36 



Bulletin of the 



of the rarest gems, some of which to-day form a part of the priceless gems 

 that decorate the 'crowns of European monarchs. 



Among the carvers of Switzerland birds are perhaps their greatest de- 

 light. On almost every piece, clocks, frames or ornaments, they may be 

 found peeping from behind some bit of leaf work or foliage, sometimes 

 hovering over a nest in pairs, again they quarrel over a piece of fruit, 

 always so naturally life like that one must not only admire the skill of work- 

 manship but the love shown by the designer for his subject. 



japane.se vases and plaque 



Frederick Stearns Collection, Detroit Museum of Art. 



Birds form a part of many national symbols, such as the eagle of Prussia, 

 Austria, France and America, and the story of old Abe, the pet eagle that 

 followed an Illinois regiment throughout the war between the North and 

 South, would make an interesting romance of itself. 



Again, to return to America, the bird forms a very important part of 

 the lore and naturally the decorations found on the various articles made 

 by the American Indian. 'Tis true the American artisans so far have made 

 but small use of birds, and it seems somewhat strange that this should be 

 so amidst such a wealth of material. Still we must not forget that we are 

 still in a formative period — by and by the workman will awaken to the un- 

 limited opportunities offered by our natural fauna and bird life for the 

 blending of the two into a harmonious whole which shall be a delight to the 

 eye and yet keep, or rather create, a national type of design suitable for 

 many purposes for which heretofore we have borrowed from other sources. 



Detroit Museum of Art, Detroit, Michigan. 



