書籍詳情
格式
Kindle
頁數
588
語言
英語
已出版
Apr 8, 2012
描述
PEEFACE.
THE present Manual has arisen from accidental circumstances. At the sale of the late Mr. BernaPs extraordinary collection, the numerous and expensive woodcuts which embellished the Auction Catalogue, became mine for a mere trifle. Upon this it occurred to me, that an illustrated volume, comprising the entire Catalogue, with the prices, and the purchasers' or rather present possessors' names, and such incidental remarks and additions as might suggest themselves, would be an acceptable service to amateurs and collectors ;—and those whom I consulted thought the same. I therefore took immediate measures for accomplishing this object, but other and more pressing avocations so continuously engrossed most of my disposable time, that its completion has been sadly retarded.
In the interim I had been invited by the Rev. Harry Dupuis of Richmond, in common with many of the neighbouring gentry, to take part in a projected Exhibition of works of Art and Science, connected with a series of education lectures, —a movement in the path of social progress so consonant to my own views and feelings, that I joined in it most cordially. The Exhibition, which was held in a very large and lofty school-room, presented a rich assortment of objects of vertu
and natural history, and reflected great credit upon the taste, industry, and perseverance of the several gentlemen who collected and gratuitously conducted it.
My contributions were principally Porcelain, Enamels, and Glass, of which I have long had a small but very fair collection. Others contributed Pictures, Carvings, Sculpture, Indian Antiquities, Goldsmiths' Work, Minerals, Geological Specimens, Insects, Stuffed Birds—indeed whatever was likely to amuse or instruct.
The Lectures were based upon the objects exhibited.—Professor Owen illustrated Paleontology and Zoology; Mr. Ra-venshaw, Mineralogy; Mr. Wm. Chapman, Historic Portraits; others gave experiments in Chemistry, Electricity, Hydraulics, and Photography; and I made my debut on Pottery and Porcelain. A request to repeat my Lecture led me to prepare it with increased attention, and I now present it to the public in its amended form, as a convenient introduction to the present volume.
The few additional notes interspersed through the Catalogue, some within brackets denoting the painters on porcelain, are either by myself, Mr. Thomas Woods, the intelligent assistant of Messrs. Christie and Manson, or Mr. Burn, who has read the sheets with me through the press.
THE APPENDIX or MONOGBAMS, which I deem the great feature of the volume, will, I hope, be found as useful and complete as anything of the kind yet produced. In the class Majolica the list might have been much enlarged ; but without more positive information than we yet have respecting many unlocatcd marks, the collector would have derived little or no advantage. Some of the finest and most valuable specimens have no marks at all, while some that would rank well accord-
ing to the mark, are of little value. A Xanto plate, marked and dated, may vary in value from five to a hundred guineas, while an unmarked plate, about which there is not the least positive information, may be worth even more than the larger sum.
In constructing this Appendix I have been mainly indebted to the valuable works of Messrs. Brongniart and Riocreux, especially their splendid volume, the " Musee Ceramique," from which I have copied all the monograms, with scarcely any variation. I am also indebted to that magnificent and well-executed work " Les Arts au Moyen Age ; par Du Som-merard" which every lover of the fine arts, that can afford it, should procure. The brochure of Passeri, on Majolica, as edited by Mons. Delange, has afforded me many additional marks, and some useful information.
THE present Manual has arisen from accidental circumstances. At the sale of the late Mr. BernaPs extraordinary collection, the numerous and expensive woodcuts which embellished the Auction Catalogue, became mine for a mere trifle. Upon this it occurred to me, that an illustrated volume, comprising the entire Catalogue, with the prices, and the purchasers' or rather present possessors' names, and such incidental remarks and additions as might suggest themselves, would be an acceptable service to amateurs and collectors ;—and those whom I consulted thought the same. I therefore took immediate measures for accomplishing this object, but other and more pressing avocations so continuously engrossed most of my disposable time, that its completion has been sadly retarded.
In the interim I had been invited by the Rev. Harry Dupuis of Richmond, in common with many of the neighbouring gentry, to take part in a projected Exhibition of works of Art and Science, connected with a series of education lectures, —a movement in the path of social progress so consonant to my own views and feelings, that I joined in it most cordially. The Exhibition, which was held in a very large and lofty school-room, presented a rich assortment of objects of vertu
and natural history, and reflected great credit upon the taste, industry, and perseverance of the several gentlemen who collected and gratuitously conducted it.
My contributions were principally Porcelain, Enamels, and Glass, of which I have long had a small but very fair collection. Others contributed Pictures, Carvings, Sculpture, Indian Antiquities, Goldsmiths' Work, Minerals, Geological Specimens, Insects, Stuffed Birds—indeed whatever was likely to amuse or instruct.
The Lectures were based upon the objects exhibited.—Professor Owen illustrated Paleontology and Zoology; Mr. Ra-venshaw, Mineralogy; Mr. Wm. Chapman, Historic Portraits; others gave experiments in Chemistry, Electricity, Hydraulics, and Photography; and I made my debut on Pottery and Porcelain. A request to repeat my Lecture led me to prepare it with increased attention, and I now present it to the public in its amended form, as a convenient introduction to the present volume.
The few additional notes interspersed through the Catalogue, some within brackets denoting the painters on porcelain, are either by myself, Mr. Thomas Woods, the intelligent assistant of Messrs. Christie and Manson, or Mr. Burn, who has read the sheets with me through the press.
THE APPENDIX or MONOGBAMS, which I deem the great feature of the volume, will, I hope, be found as useful and complete as anything of the kind yet produced. In the class Majolica the list might have been much enlarged ; but without more positive information than we yet have respecting many unlocatcd marks, the collector would have derived little or no advantage. Some of the finest and most valuable specimens have no marks at all, while some that would rank well accord-
ing to the mark, are of little value. A Xanto plate, marked and dated, may vary in value from five to a hundred guineas, while an unmarked plate, about which there is not the least positive information, may be worth even more than the larger sum.
In constructing this Appendix I have been mainly indebted to the valuable works of Messrs. Brongniart and Riocreux, especially their splendid volume, the " Musee Ceramique," from which I have copied all the monograms, with scarcely any variation. I am also indebted to that magnificent and well-executed work " Les Arts au Moyen Age ; par Du Som-merard" which every lover of the fine arts, that can afford it, should procure. The brochure of Passeri, on Majolica, as edited by Mons. Delange, has afforded me many additional marks, and some useful information.
類型
科學與技術
歷史
藝術與攝影