diary to the main form. The
covered sugar basin which
stands second in the row of
five pieces (page 128), is a de-
ligntful instance of elabora-
tion gained by the design of
the essential parts, without
an inch of applied pattern.
In other words, you feel that
its beauty is due to the one
who invented its shape, and
to the one (whether the same
person or not) who translated
it; not to an engraver, or a
painter, who took the finished
structure as a basis on which
to exhibit his own skill.
Simplicity carried danger-
ously near triteness is evident
in theMusic Cabinet(No. 261),
although by fine proportion
and excellent craft it may be
quoted as an example that heraldic device in beaten steel and champleve enamel
rarely escapes the reproach by nelson and edith dawson
127
of affectation—of the pride
that apes humility. It is
quite possible that this
structure is destined to re-
ceive some painted decora-
tion ; certainly at present
its modesty is rather un-
duly self-evident. A very
beautiful Chest stained
green, with metal lacquer
spots of colour, is one of
the most satisfactory objects
in the gallery, but it owes
so much to colour that it
would be useless to repro-
duce it in monochrome.
cup, beaten copper and cloisonne enamel The jewellery of Mr C
by nelson and edith dawson t, a i l j i ■ i ■ i
rr x Ashbees design, which
[Graciously lent by Her Majesty the Queen) . . .
is here illustrated in ten
examples, is not less im-
the object, instead of hiding it underneath a super- portant than the table-ware. Of all shop win-
fluous mass of applied decoration. In the Pierced dows to-day the jeweller and silversmith (if he
Boivl (page 130), one of the most elaborate confine his wares to modern products) is least
pieces, how much plain sur-
face is left ? Even in the
three spoons, the simply
twisted handles and the
severe outline of the bowls
keep the elaborate decoration
to its rightful place, subsi-
diary to the main form. The
covered sugar basin which
stands second in the row of
five pieces (page 128), is a de-
ligntful instance of elabora-
tion gained by the design of
the essential parts, without
an inch of applied pattern.
In other words, you feel that
its beauty is due to the one
who invented its shape, and
to the one (whether the same
person or not) who translated
it; not to an engraver, or a
painter, who took the finished
structure as a basis on which
to exhibit his own skill.
Simplicity carried danger-
ously near triteness is evident
in theMusic Cabinet(No. 261),
although by fine proportion
and excellent craft it may be
quoted as an example that heraldic device in beaten steel and champleve enamel
rarely escapes the reproach by nelson and edith dawson
127