253 



WOODS AND MANUFACTURES OF WOOD SHOWN AT THE 

 INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION. 



We take from the Report of the Jury on Class IV. the following 

 details on the manufactures of wood. The section included specimens 

 of timber and other woods, turnery, and small wares in wood, or wood 

 and other materials, the wood being essential ; wood carvings, coopery, 

 basket-work, sticks and canes, bark- work, &c. 



At no previous exhibition in this or any other country has so splendid 

 and valuable a display of the products of forests and plantations been 

 exhibited, not only when we consider the magnitude of the various 

 collections sent from almost every country, but also in regard to the 

 admirable care which in almost all cases has been shown in the prepara- 

 tion of the specimens of which they were composed. Science and com- 

 mercial enterprise have gone hand in hand, and we have no longer to 

 regret that absence of correct information respecting the producing plants 

 and other important particulars, which rendered so much that was sent 

 to the Exhibition of 1851 comparatively valueless. Most of the collec- 

 tions now exhibited are labelled correctly ; and not only do we find the 

 scientific names of the trees attached, but in many cases valuable infor- 

 mation respecting the qualities and quantities of the timber are given. 



In the British Department but little of the raw material is exhibited. 

 Three exhibitors show very choice selections of the hard woods, which 

 are imported for ornamental purposes ; these are the eminent firms of 

 R. Fauntleroy and Sons, Messrs. W. Oliver and Sons, and R. Fauntleroy 

 and Co., each of which exhibit remarkable specimens of the most beauti- 

 ful of the ornamental woods, and good veneers, knife-cut, are exhibited 

 by Blache and Co., of Finsbury. Of the other descriptions of wood 

 goods entitled to notice, we have : — 



Excellent turnery and carving for dairy and other domestic purposes, 

 by J. Duffield, of Great Chapel street, Oxford street ; and by J. Bailey, 

 of King's Cliffe. These are for ordinary use ; but similar articles of 

 much finer finish and greater artistic merit are shown by H. Bridges, 406 

 Oxford street. Good specimens are also shown by W. Bollans, of King's 

 Cliffe, Northamptonshire. The only specimens of the well-known Tun- 

 bridge ware or wood-mosaic are shown by J. R. Clarke, of Walworth ; 

 they are varied and tasteful both in design and application to articles of 

 ornament and utility. 



As specimens of masterly turning the arm-clubs and skittles of W. 

 Camp, 81 Tottenham-court road, are excellent. 



The carved plates and potato-bowls of R. E. Farrant, of Queen's row 

 Buckingham gate, are of excellent workmanship, quite equalling the best 

 Swiss carvings of the same kind. The jury regretted that the limitation 

 in the number of medals prevented one being awarded to these artistic 

 carvings. 



