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EXPOSITION, PARIS. 



their commercial spirit, winch did succumb for 

 a time and stimulated the hasty production of 

 inferior goods, yet the national sentiment has 

 at length triumphed over the tendency to de- 

 generation. The objects exhibited showed the 

 same solid and elaborate workmanship and 

 ripeness of design which mark the productions 

 of the last century, while the forms and deco- 

 rations indicate considerable aesthetic progress 

 since that period. The Government exhibited 

 the natural products of their country, and pic- 

 tures representing the flowers and useful plants 

 cultivated in Japan. 



Other Foreign Exhibits. In the Italian sec- 

 tion the carved and inlaid woodwork of Giusti, 

 Fruliini, Brambilla, Polli, etc., was the most 

 conspicuous feature ; the most pleasing were the 

 Etruscan jewelry of Sig. Castellani, and the ex- 

 quisite glasswork of Murano. The faiences 

 from Ginori and Doccia were very fine. Mosa- 

 ics were missing. In the machinery depart- 

 ment some naval models and machinery and 

 cavalry accouterments were exhibited. 



The'Russian exhibit w as very meager. There 

 were a few specimens of malachite and lapis- 

 lazuli furniture, some fine work mpietra dura, 

 and some very good cutlery. 



The Swiss, besides a large display of watch- 

 es, and a variety of their carved wood orna- 

 ments, had some artistically painted pottery. 



Belgium sent a very large and varied ex- 

 hibit, embracing tapestries similar to those 

 once made at Beauvais, woolens and other tex- 

 tiles, elegant Valenciennes, Brussels, and other 

 laces, large assortments of faience and of brass 

 utensils, and vessels with figures hammered in. 

 Among their house furniture was some hand- 

 somely carved in oak with an Elizabethan de- 

 sign. 



Austria and Hungary, in separate sections, 

 had a large display of enamels, jewelry, bent- 

 wood furniture, textile fabrics, and porcelain 

 and stone ware, some of it very handsomely 

 ornamented. 



Tunis had a good selection of rugs and car- 

 pets. 



The Portuguese section, surrounded by a 

 colonnade reproduced from Belem, Battalha, 

 and other old Portuguese buildings, contained 

 woolens and gay dry goods; straw and wick- 

 er seats and chairs; the curious Lisbon stone- 

 ware ; publications of the national press; a 

 careful selection of educational statistics ; and 

 a large collection of models of the country 

 people dressed in costume. 



In the Dutch section was an interesting 

 model of one of the dams of the Maas, con- 

 structed of layers of alternate wattles and 

 stone; also many careful maps, plans, and 

 models, as at Philadelphia. Their chief ex- 

 hibits were woolen poods of bright colors, car- 

 pets imitated from the Orientals, and excellent 

 food preparations. They showed in the me- 

 chanical department some good machines and 

 some of their field artillery. 



The Chinese collection was large, embracing 



quantities of lacquer wares; excellent speci- 

 mens of ivory carvings; elaborate and gro- 

 tesque carved furniture of mixed woods; mats, 

 carpets, and stuffs. Many of their products^ 

 which were exhibited by the merchants of the 

 treaty ports, showed the influence of foreign 

 taste, and were evidently manufactured for a 

 foreign market. 



Norway sent a full variety of furs and skins, 

 and filigree silver. In the mechanical gallery 

 was exhibited every kind of tool or machine 

 employed in the timber industry. 



The Danish exhibit was similar, containing 

 also several sorts of porcelains. Sweden sent 

 porcelain, faience,' and gris de Flandre. 



Conspicuous among the Spanish products 

 were the exquisite fans by Bach, the costumed 

 figures of Gallician peasants, and the brilliant 

 fabrics of many textures and patterns. 



The Italians", Spaniards, Japanese, and Por- 

 tuguese contributed a great variety of prepared 

 foods, wines, liquors, condiments, etc. The 

 American exhibit of grains, sugar, food prep- 

 arations, and beverages was large and varied. 

 The Portuguese had a perplexing variety of 

 their wines, many of which are not known in 

 commerce. 



French Exhibits. The French side of the 

 exhibition was, as might be expected, a com- 

 plete and orderly exposition of all the ap- 

 pliances, appurtenances, and methods of French 

 life, industry, institutions, and government. 

 The prescribed arrangement of the exhibition 

 was much more perfectly carried out in the 

 French section, and the proportions of the ex- 

 hibits more correctly balanced, than in any of 

 the foreign collections. From the center, where 

 the fine arts crowned the display, one passed 

 successively to literature, models and plans, 

 maps, scientific instruments, and all the means 

 of instruction, to jewels and ornaments, clothes, 

 household furniture, carriages; thence to in- 

 dustrial machinery, the implements of hus- 

 bandry, mining, and forestry, and the coarse 

 products of the fields, woods, and mines. 



The bronzes sustained the supremacy of 

 French artists in this metal. A clock by Bar- 

 bedienne, who is first in his branch, was one 

 of the wonders of the exhibition ; it was con- 

 structed of gilt bronze, with the dial and other 

 parts enameled, and rested on a pedestal of 

 marble and bronze, supported by columns of 

 red porphyry; it stood about 10 feet high. A 

 court was filled with plate and ornamental sil- 

 ver work. Some of the services were adorned 

 with frosted leaf-work and raised figures, and 

 partly gilded. Christofle, the silversmith, ex- 

 hibited also electroplate reproductions, includ- 

 ing a Roman plate found at Hildesheim. In 

 the glassware exhibit there was a vast variety 

 of forms and ornament, but the quality was? not 

 better than that of the English exhibit, and was 

 inferior to the blown glass of Venice. Faience 

 and porcelain were in great abundance ; the 

 revivals of old styles at Gien, Nevers, and other 

 places are very meritorious ; there were several 



