DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.1330#0248
THE INDUSTRY OF ALL NATIONS.
The luxurious decoration of fire-arms may be
said to have commenced when the practice of
war declined as an exhibition of mere force, and
became a science, whose principal stratagems
and modes of operation were, studied in military-
schools. Spain and Italy first adorned their
weapons with artistic decoration, and many
costly and elaborate works of the kind grace
our museums. The Pistol, by M. Gatjvain
of Paris, here engraved, rivals in beauty of exe-
cution many of these old works, and is a good
specimen of modern art applied to such purposes.
The Cabinet, by Mr. Stevens, of Taunton, has attracted
much attention in the Crystal Palace, as well for the taste
of its execution as for the beauty of the wood of which it
is composed, and the richness of its general effect. It is a
sumptuous and elegant work, and one which does much to
uphold the credit of British furniture manufacturers.
Certainly, in the article of furniture, we cannot but con-
gratulate our native workmen on the ability they have
shown, and the excellent manner in which they have asserted
their true position among the manufacturers of the world.
Messrs. Rettie & Sons, of Aberdeen, exhibit
some curious specimens of persevering ingenuity
successfully exerted in a material the most un-
promising. The hard and impracticable charac-
ter of granite would seem to defy delicacy and
minutiae of workmanship, and to preclude its
becoming an article of personal decoration. Yet
the Bracelets here engraved are cut with much
labour and patience from this material, the
various parts being mounted and linked together
in silver. A choice of granite has been made
from Aberdeen, Balmoral, Sec.; and, by dint of
labour, a comparatively valueless article is ele-
vated into the position of a precious stone, and
placed among the fancy articles of a jewel case.
oo
20
The luxurious decoration of fire-arms may be
said to have commenced when the practice of
war declined as an exhibition of mere force, and
became a science, whose principal stratagems
and modes of operation were, studied in military-
schools. Spain and Italy first adorned their
weapons with artistic decoration, and many
costly and elaborate works of the kind grace
our museums. The Pistol, by M. Gatjvain
of Paris, here engraved, rivals in beauty of exe-
cution many of these old works, and is a good
specimen of modern art applied to such purposes.
The Cabinet, by Mr. Stevens, of Taunton, has attracted
much attention in the Crystal Palace, as well for the taste
of its execution as for the beauty of the wood of which it
is composed, and the richness of its general effect. It is a
sumptuous and elegant work, and one which does much to
uphold the credit of British furniture manufacturers.
Certainly, in the article of furniture, we cannot but con-
gratulate our native workmen on the ability they have
shown, and the excellent manner in which they have asserted
their true position among the manufacturers of the world.
Messrs. Rettie & Sons, of Aberdeen, exhibit
some curious specimens of persevering ingenuity
successfully exerted in a material the most un-
promising. The hard and impracticable charac-
ter of granite would seem to defy delicacy and
minutiae of workmanship, and to preclude its
becoming an article of personal decoration. Yet
the Bracelets here engraved are cut with much
labour and patience from this material, the
various parts being mounted and linked together
in silver. A choice of granite has been made
from Aberdeen, Balmoral, Sec.; and, by dint of
labour, a comparatively valueless article is ele-
vated into the position of a precious stone, and
placed among the fancy articles of a jewel case.
oo
20