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Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la methode. 1 2 3 4 5 6 MICROCOPY RESOIUTION TEST CHART ANSI and ISO TEST CHART No 2 ^ APPLIED \M/\GE '*^'"'3 fas! Mair itf^^t »Dcnester, Ne* York U609 oSA ^^16) *82 - 0^00 -Phone :^^6) ^88 - 5989 - Fq. A Chat About Old China \ And Sheffield Plate Bv U. WATSON < r t THE ANTIQUE GALLERY 144 PtCL .STRHhT MONTl'PAL .SH(INI) f-milON "Mr <.l XI ..( t Old i.eetJ. P„itery V.i^ev, yur e„s W.nr: somclimcs (.illcd "(riMrn \X,irf." I't-riiiil (in. I 1 7(1(1-1 7>l(l lu /■' ' Nil art I an w!ih the ri'tter>. .t ivli.ii mi' I'.niirs ,irc. ' ■SSCnrPT M ON * SALT Gl »/I LOVIMC CUP DATfO i7ei AChat About Old China and Sheffield Plate. IN A CC)UNTRY which Is comparatively new tn civih'zatii. II — a country wherein there are no cities ot re- mote antiquity, no ancient established indus- tries, but few families claiming descent through a lonrj line of centuries, and where antique objects of strictly native origin are excessively rare — in such a country one could hardly ex- pect to find a love for the antiiiue as a charac- teristic of its wealthy residents in the same sense as one finds it among the citizens of the ancient centres of Great Hrit.iin and contin- ental Kurope. It is, theref.ire, with no small degree of satisfaction that one is able to chron- icle the fact that in the chief cities of Canada, and to some extent in the small townships, there is a widely diffused and vciy intelligent interest in those art objects wliich, in addition to their intrinsic beauty, are [jossessed of the further charm of genuine antiijaity. A Chaf About Old Chim md ShrffiXd P\»U. Am! while one rarely iiiccts in the Dominion witli tlio ollcct'ir who ou-ms to hcin^ eiiani- ourril of ,\n obji'ct merely because of its an- tiquit)', \xt. when .mtiijuit)' aiul bciiitv'. an- ti(juity .iiid artistic excellence, are loiuui in coinhinatioM, there uc liiul also a ready ap- preciation for tliat intrinsic art or heaul)-, but an apijreciatioii ^.^really am! intellit;ently in- tensified, because of the mie, twu, three or more centuries wiiich the art object expre.sses. just ,is certain kin;js and potentates ol ancient times are for ever remembered because s- samtr still survives, treasured in the art rr[).)S- itory of the Hritish Kmpire, .ind there keips tor ever fresh and ^recn the name and fame of Yunj; I-o ! We of this country are far from liaving attained the Celestial's rcvcence for tlic anticjue in art, hut we gladly recRni/e that there is a Rrowinp tendency in that diiection ; and it is for us to cherish and develope it to the utmost in our power, and so cmul.ite the example of our neit,'hbours across the water, and that of the ancients of the far Kast When the King of Korea presented two bowls of Celadon China to the late President Carnot. he alluded to them as being "the most valuable of all the ancient productions of his country." And, to this day, as for centuries past, in Japan, the labouring Coolie eats his frugal meal of rice, or drinks his refreshment of tea from Porcelain bowl or cup, inherited probably from many predecessors, and in that precious piece of Porcelain sees a symbol of perpetual happiness for himself and them In different form England felt the inspiration and responded to it many generations ago; and in the spacious days of Oueeii l^izabeth, when a Spanish merchant ship was made to strike its flag and surrender, next to the coin treasures, or bullion it might contain, nothing was more eagerly sought for than the Porcelain, wiiether pieces that were part of the merchandise of the ship, or in use at officers' tables. H C'l.if Abouf Old Chinjt and Shtfiltld P/jfr WU-v. i'l tin; x-cu |X'") the ! ulio, of I'.n^uiiul ilf«iit.-.! t(i ..ili:r I tnliiitr <■(" ...liuir.iti' 'ii ,iim1 il.vulion 1.) tli.it ■ lurn .)t -.Mcit rciiov.ii. \.>'0'\ Xdsoti." t!ie I lu.M-!! iiicli'mi w,i. .i s.il><.-.» tint oiiM hr prt)- liin:..! .i! thr \V..iC(stcr W..iks. '1 Ik- l-,mi'r'->>* C.itlu tiiK? II. "I Kii.si.i. .1 ;M.-it ii.(*i.>iKs, ,,t the tcr.iiim .lit. li i'l .1 n Hi iilwiblc scrviLC nt \V, -'■_'WM...i .s.in.- niiuli i-r tlir [liKico nr.ir St I'ttn 1.■.1I:.^ The Cn-,i .>! It .xccs'iii-'l $i;,')v> < »n I Muplfti..!!, ill 17,".}. it w. IS exhibit.' 1 111 I'orti.iii'l 11 "11 Li.niioii, injure \u:',w^ liis jMt.li.d to Kussi.i All. I 11..... .it>(-r ncir a C.iitinv .im: ■^ li I't. i.irlMii^ .'t th.lt ■.it\u-c h.ivc Ik-( !i o.ithcicil fi .111 thf [ii'.ices <>\ tin; f'/.ir. ,i!i.i ai<- niuc in. .re hfiiv^ rxhibiint in iMi.^l.iturs cipit.!'., t.. the ,1'liniriiii; eves of C.illecl..rs ;ind L'o!i!i..issciirs ol both IKini- .sj)h..-rts. Tiiesc .ire but inst.iiict.s t.iken .it r.iii.-h'iu .(•< iiulie.-itim; th<- t,ist<;.'i ol" the iicople c)t ilillcTiit nation. ilit'es. M.iiiy ni.)vc such eN.unpIrs eoiiM e.i.-.il>- be citid. It :-^ not, thti'.tore; surprising; to reul oi Charle.s l„imb th.tt, when vi.sitiii;,; ainoii;^^ people ot .iistinction, he \s.is .ilway.s e.ii^er to see ft'rsf the cullection ,,t',.M Chili. I, ,uk1 c'ffn-.itir.is /us attiUtioii was !^i:i)i to the ftiture^: .uui the uriter recalls the nieinr.r\ of an oUl fri.'iit! in lui;^l;uul. "-vh.) useii t. . ,i\ei th.it he .leiivci more r-:'.! pie.isure from the sp.-ci ..inien- of I'. irc looking,', untutored iJutili tarmtr in tlic country t d to- day ..11 tin- Ciiina *. iMn! t whiJi In- lias inhcritii' tV.m his aiiccst.irs. It v.f turn t.> olti Dutch jnttuns icprcMiitin^; "'Intcriors."\vcsi.f at once how lar. e .i pint u is occupied in the decorative sclifUK- by oJ>jcct.s of faience, .is Dcllt China is usually called. We see mai'.-i. l)owis, plaijucs, platter-, \ases. candlesticks, sconces, pili,'riin bottles. lla^.)ns, etc. I'^veii inu--ical instraments for .iclual usc weie produced in Dell't ware There art four faience violins extant, ad painted in blue enamels, with dancing' fitjures of the seven- teenth century. The.se violins were rii.ide at l)e!ll by a celtbr.ited potter, on the occasion of the niarriayc of his four d.n.i'^lUers t(. four painter.s, all the ceremonies t.ikiii^ place on the .s.unc da)-, on wliicli occasion the paint( rs and potters ,.f the establishment .)pened the b.ill; t'.ic four bride<;rooms pLiyin-^ liieir ur.i.juc VI iins. which violins )i cser\ ei th s.i.ciivt lamilies from |;eneration to gentia- ti..n for '•. cie l''ai'(MU Tliese s:ime vioiiits turmshti; th< ubiect \^■e 0'\I1 I! \-el, rt'tit'ed l.e \' In his /fts.'.rr rf Ol{ V. fir It >■'' i'rt (tan: .1 sra's; .\t 111- Dresent ii.iv , M. -•hen ChiiM w.irt P ret|,u bi-.-onu" nl t!ie il tn'- r..tn-n,,n lloilS'l, sc.irce \ re.oiz' ■iitir, !t^ of all J jtt lue A Chjl About OIJ ChinJ and Sheffield Plafe. lefiturmefU ,u..l prircicss value were aroused ni tht- iiiiiuls ot our f.)r<:f,it.her-, l.y the mere men- ti,,ii ,.f I'urcel.iin.esperi-illy Onf'i/aiW^vcclun.' Tw.,, luiiKired years .i-o comparaliveiy tew {MMplc h.^d had the opix.rtuiiity ol seeitivi a ._r.„„i rx.uni.ie ..f it; stil'i fewer were th'.sc who coii.d b.i.i>t ofhavm- -ne in their pusse.-^sion. There was no ruXMs on in these days to oticr su'.;;u-stions about colieclini^, wiieu collcctiir^ nas i:i itseit" iK-ai-tically an impossibility 1 o- ,iay thcie are probaliiy more enthu^i.i^tic coHcLtors tlian two liuudre.,! years ag.> tliere were pieces to .ollecf. and, thanlo to the ri-hteenth cent.iry woik .4 hlii-lish and con- tinental china-factories, there are now innuir- crabl- really fine and interesting specimens available t- the coilector evefi with but moderate means at command. A. to the Jti'/(is of China to collect. In Kn<;laTni many of the bc-,t known collectors are specialists, limiting themselves to speci fic classes and peruMis The name of Dyson- I'crrisiN is identified with old Worcester; that of the late Massey- Mainwaring with Oriental md Dresden, Wallace with Sevres; Salting. pr<' ennnent'y with Hlue and White; WoUaston I'ranks with early I'.nglish I'ottery and Japanese; lir An-st, with Zurich; l'r.,p.ert with Wedg- wood, and so forth Another for twenty years hasseduously collected Swansea am! Nan'garw; .Old two tiiie lollections of recently deceased culiecti.rs are noteworthy, the one f>.i its tne repie.enlati.ni n( liow porcelain, the other lo" a remarkable ...ggreg.uiun ..f early Biistoi. A Chat nbout Old China and Sheffie/d Plate. hut we c.miKit all be specialists, nor is it desirable that we shuulii: f.>r, after all. the most inttrcstinf; collections arc those which in niin iatiire are on the lines of our Nation, il Mus- eums — i.e.,r,pfcsaitntive collections, enibdilyinj^ examples of the varimis factories ami ofdiifcrcnt periods. It would be a real ple.i^ire to iind in liie piivate col'.ectii'ns licre a much ottatei variety than one usually meets witii. l-or example. 1 cannot recall having seen here a sini^le .specimen of IUicti Retiro. or St Cloud; liochst. i-'uKla. or Mennecey. Mousticrs, or I.oni^ton Hall Yet some of the most fas- cinatin;4 pieces ever produced emanated from the>e f.Lcrories. 'I'iie chanj^es here are run^r too exclusively upon some half do/en well known vari. ties — Oriental. Chelsea, Derby, Worcester, Dresden, .'-^evres; but the numerous other factories, whose products are of abs(irhin;^' interest and in many c.ises of infinite beauty arc compar.itive!)' nej^lected. 'Ihe amateur Philatelist does not confine his St. I up collectinjf to lMi;^'iish or to .Xnierican specimens, but he aims at making his collection as d.iverse as the countries .and the i^.Mies th(inse!\es. We cmnot ad\<'Late such univer- sality in Ciiina collcctini^s uoiliin'.; ks-. than a niilH'.naire and a mu>e\nn wouUl suilicc \ux it; but we should like to see a bettei appreciation of tiie lesser kn .wm i!;uiies in Cerami^-s; aiu! a wi'ier acqu.iint.M'Ce with tl'.e»e on. the p.irt of private CoiU/clors iiere \\. uiil \astU e.diaiice the \alue ,nul iiitcie^t <>i llu ir collections- fl Cd.if Abouf Old China and Sheffield Plafe. frnii I sliMul! be sorry t., be discu.-.>ink' ''le subject .1 inen-v ni'Mictary vicw-pwi.it. Yet it ,n;u- !itti>v.:v bo obsctvea here that a s;-"^'' col'ectinn, i.^iicinus'ym,..!.-. isin the nature of • invL-stincnt t-r the future I he Icci.le to another i,s t"- a sou I tcTi(le!u;v tr. iiil "lie war.is hi-her values. The Cer.iinic treasures acquire.! in their e.:r^y iife by the eider^^ of ..,,-,! ly h.ave in m .st eare^ more tlian ..uadnipad in vaiue. And fr..m yeart..yeai the t^end is in Uie same .lirection Our i-urely m^'dern p,.,„l:,rt.. u-hiehfii! f.-xpres. the iudiMduahty " ■ or the eork "1 OHIO ol s.aiie nia>ter-inin 1. will n.it in the nature of th'u-s i,; value. A '.ve'l kn.e.vii ttiat b.ith in th.e na-ter-haiKl. wi iiit;;neut materially a't critic uiihesitatin'.';y .itnnn ,ic.i--n and in the decoraU.ni, V.ui^'.l^h I'orce- i-iinl,,,,. for some time, remained, outride the art m.^vement of the d.iv, th^u-h he chiuns a ,1 ,ee.ud on belia'f o! tw.. "T three con f,ct..ries notably tln-se of C"penli,asen t cann.,t be denied that modern tment.ii .iiui >evri ■ Worcester, termed. -Rovai ,!cM'Mia-.-.i -Rovd Crown,- entirely fail to ail 1 modern Deriiy, cautivate the artistic -en.sc cai (if the connois-^eur ,.| the best of their j.ieces v.-id bv the d.is- ' ( eraiiucs ; an ,„l,t;i.ss be I ■.-.i in a tiiird diss n,ni.M-in- collectors ol htty year, i.ence .„, ,1„, pice, ,..f af..rmer day. which exp.ess ■ ct of reii cr.dtsmer., - • niust -t;..idily .-hi-i.er in the sc.de. and to >aJi advance tlir ur itive art .ma int vu,t a^sembki-e of o;d 0:iei,tai. Clielsea, W^rcestcr, \ enice. fl Chaf About Old China 3nd SheWeld Plate. lJer';>y, l-ccis, l'inxt i.ictury :ii.irk .,! any kind t. denote th.'ir Mri'^in ; yet c.u:h ot tlietn h.id its o'.vn dis- tiivlivc ni .ik>, wliich oftci were used ..rdis- p,,,,.;,: .. ith. .icordinj; to the capriee of the i:,..ivuiud piintL:!. Kni^li-,!! Salt (ii.i.u- W.ire. • iww.v. iiu:Ji >ou',;ht by Aniericui c'.Uxiors, u-,.. v.'v -^e'v.om marked. In tiie same t.ite^n,ry of uMially anniarked we mast ir.ciu.ie m.^st ot tlie .--ilver .o)>\ (iold LuVje Ware produced in K,,-; nid anrin^ tlie ei-hteenlh and in the early part .it the nineteenth centuries. 1- MUKst he h .rne in mhid that at the time of their iiroduclio!) very lilfie importance uas attached to marks by the v.iri.-.us potters; and certainly it never occnrred to any of the painters that alter a lapse of a hundred years or more tlie work would be of enthraiiin^- interest to an appreciative cla^s ut collectors, and that tile lilt ,t 'rivi.i! or cur.M.ry mark which mi-ht serve to i;!emify a ■special piece with either an i.Kliviiual or a taU. . y or a period would un- doiihtci'iy enhance the worth of the piece in tlie collector s eyes. Then tiicf ,ire certain peculiarities or Lli.iia.-terwtics uhich, whether in conjunction witii marl- 'r in tlu.' absence of them, are ol fireat help ni deterniiniiK.; the orik^in ,ind ap- 'pr>.x;inate P"U."i of a specimen. Tlu aiinute particles ..f co.d d.ust perceptib.c in ihc v. ry e-hoic.-.st piece-, ..I Arras I'orcel.dn, due to im periect CO!, struct! n ol the kihs, aii'l to .;haii;4e A Chaf About Old China and S/ieffie/d Plate. ofliicl /'/ th,- year 17S5, enable one t.> both idciilih- tlic factory and to accurately lix the datt-. So, aLso, tlic three tiny equi-distant bltniish'.s beiitath the Ch.'isca dish or plate, takini,^ "ue back to the primitive u^.e ■>!' "spurs.' for supin)rtin<; the piece lurin;^ tiie hrin<; pro ces.-, ; .t!s . the ur.sii.spe 'ed duck-c,;^' clor which certain pieces exhi.it nhen heid a^^unst strong' artifieia! k.dit ; th..- carious nvM.n-Iike di.-,cs hidd.ei; in others uiiti'- in ense HL,'iU reveals thcni ; all the>e are in the natvwe of evidence of the stror-est kind, anKvanliiii; to proof positive in re!ario:i to the spccin.en un !er coiiM'leralio!!. The subj<-ct (4' marks natuiai'y leads one to make retevt-nce to di/icts in cettain pieces- defects which in most instances are moic ap- parent tnan 'eak The writer has more than once seen an otherui»e beautiful old Porcelain bowl excluded from a coi'ectiou merely because its circular form was sligiitly irre>;ular or elijnical, the very defect, if such it may be called, really aduiaj; to the interest ot the piece, it only as illustratiu'^' the difficulties experienced by the earlier potters in the "tiirowing ' and "mouldin;,'" ot their wares. Tlien, a<^ain, a piece miidil u-ave the thnnver s hands in abM,,uteiy perfect f 'i.n, \et alterwards be clian;4ed m the bakin- and, lirin:^ i)rocess, Not infrequently a ti<^ure subject, which betore beiu',' "tfrei" was periect in all its propor- tions, would nnder-o .m uncalcuialed change in tiie kiln, which would alter tiie relative n ChJ About Old China and Sheffie/d Plali propnrtions of tlic tV^nrc. M.uiy such pieces were condemned and thrown out as " wasters," but if the eccentricity of the piece was but slit,'h'. it was pasvjtl aiiil retained. t,)ne of the iTio>t ch inning tea-sets of Oriental I'drcelain of the Jesuit peritd was distinguished by nearly every cup in tiie sei h ivin;^ the more or less flattened form uf circle, the diameter at the top bein<^' tuo and a-half inches at one part and clost; on three at another. A'ul while one collector readily recognized the (piaint interest and indefinable charm of these odd pieces, pp.nouucing them " deli;4Utful," another posi- tively --efused to consider them fit for being given a plice in the China cabinet ! A present day writer, referring to a very valuable collection of old Chelsea China pre- sented to the South Kensington .Museum by Miss l-;mily Tiiom.on, says : '• Technically many of ihese pieces .ire vers' iini)ertect ; the gla/e on some is lumpy, and they are much fivv.ired by cracks; tlie painting is crude; md jrf /:'r i adjacent casi.fui: c'f th. jliiest Sevres of the best period, shires , lit froin :ts sii> r, loidiu ;s /ri'i a jezvel." That is ihe ki;id if criticism of "defective pieces tiuit one likes to meet uith. \\. is really rcfresiiiiiL; ' There is a specimen oi that extremely rare faience cilled. " h'aiei:ce Uiri.ii." or Henri 11 ware, in tlu- I'lrm -fan eUingated Tazza, with ;i ncaiv orn.iiruited cover. IJwing to undue A Chat About Old China and She'»ieW P/afe. coMtraction of the one and expansion of the other in the kihi. the cover is far from bein-^ tlie correct coinp'.enionl of ihe Tazza ; indeed it looks awkwardly uncomfortable in its position, aud I fancy hat not a few amateur collectors wonhl cheerfully pass r ver tiie piece in fivor of >')methini; wlicre the lid '• tittcd-' After sever.il chan;^'es of ownership, each time at a V i-tiy hii^hcr valuation, this very defective T.i/.za has recently been acijaired by that princeof collect. us J 1'. Mori^-an. and theprice paid was in the near neighborhood of -25,000. (luite a respectable price! And it has not yet occurred to any of the succes-,ive owners to liave a i/eii lid ina'le ! The obvitjus moral of it is; " If a piece is otherwise t,'o(;d .ui'l is p;enuine, don t despise it if it happens to be in some rcsiiects f.iulty, but try to find a merit in the faults, a beauty in the blemishes, an ' such a piece will surely ' grow ' upon you, and will some day be recognized as the gem of your collection. In bringing these iiotes t.. a close, I would refer to the felicitous eighteenth century custom among people of distinction of making com- plimentary gifts in the form of Porcelain services, or vases of ■j.reat value, and may here observe that within the past decade there has been a marked revival of that cust-^m. with this dif- ference — that our niodern jiresentations are frequently of antique nm bictions, while tliose of the century referred to were mostly of the fine wares .'f that period;. 1 1 A Chaf l\boul Old China and ShtUitId Plait. Ann.i;^; ilie Vciieliaiis of tlic seventeenth ami cij^hleintli cmturicN a wccidiii^-prtsriit to a bride -a.i-. often a dainty tea->ct of the famed China of Wiiicc, UMia'.ly cncli.sed in a icatlier. hras>-!)')an cast, a ilii compartinLiit-, for each pitcc, and, if the family was wo.ilth)' or dis- tinguished, tlie cre^t or innn^.j^rani would be ena.nrlled on thf 5)icccs. Owin'.; to the com- parative impovtrislr.nint of many oi th( old \ enctian nobility, several of ihc-^e dower ser- vices have been acquired by Kn^lish collectors. by whom they arc very lii^lily e->leeincd. An excepticMially beautiful one was in tlie collection of the late Cavendish Uentinck, and afterwards in ti;e writer's possession. The pieces were ni.irked with the anchor in red, and on each were the arms of the noble family to whom it had ori^'in..ily belon;4ed. .\ somewhat similar scrviee, but with ciiuerent arm-, w.is for many years in the collection of tin; l/idy Ch.irlotte S^hrt iber, and has since, b}- bequest, become the property of tlie n.ition. I venture to lioi)e that my [)oor and; somewhat desultory present, ition of the " c.ise " for Oh.l China may liive. ,it any rate, tiic re.-^uit of stiuuiiatinf,' interest on the part uf tli"se wlio ha' e the time and tlic mears ;it their dispo,-,al for taking' \ip aiid steadf.istiy pursuing this most fasci;;,itini; study, h'or fascinating, in- dcee'. it is ii its ver)- be;4iniiint^ ; all absorbin;^ it niiV become i'l course ot time ; a aource of infinite deli;;ht it will be .I'w.iys. The Kmperor Kiet! Lunj;, in [loctical phrase H Chit ibout Old China and Shtffitid Piatt. i.s whicli it i.s uc'll-ni'^h impossible to translate, said : •' Gn.it is tht beauty an-i hi j^k the antiquity of sacred vastS, si in fie hut ex<]uisite in their form, li-hich it re^iuiies lime t' .^v in quest of, an, I opportunity to possess, and leni^th of days to arranj^e ani set in order, as incentives to the pursuit of -oir/uc and the performance of good i/etiis.' I trust the leader of tlu-se p.icjcs will enter on tl'.at "quest ' with nnt-wetl /.eal ; tlie reward comes uitli eacli fresh ic juisition. New worlds seem to open out, new pers(vi i;^e.s to come into existence ; kini^s, queens, poets, painters, sculp- tors, courtiers, wh>se n.unes were unknown or obscure, become to us liviii'^^ personalities by their ,iss(uiation with the potter and liis clay ; and we are pre[iared to .iccept the sentiment expresseil in the quaint line on our title page — " Xo Art can with the Potter's Art compare '." i^St^^ A \(>lc on MuilM-|(l Plat(\ It -va.- in !li<- >•<• ir I-.;- tl'.it SlittT.f i'l I'iate W.I- 'W»i j'i^ili.f Sl .irtS. S') tll.lt. n>^;.;h;y ■ iiii'ory .if "■'■ifrtR-li! r..i?r pi . . by ;i sini^U- cent iry, \\hi"i the .irtiL.e ■. - •( I;i.>'ii_i 111-; (j'laiiti; ies ■■! ;'. ; in.iL:ii!in:'-Mit j»i';!.t -, • ■ ' mrl.u t > be put ii' thr nl .)iC -■ .■■ •' • r--,! • i;islii^ .!l. III my ■ - iti o'. l« rcikinu*'! a I lie.ip ]irir.- ti.nv tur tin- •'•'"-• specimens 'if th.lt nW-C ii:-.;'i-i' ■' "arc. .Itia ul So tills 1 ; ■ . A Pla!r , , tilt SLiisf ill •viiKh tiiHt nil. !• is ii.i'.ierst(>i>d \j\ tilt: C'l' (•"ti'T. Iiiiicfii, tiiin; is .i very mAlLii.ii !'■ ' comm 1'! • brii"^> Mtj ail'.Ku pr'i_ ss.ii pr^- ductiKii iii .[>,<.! ;.ial wc may discern the dimTeni-L' in the rL-Niiiint artic^f. L'poti a piatc (.1 C'lpiJuT tiuic u.i^ iai'i a jjiatc ><\ -ilvi.T, of saint; liim-.-nsi.ins, ijut tniKii tiiinner. 1 he- two \vc!c iielii i'_.;.;' tlitT \)y Inii- niros. .mii p'at:cii in a luinav-c itnlil noti^nlv' r(;d-!i.;t but tiic silver jiiatc ju.'t ai Uic piiint id to he so in.sei)arah!\ ioined ti'..i; Miip.iss;b:<_r !o sii'iiicr '^hein 'i Iiii. the rt-.tdrr Tl..-. ,''tr ii !. was to.'.iiv 'iijurfu! r- •K-i-'y ' jh:: '■ coppir ; t tali, ' ' ' ' • H Chif t^bout Old Chint and SheHield FUft. ama!i,Miii.itc(i .is docrihe.l, wis then placed between rollers, .iml by l>ein'^' subjected to enortnous pressure, were r.-llcd imt ti> the rtvpusite dej,Mcc ..rfinencss; the silver and copper rct.diiinit the same relative proportions, no matter how tliiii the finally finished plate. If the re.ider will examine a very early specimen of .Slielfield I'late. s.iy, for example, one ot the old fashioned little trays made for the reception of ■ Miutfers." the upper surface only will be found silver-coverc(1, and under- neath a dull lead like tinish. This would apply chietly to pieces produced between 1 740-1760. After that, by sandwiching the single plate of copper between tuv plates ul silver, the finished pieces were equally silvered on both sides, and to all appearances such pieces were solid silver, except at the exposed ed^^es. where they were cut tiuough in process of making up into the required articles. On this exposed edge of the shaped piece there was soldered a wire or border (often a gadrooned border) of solid silver. The applied ornamental borders and ornamentations, which characterize late iSth and early I'.itli Century pieces, are chiefly composed ot repousse silver, made massive anil solid b> an uuier-fiUing of wiiite metal, closely resembling pewler. Occasionally, but not often, these reliefs and borders are ot solid silver ri^^ht thro',!gh. This detailo! expl.Tnalion of the old process is given in hope that tiie reader will be better enabled to distii!'nii>h the genuine from the A Chil About Old China and ShtHitld PIttt. it« imitation ; the actual Sheffu-ld Plate from the merely plated ware. And not alone as an article admittedly in the cate<,'<)ry of '• thing's collected" by the virtuoso, but also as an .irticlc of proved utility, old Sheffield riate holds its own to-day in competition with all merely " plated" wares, by wliatcvcr name calleii, and in that respect can vie even with sohd silver. For one thinp. the craftsmen of the past fjener.itions put more of "soul," more of iiuiivfi.luality, into the work of their hands than does the mechanical artificer of to-day. and the indelible stamp of durability is upon the creations of those ShetTield and Long-Acre makers of a hundred years ago. Simplicity of design, super-excellence of mate- rials, the highest attainable skill on the part of the craftsmen — these combined in the produc- tion of results which have never been surpassed, and only equalled by the best goldsmiths and silver-makers of the age- R. Wat.soN. ^]SS^'^ •4' .i-.-i-'^L^u-::' 'rr>i<^^»^.