DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.1327#0226
226
THE CRYSTAL PALACE AND ITS CONTENTS;
somo of the splendid mattes, granite, oipolliuo, ooppei-j &&, from tlie
same place. Tho Tuscan timber is well known to many of the English
ship-builders, wlio arein the habit of using Tusean in preference to British
oak in some departments of shipbuilding.
Of the specimens of madder-root iVoni the Maronmie, the fine samples
exhibited were quite equal to the best used in England, and winch is
imported in large quantities from the Continent. The evidence supplied
by the Tuscan manufactories, as to its quality, is satisfactory, especially if
wo look at tho red cotton from the dye-works of an exhibitor of Pisa, who
carries on the various processes on a. very extensive scale.
Specimens of cotton were exhibited from liavaechio, near Pisa, where
there exists a large manufactory of cotton tissue, which lias been tho means
of improving tho whole locality, and of benefiting Tuscany, by substitutim.'
for the foreign (issues its own cotton cloth and cashmeres, which midit
have been seen in the Exhibition, and would have borno comparison with
the best tissues of the same quality.
The samples of soaps from Leghorn had been brought to lmioli per-
fection, and represented a very large manufacturing establishment, ex-
porting annually a considerable proportion of its products.
Among the chemical productions forwarded by Tuscany was miitonhm,
ft powerful vermifuge.
We cannot pass over in silence another eminently Tuscan manufacture— j
that of straw bonnets. The specimens sent from Prato and Florence were ;
extremely perfect. Tho Tuscan kinds of straw-plait wore considered very j
superior.
Tuscany did not forward many statues to the Exhibition; but those
which might have been seen—such as Bacchus reclining. Psyche, Hagar
and Islunael, &C—were sufficient to confirm her celebrity. Those fine
statues were selected by a special commission. Tho selection was uot I
mado without consulting several men of such qualifications as to warrant :
the soundness of their opinion. T.nt the artistioal taste of the Tuscans was i
likewise perceptible in their wood-carvings, in their bard-stone mosaic, and ''
in their seagliola and marquetrie works.
The following interesting particulars of the mineral wealth of Tuscany
have been communicated by Professor Corridi. the Tuscan Commissioner:— I
Those who noticed the numerous collection of minerals sent from j
Tuscany to the Great Exhibition, cannot fail to acknowledge how fully 1
that country deserves the reputation it has so long enjoyed for its marbles,
and for every other kind of ornamental stones extracted from its quarries.
It is certainly richer than any other country in regard to that class of
minerals, possessing as it dees a very large quantity of statuary and coloured
marbles, of granites, chalcedony, real alabaster, and soft stono, or alabas-
trites, serpentine, fee. Its marble quarries for statuary are very numerous ;
and those situated in tho vicinity of Seravcuza and Camniglia, in tho Mar-
emme, arc the most ancient and the richest of all.
The working of the quarries of Seravezrai was completely interrupted
towards the end of 1600, solely on account of the decline of the fine arts,
although it had yielded a great amount of materials in the limes of Michael
Angelo and Cosmo I. But the works having been resumed with considera-
ble energy in 1821, through the exertions of tho present Grand Duke,
Leopold II,, and under the excellent, management of M. ilorrini, they soon
reached the highly prosperous condition which they now enjoy. The pure
and fine saccharvides. from the mountains of Serave/./a. is priced by sculp-
tors, and is in groan demand in England. France, Russia, and several other
countries. The unquestionable superiority of the produce of these quarries
iudviced the Emperor of Russia to send a considerable order, now in pro-
gress of execution, amounting to upwards of one million of roubles, for
tho internal decoration of the new cathedral of St. Isaac, in St, Petersburg.
In the Tuscan department was to be seen a very fine statue, executed in
that marble—the " Reclining Iktec.hus," by Neurini.
Before the year 1821. the period to which we have alluded, the marble
trade of Seravew.a consisted in the manufacture of a Tew flooring-Hags of
common white and blue marbles, from the Capella mountain, and some
tables. The improved results during the last twenty-live years are almost
incredible. There is not a single marble-quarry round Soravo/./a which is
not excavated and furrowed everywhere. Children begin to work when
nine years old, and easily earn their livelihood, and adults gain four times
as much as they require to keep themselves comfortably. A small market-
town has sprung mi near the sea shore, where the shipping of marbles takes
place, and it contains about Mill people, while, before lS'il. the solitary hut
of a fisherman was the only edifice discernible on the spot. The natives
have by degrees Inult and manned a small navy, to carry on a coasting trade
between Genoa, Leghorn, and Marseilles.
In addition to the white marbles for artistieal purposes, tho principal
centre oLVwhioh is tho mountain of the Altissiuio, other magnificent mar-
bles, coloured and veined, from mountains in tho neighbourhood of
Stamina, are highly valued by the English and the French, Other
important undertakings, of a new description for Tuscany, have recently
been attempted—viz., the working of the argentiferous lead mine ot' Hotline,
and tho procuring of quicksilver at Itipa. a mountain near Seravoz/a; tho
products of which were to be seen at the Great Exhibition, with those of
of CampHia undei
f Lee-hern, it h to
Tied on, and which
the management
e remarked that
is known under
ding to the oninkm
rt^SJvto^b
Arnoa
perfectly analogous, as regards its age and origin, wi
celebrated quarries of Carrara and Seravczwu Tin
marbles possess various and distinct qualitics: some arc
works, and somo are excellent for sculptural purpo;
latter, artists give the preference to tho Pario, which, on
wliite and bright grain, is considered as being equal to the l'm^ ^i
of ancient Greece. Tho common marble, which can be used for °S "^
ns well as architectural works, is found in large quantities in V ?"'■"-
bolo, and yields blocks of the largest dimensions. ™tl! 8(fc
There are three other places, in the vicinity of that mountain vl,
works, are in full operation, namely, tho Mortnio, Guiro" and \?^
quarries. Tho declivity of the mountain and the proximity of H *■
pigliese road and the sea afford every facility for conveyance at a ^
blocks
far sni'
,u:.\s','i:i;.--i'ii;:it!Ci.
pries, There is also, near Monte Eombolo, another quarry of blue mart*
(bardiglio), which proves a verv successful undertaking. Tuscany p«K«? )
several other remarkable quarries ; and. although their works are *»' j
full or regular activity, their richness should induce capitalists to grrs™
a serious attention. Santa Maria del Giudice. in the Pisan mounja"^
one of these. Tho excavation was lately begun : the marble is yellowy ■
sprinkled with largo spots, constituting a pu, id in-stone of exquisite wa-
Several specimens were sent to the Great Exhibition, and. amongst >•';;
articles, the frosts of a column, the material of which might bo used
great advantage for the decoration of buildings. T _,,
Other quarries well worthy of notice, are those, of Pesoaglia. in ^jg£
territory. They are situate in the range of the mountains of *** ' - , j
near Seravezzo, and lie behind them. They arc four in i"111"101':..!;^
distance of about half a mile from each other. Artists who have vl ^ ,
thorn speak highly of their richness. They yield a marble the S1111 ,]v- .
which has been found excellent, although the superficial structure ^-
has been examined. Three frosts of columns and several tablesy16^ jn [
to tho Exhibition as specimens of the various marbles of I'escagha : ']. !j...
order to form a correct judgment of those quarries, and of the »«■' fei,
they afford to work them upon a large scale, it is necessary to s§
THE CRYSTAL PALACE AND ITS CONTENTS;
somo of the splendid mattes, granite, oipolliuo, ooppei-j &&, from tlie
same place. Tho Tuscan timber is well known to many of the English
ship-builders, wlio arein the habit of using Tusean in preference to British
oak in some departments of shipbuilding.
Of the specimens of madder-root iVoni the Maronmie, the fine samples
exhibited were quite equal to the best used in England, and winch is
imported in large quantities from the Continent. The evidence supplied
by the Tuscan manufactories, as to its quality, is satisfactory, especially if
wo look at tho red cotton from the dye-works of an exhibitor of Pisa, who
carries on the various processes on a. very extensive scale.
Specimens of cotton were exhibited from liavaechio, near Pisa, where
there exists a large manufactory of cotton tissue, which lias been tho means
of improving tho whole locality, and of benefiting Tuscany, by substitutim.'
for the foreign (issues its own cotton cloth and cashmeres, which midit
have been seen in the Exhibition, and would have borno comparison with
the best tissues of the same quality.
The samples of soaps from Leghorn had been brought to lmioli per-
fection, and represented a very large manufacturing establishment, ex-
porting annually a considerable proportion of its products.
Among the chemical productions forwarded by Tuscany was miitonhm,
ft powerful vermifuge.
We cannot pass over in silence another eminently Tuscan manufacture— j
that of straw bonnets. The specimens sent from Prato and Florence were ;
extremely perfect. Tho Tuscan kinds of straw-plait wore considered very j
superior.
Tuscany did not forward many statues to the Exhibition; but those
which might have been seen—such as Bacchus reclining. Psyche, Hagar
and Islunael, &C—were sufficient to confirm her celebrity. Those fine
statues were selected by a special commission. Tho selection was uot I
mado without consulting several men of such qualifications as to warrant :
the soundness of their opinion. T.nt the artistioal taste of the Tuscans was i
likewise perceptible in their wood-carvings, in their bard-stone mosaic, and ''
in their seagliola and marquetrie works.
The following interesting particulars of the mineral wealth of Tuscany
have been communicated by Professor Corridi. the Tuscan Commissioner:— I
Those who noticed the numerous collection of minerals sent from j
Tuscany to the Great Exhibition, cannot fail to acknowledge how fully 1
that country deserves the reputation it has so long enjoyed for its marbles,
and for every other kind of ornamental stones extracted from its quarries.
It is certainly richer than any other country in regard to that class of
minerals, possessing as it dees a very large quantity of statuary and coloured
marbles, of granites, chalcedony, real alabaster, and soft stono, or alabas-
trites, serpentine, fee. Its marble quarries for statuary are very numerous ;
and those situated in tho vicinity of Seravcuza and Camniglia, in tho Mar-
emme, arc the most ancient and the richest of all.
The working of the quarries of Seravezrai was completely interrupted
towards the end of 1600, solely on account of the decline of the fine arts,
although it had yielded a great amount of materials in the limes of Michael
Angelo and Cosmo I. But the works having been resumed with considera-
ble energy in 1821, through the exertions of tho present Grand Duke,
Leopold II,, and under the excellent, management of M. ilorrini, they soon
reached the highly prosperous condition which they now enjoy. The pure
and fine saccharvides. from the mountains of Serave/./a. is priced by sculp-
tors, and is in groan demand in England. France, Russia, and several other
countries. The unquestionable superiority of the produce of these quarries
iudviced the Emperor of Russia to send a considerable order, now in pro-
gress of execution, amounting to upwards of one million of roubles, for
tho internal decoration of the new cathedral of St. Isaac, in St, Petersburg.
In the Tuscan department was to be seen a very fine statue, executed in
that marble—the " Reclining Iktec.hus," by Neurini.
Before the year 1821. the period to which we have alluded, the marble
trade of Seravew.a consisted in the manufacture of a Tew flooring-Hags of
common white and blue marbles, from the Capella mountain, and some
tables. The improved results during the last twenty-live years are almost
incredible. There is not a single marble-quarry round Soravo/./a which is
not excavated and furrowed everywhere. Children begin to work when
nine years old, and easily earn their livelihood, and adults gain four times
as much as they require to keep themselves comfortably. A small market-
town has sprung mi near the sea shore, where the shipping of marbles takes
place, and it contains about Mill people, while, before lS'il. the solitary hut
of a fisherman was the only edifice discernible on the spot. The natives
have by degrees Inult and manned a small navy, to carry on a coasting trade
between Genoa, Leghorn, and Marseilles.
In addition to the white marbles for artistieal purposes, tho principal
centre oLVwhioh is tho mountain of the Altissiuio, other magnificent mar-
bles, coloured and veined, from mountains in tho neighbourhood of
Stamina, are highly valued by the English and the French, Other
important undertakings, of a new description for Tuscany, have recently
been attempted—viz., the working of the argentiferous lead mine ot' Hotline,
and tho procuring of quicksilver at Itipa. a mountain near Seravoz/a; tho
products of which were to be seen at the Great Exhibition, with those of
of CampHia undei
f Lee-hern, it h to
Tied on, and which
the management
e remarked that
is known under
ding to the oninkm
rt^SJvto^b
Arnoa
perfectly analogous, as regards its age and origin, wi
celebrated quarries of Carrara and Seravczwu Tin
marbles possess various and distinct qualitics: some arc
works, and somo are excellent for sculptural purpo;
latter, artists give the preference to tho Pario, which, on
wliite and bright grain, is considered as being equal to the l'm^ ^i
of ancient Greece. Tho common marble, which can be used for °S "^
ns well as architectural works, is found in large quantities in V ?"'■"-
bolo, and yields blocks of the largest dimensions. ™tl! 8(fc
There are three other places, in the vicinity of that mountain vl,
works, are in full operation, namely, tho Mortnio, Guiro" and \?^
quarries. Tho declivity of the mountain and the proximity of H *■
pigliese road and the sea afford every facility for conveyance at a ^
blocks
far sni'
,u:.\s','i:i;.--i'ii;:it!Ci.
pries, There is also, near Monte Eombolo, another quarry of blue mart*
(bardiglio), which proves a verv successful undertaking. Tuscany p«K«? )
several other remarkable quarries ; and. although their works are *»' j
full or regular activity, their richness should induce capitalists to grrs™
a serious attention. Santa Maria del Giudice. in the Pisan mounja"^
one of these. Tho excavation was lately begun : the marble is yellowy ■
sprinkled with largo spots, constituting a pu, id in-stone of exquisite wa-
Several specimens were sent to the Great Exhibition, and. amongst >•';;
articles, the frosts of a column, the material of which might bo used
great advantage for the decoration of buildings. T _,,
Other quarries well worthy of notice, are those, of Pesoaglia. in ^jg£
territory. They are situate in the range of the mountains of *** ' - , j
near Seravezzo, and lie behind them. They arc four in i"111"101':..!;^
distance of about half a mile from each other. Artists who have vl ^ ,
thorn speak highly of their richness. They yield a marble the S1111 ,]v- .
which has been found excellent, although the superficial structure ^-
has been examined. Three frosts of columns and several tablesy16^ jn [
to tho Exhibition as specimens of the various marbles of I'escagha : ']. !j...
order to form a correct judgment of those quarries, and of the »«■' fei,
they afford to work them upon a large scale, it is necessary to s§