A VISIT TO THE GREAT EXHIBITION. 397 



arranged upon a central and two side avenues ; and I would caution the 

 visitor against the prevailing notion that all the best things are necessarily 

 in the front and foremost spot ; for it so happens that many of the most 

 beautiful objects in this class are behind, and secluded in position. 



Wax-flowers are well represented in Class IV., and the evidence of patient 

 and successful industry is quite apparent. One case, in particular, deserves 

 high commendation, a Kentish Ditch scene (No. 925 of catalogue), by Miss 

 E. B. Lambert, of Tunbridge, which is one of the most natural groups of bo- 

 tanical wax-work that was perhaps ever manipulated. The ferns " Scolopen- 

 drium " and " Blechnum," with the wild foxglove or " Digitalis," in full 

 bloom, defy almost the closest inspection, whilst the bunch of blackberries, 

 (prospectively tempting) together with the wild honeysuckle, (so natural as 

 to suggest the very perfume it exhales), contribute to enhance the general 

 effect, which is quite an exception to wax groups in general, where the 

 profusion of gaudy blossoms and scarcity of green leaf, usually fail to produce 

 the delusion desired. The ivy leaves of this case are the only serious draw- 

 back to its perfection, and appear to have been executed with less care than 

 usual. 



Beautiful as is the Ditch scene, however, the chief merit in wax-flower 

 work, belongs to Miss M. Allen, of Percy street, for having rescued the art 

 from a purely superfluous application, and annexed it to the daily increasing 

 number of those industries, which are useful as well as ornamental. This 

 lady's group of useful plants in wax-work, including a cotton and tea shrub, 

 as well as some flax in full bloom, will, I feel sure, inaugurate a new era in 

 wax-work, since for educational purposes it is quite evident that wax models 

 of plants, well executed, must be more desirable than either dried specimens, 

 or coloured illustrations. I should be sorry to criticise too closely the forms 

 of the models in question, as much would depend upon the original designs, 

 but I think Miss M. Allen may well count upon receiving from those best 

 able to render assistance in such matters, every encouragement and help, to 

 bring the happy suggestion of her mind to good effect. 



The work in vegetable ivory, exhibited by Mr. B. Taylor, of St. John 

 street road (No. 1,137), will well repay a careful and minute examination. 

 The Temple of Art, executed by his own hands, consists of no less than 

 2,000 separate nuts or portions of nuts, and the delicacy of the turning in 

 some parts is perfectly astonishing. In 1851, Mr. Taylor obtained the medal 

 for his vegetable ivory turning, on which occasion, the chief feature of his 

 display consisted of three Chinese pagodas, which are, nevertheless, greatly 

 eclipsed by the Temple of 1862. Many minor articles, some coloured to 

 represent fruit, surround this temple, all testifying to the beauty and utility 

 of that interesting and nominal paradox, the vegetable ivory nut. 



A model of the west front of the Royal Exchange, of which Messrs. 

 Robert Fauntleroy and Co., of 100 Bunhill row, London, are the exhibitors, 

 is likely to attract attention, from the large number and splendid variety of 

 woods employed in its construction ; no less than 500 specimens, embracing, 

 the most choice and ornamental woods from each quarter of the globe. 



