REPORT OF NATIONAL, MUSEUM, 1919. 67 



tern and dating from the sixteenth century. The collection is lent 

 for temporary display by a resident of Washington. 



A Brussels lace fichu of 1840 was received from Mrs. Richard D. 

 La Garde, Washington, District of Columbia, and installed in one 

 of the cases containing the collection of the Misses Long. A chased 

 brass oval stand repousse and ferce a jour, of thei sixteenth century 

 Florentine work which belonged to the Convent San Marco, Naples, 

 Italy, was received as a loan from Mrs. Charles D. Walcott. A 

 specimen of fifteenth century pewter communion plate of German 

 work was received as a loan from Miss Isobel H. Lemnan, Washing- 

 ton, District of Columbia, and placed in a case with other art objects 

 in the lace hall. 



Work of preparators. — The department laboratory was conducted 

 by Mr. W. H. Egberts, with Mr. Frank Kotrba as preparator. The 

 work is greatly varied and requires skill in many directions, con- 

 sisting largely, however, of modeling in clay, casting in plaster, the 

 building of models of various kinds, and the repair of specimens. 

 Much work was done on the preparation and installation of lay figure 

 groups, the principal of which are the Japanese wood-block cutter 

 for the division of graphic arts and the Zulu-Kaffir, Carib, Kiowa 

 Indian, and Eskimo groups for the division of ethnology. This work 

 was carried on largely under the immediate supervision of the head 

 curator. 



Mr. R. A. Allen, preparator in the division of ethnology, has 

 given systematic attention to freeing from destructive insects all ob- 

 jects as they are received at the Museum, and in otherwise preserving 

 material in the department collections. The actual handling and 

 markinir of the diversified collections of the division have fallen 

 largely to his share. He also assists in looking after the interests of 

 the section of historical costumes and in every division and section 

 where his services are required. 



Present condition of collection. — There can be no doubt that the 

 exhibition collections of the department are to-day in better general 

 condition than at any previous period ; but the ideal is still far dis- 

 tant. The most serious shortcoming is due to the fact that the collec- 

 tions and work are not assembled under a single roof, or in a single 

 exclusive space. Serious defects difficult of remedy are due to in- 

 heritance of furniture and fixtures of antiquated forms and the 

 resultant heterogeneity of the new. The shortage of space also is a 

 serious embarrassment, causing disorder. On the receipt of new and 

 important collections room must be made for them, causing changes 

 in installation or removal to storage of valuable exhibits. Satisfactory 

 conditions depend upon the systematic assemblage of the entire de- 

 partment in such a manner as would characterize a well organized 



