DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.1311#0295
OF THE WORLD'S INDUSTRY. 255
The Indian courts contained several examples of snuff-boxes, the most curious being
■—the gourd snuff-boxes, mounted in gold and silver, from Seinde; a snuff-box made
from a cocoa-nut, highly polished; another from the biiva fruit; and a beautiful specimen
made from buffalo-horn, inlaid "with metal. St. Helena contributed snuff-boxes made
from the willow-tree under which the remains of the great Napoleon reposed until
their removal to France, and also from a willow-tree which he planted behind the library
at Longwood. From Van Diemen's Land, J. Milligen exhibited several specimens,
interesting from the variety of the materials from which they were made; comprising
a globular snuff-box turned out of the tooth of the sperm-whale, which is employed in
the colony for stick-heads and similar purposes; a turned snuff-box of iron-wood; one
of the Huron pine; and one of the musk-wood of Tasmania. The beautiful examples
of snuff-boxes in the French department were as peculiar in their style as the Laurence-
kirk snuff-boxes in theirs, and the manufacture of them appears to be confined to
France if not to Paris. These boxes, which were quite remarkable for the accuracy with
which the hinge was made, and the close fittings of the lid, were usually lined with a
veneer of tortoiseshell, very highly polished. The outside, or body of the box, was
composed of various materials, as ivory, tortoiseshell, and rhinoceros-horn, and also of
petrified wood and other woods, as the maple, the olive, rosewood, and several sorts
of palms cut across the grain. Some examples were very tastefully, not showily, orna-
mented with neat gold and silver mounts; but none, perhaps, were more elegant than
those made of the palm-tree, cut across the grain.
We will not, however, pursue our investigations any further upon this subject. If our
readers consider we have already dwelt too long upon it, we shall take shelter under the
great names that are to be found among those who have patronised the snuff-box. What
illustrious personages might we not cite. The shade of the great Napoleon rises before
us; and---------but a more familiar example will suffice. Of Sir Joshua Reynolds it is
recorded by Goldsmith, that—■
" When they talk'd of their Raphael's, Correggio's and stuff
He shifted his trumpet—and only took snuff."
CHAPTER XXXV.
SILKS.
FIRST MENTIONED BY ARISTOTLE—ALLUDED TO IN THE HEW TESTAMENT—DESCRIBED EY BASIL
—GALEN—ABUNDANT IN CHINA—ITS INTRODUCTION INTO EUROPE—MODE OE PREPARATION----
DIFFERENT VARIETIES OE—OPINION OF THE JURY ON FRENCH, ITALIAN, TURKISH, INDIAN,
CHINESE, AND ENGLISH SILK ---- SILK MANUFACTURES ---- SPITALEIELDS ---- MANCHESTER—
COVENTRY—RIBBONS—SHAWLS.
Having in a former part of this work devoted a chapter to textile materials—worsted,
alpaca, and mohair; we shall now turn our attention to the costlier production of the
"-----------------Millions of spinning worms
That in their green shops weave the smooth hair'd-silk,"
and premise our observations with the following able historical account' by Professor
Owen in his admirable lecture on the " raw materials" from the animal kingdom.
" From a product of the most gigantic of animals," says the learned lecturer, " I next
The Indian courts contained several examples of snuff-boxes, the most curious being
■—the gourd snuff-boxes, mounted in gold and silver, from Seinde; a snuff-box made
from a cocoa-nut, highly polished; another from the biiva fruit; and a beautiful specimen
made from buffalo-horn, inlaid "with metal. St. Helena contributed snuff-boxes made
from the willow-tree under which the remains of the great Napoleon reposed until
their removal to France, and also from a willow-tree which he planted behind the library
at Longwood. From Van Diemen's Land, J. Milligen exhibited several specimens,
interesting from the variety of the materials from which they were made; comprising
a globular snuff-box turned out of the tooth of the sperm-whale, which is employed in
the colony for stick-heads and similar purposes; a turned snuff-box of iron-wood; one
of the Huron pine; and one of the musk-wood of Tasmania. The beautiful examples
of snuff-boxes in the French department were as peculiar in their style as the Laurence-
kirk snuff-boxes in theirs, and the manufacture of them appears to be confined to
France if not to Paris. These boxes, which were quite remarkable for the accuracy with
which the hinge was made, and the close fittings of the lid, were usually lined with a
veneer of tortoiseshell, very highly polished. The outside, or body of the box, was
composed of various materials, as ivory, tortoiseshell, and rhinoceros-horn, and also of
petrified wood and other woods, as the maple, the olive, rosewood, and several sorts
of palms cut across the grain. Some examples were very tastefully, not showily, orna-
mented with neat gold and silver mounts; but none, perhaps, were more elegant than
those made of the palm-tree, cut across the grain.
We will not, however, pursue our investigations any further upon this subject. If our
readers consider we have already dwelt too long upon it, we shall take shelter under the
great names that are to be found among those who have patronised the snuff-box. What
illustrious personages might we not cite. The shade of the great Napoleon rises before
us; and---------but a more familiar example will suffice. Of Sir Joshua Reynolds it is
recorded by Goldsmith, that—■
" When they talk'd of their Raphael's, Correggio's and stuff
He shifted his trumpet—and only took snuff."
CHAPTER XXXV.
SILKS.
FIRST MENTIONED BY ARISTOTLE—ALLUDED TO IN THE HEW TESTAMENT—DESCRIBED EY BASIL
—GALEN—ABUNDANT IN CHINA—ITS INTRODUCTION INTO EUROPE—MODE OE PREPARATION----
DIFFERENT VARIETIES OE—OPINION OF THE JURY ON FRENCH, ITALIAN, TURKISH, INDIAN,
CHINESE, AND ENGLISH SILK ---- SILK MANUFACTURES ---- SPITALEIELDS ---- MANCHESTER—
COVENTRY—RIBBONS—SHAWLS.
Having in a former part of this work devoted a chapter to textile materials—worsted,
alpaca, and mohair; we shall now turn our attention to the costlier production of the
"-----------------Millions of spinning worms
That in their green shops weave the smooth hair'd-silk,"
and premise our observations with the following able historical account' by Professor
Owen in his admirable lecture on the " raw materials" from the animal kingdom.
" From a product of the most gigantic of animals," says the learned lecturer, " I next