THE LADIES' FLORAL CABINET. 
21 
China Tea-Pot. Decorated with Five-clawed Dragon, and specially 
made for the use of the Imperial Household of China. Rare. 
leon Bonaparte for Marie Louise. A cape of Venetian 
point, ten inches deep in the back and long enough to 
come below the waist in front, with trimmings three 
inches wide to be used with it, was made in 1700, and a 
dress-trimming of Guipure de Belgique, bearing the 
same date, loaned by Mrs. Astor, is thirty inches deep, 
the pattern consisting of flowers and Ferns, so per¬ 
fectly and delicately executed, that it seems impossible 
to have been the work of human hands. 
An odd-looking fan, having carved mother-of-pearl 
sticks, mounted with a rather gloomy design in water- 
colors representing a volcanic eruption, the red lava 
pouring down the dark mountain-side, became of inter¬ 
est when we learned that it was bought by Napoleon on 
his return from the Italian campaign and presented by 
Josephine to Madam Campan, who carried it at their 
coronation, and afterwards sent it to her brother, Gen¬ 
eral Genet, formerly ambassador from France to the 
United States. It seems rather strange and inconsistent 
with the character of Napoleon that he should have 
thought of so trivial an article as a fan to briDg as a 
memento on his return. In contrast to this, and more 
fitting to be presented by a monarch, is a Spanish fan, 
its pearl sticks set with diamonds and emeralds, and a 
large diamond forms the head of the pivot by which 
the sticks are held together. A rococo fan (one could 
imagine a costume suited to it) had tortoise-shell sticks 
set with turquoises, pearls and amethysts, and mounted 
with black thread lace. Another one, made of carved 
bone, was so lace-like in its design as to require no 
mounting, the sticks being kept in place at the top by a 
narrow white ribbon interlaced in the openings made 
* by carving. This was formerly in possession of the 
imperial family of Russia. 
Most conspicuous among the souvenirs presented to 
Gen. Grant while on his trip around the world, is the 
gold casket which contained the decree granting him 
the honorary freedom of the city of London. It is from 
seven to eight inches in length, supported by four eagles 
with outspread wings. Upon each corner of the top 
are horns of plenty, and in the centre stand the figures 
of the lion and the unicorn wrestling for the crown. 
On one end the Goddess of Liberty is placed, one 
hand resting on the United States shield, and the 
other holding a Palm branch; opposite this is the 
crowned figure of Queen Victoria bearing her scep¬ 
tre: on one side the Capitol building is engraved, 
and on the other Windsor Castle. A number of 
other beautiful caskets are shown, each of elaborate 
design and of great intrinsic value. Another souvenir 
of especial interest in this collection, is a box of Mul¬ 
berry wood made from a tree planted by Shakespeare at 
New Place, Stratford-on-Avon. The wood was bought 
in 1867, by the Quaker, John Marshall, at the sale of the 
effects of Thomas Gibbs, who succeeded to the business 
of Thomas Sharp, the purchaser of the old tree after it 
wa cut down by Rev. Father Gastrell, in 1750. It wass 
presented to Gen. Grant when he visited the place made 
famous by Shakspear’s genius. 
The art of lacquering, more than twelve hundred 
years old, originated in Japan. Our illustration shows 
a daimio sectional box of old black lacquer, with rich 
ornamentation of floral designs very finely executed 
in pure gold and vermilion lacquers, and said to have 
been twelve years in preparation. In Japan, fine old 
specimens of this ware are sold for more than their 
weight in gold. 
English Arm-Chair. With cupboards on the top and shelves for 
porcelains; carved Oak. Loaned by Howard & Co. 
