A LOOKING-GLASS FRAME, CARVED IN EBONY.
us in a striking and very favourable point of view. It would be superfluous, in the present notice, to dwellupon the skill of the Chinese as workers in porcelain and metal, or upon their ability as carvers of ivory andhard woods: the former is proverbial; and the latter is sufficiently demonstrated by the beautiful concentricballs and elaborate chessmen in those materials, which have so long been popular marvels of dexterousexecution. In future articles we shall have occasion to notice the bronzes and enamels of China , and theadmirable vases which they form in that rare and beautiful material,—jade-stone. At present we may limitour remarks to the perforated carving so profusely employed in China , of which the accompanying Platesupplies a favourable specimen.
“ Fret-work,” says Sir Wm. Chambers, “ so common in the buildings of the ancients, is likewise veryfrequent in those of the Chinese ;” and our earliest recollections of the “willow-pattern plate” illustrate itsconstant occurrence in their domestic architecture. Screens, lattices, porticoes, and verandahs of perforatedwoodwork, abound in all the edifices of the Celestial Empire. Of these the commonest assume rectangularforms, Avhilst the more costly and elaborate are diversified by figures of animals, birds, flowers, and fruits; thewhole being coloured and gilt in a gay and rich, but, at the same time, harmonious manner. The Rev. G.N. Wright, author of the literary illustrations of “ Allom’s Views in China, ” observes that “ the walls andceilings of the dining-parlour are always decorated with fretwork, carved designs in hard woods, and brilliantly-coloured paper-hangings.” He adds that “ the fronts of the principal apartments are open to the air, withthe exception of a lattice-work, which is gilt and brightly painted.” To the same effect Sir William Chambers states that “ the bottom or farther end of the room is entirely composed of folding-doors, the upper part ofwhich are of lattice-work, with painted gauze, which admits light into the bed-room. These doors are neatlymade of wood, having several characters and figures on them, and are sometimes richly varnished in red, blue,yellow, and other colours.”
The skill of the Chinese carvers finds constant employment in the decoration of cabinets, book-cases,tables, frames (such as that which we engrave), stands for vases, figures of animals, and an infinite variety ofornamental objects; and it is exercised alike upon pearl, ivory, ebony, and various kinds of wood. In illustrationof the taste and industry of these artists we may especially mention two articles, which may be rememberedin the Chinese department of the Great Exhibition :—“ A bedstead of curious and finished workmanship, inlaidwith ivory and mother-of-pearl;” and “A sideboard in carved wood, inlaid with ebony and incrusted withivory, with eight elaborately-carved panels in yellow wood, representing trees, fruit, and animals.”
The windows of Chinese buildings are sometimes merely round or oval openings in the Avails, Avith carvedand gilt perforated frames. Others are formed by thin plates of pearl, horn, paper, silk, or gauze, anddivided into panes of various shapes by Avooden frames. Some of these present ingenious and tasteful patterns,recalling to the mind, though with less happy effect, the perforated Avindows of India and Tunis ; of the latterof Avhich Ave have already given an illustration.
With respect to the materials of Avhich Chinese mirrors are ordinarily made, we may observe that glassis still a comparative rarity in the interior of the country. Sir George Staunton , in his account of LordMacartney’s embassy, informs us that “ there is no manufacture of glass in China , except at Canton, where,instead of fusing the rough ingredients, the manufacturer is satisfied Avith only melting broken pieces of thatmaterial and forming it into neAv shapes. The glass beads and buttons, of various forms and colours, Avornby persons of rank, are chiefly made at Venice , and this is one among the remnants of the great trade whichthe Venetians formerly carried on Avith the East.” Spectacles are made of rock-crystal, cut by a rudeprocess into thin laminae; and although glass is sometimes used for the lanterns so common in the empire,sheets of paper, pearl, horn, or mica, are far more generally employed.
Ancient metallic mirrors, common in China before the introduction of glass, have been exhibited inEngland; and polished steel is still used there for the same purpose. In Mr. Allom ’s Avork, alreadymentioned, there is an engraving of the Boudoir and Bedchamber of a lady of rank; in reference to Avhichit is observed, that “ glass mirrors have long been in use in China , although little progress has been made inthe art of glass-making generally, the manufactures of Europe being largely imported. These chambers areoften resplendent Avith looking-glasses, in some of Avhich the external landscape and the passers-by are distinctlyseen by the fair inhabitants, Avithout the trouble of rising from their couches. The mirrors are of very thinand inferior glass, scarcely thicker than good English Avriting-paper, but are skilfully coated with an amalgamAvhich renders them abundantly truthful in reflecting the features.”