Class XVI.
AWARDS FOR FURS, SKINS, FEATHERS, ARTIFICIAL HAIR.
387
the silver fox, for a Russian sable lining, and for skins ofthe same animal, from Kamschatka.
Smith, George, and Sons, Wailing Street, London (310a, p. 534 , for an assortment of good and well-manu-factured furs made from Russian sable, North Americansable, chinchilla, ermine, and squirrel.
Turkey, IIis Highness the Sultan of (1, Turkey ,p. 1387), for a large and interesting collection of skins,the produce of Turkey .
Warming, E., Copenhagen (7, Denmark , p. 1355 s ',for a fur carpet, with stuffed foxes serving as footstools,in which the design and workmanship are in good taste.
Weinknecht, T., Brussels : 259, Belgium , p. 1159),for two carpets made of fox skins and other furs, beauti-fully designed ; also for a choice collection of other furs.
Zeitz, J. F., Berlin (841, Prussia, p. 1096 s1 , for a coat-lining made entirely from mink tails, and for a similararticle made from the paws of the fisher (2Austela Cana-densis). Both specimens show great skill in manu-facture.
The Jury make Honourable Mention of the followingExhibitors:—
Boldner, S. (not in Catalogue^, for a fur hearth-rugrepresenting the Royal Arms of England.
Dick. A.. 35 George Street, Edinburgh (311, p. 534),for a well-manufactured hearth-rug of many pieces of furneatly and artistically arranged.
IIjT.ndkrson, J., Montreal '107, Canada , p. 965), forsleigh robes and other furs, the produce of the colony.
Liverpool Local Committee, per T. C. Archer(970, Class XXIX., p. 803), for specimens of the variousskins imported into Liverpool, methodically arranged,and with their scientific names attached. (Awarded aPrize Medal by Jury of Class XXIX.)
Feathers.
The beautiful colouring and graceful forms of the§eornaments have always attracted general admiration,which the closest inspection tends only to increase.Whether our attention is drawn to the soft delicacy ofthe down of birds, or to the mechanical structure of thepinion feathers, which combine the greater strengthwith lightness, they are equally interesting and in-structive.
The kiuds which are used for dress are those of theostrich, the marabout stork, the rhea or American ostrich,the emu, the osprey, the egrette, the heron, the antrenga,the birds of Paradise, the swan, turkey, peacock, arguspheasant, ibis, eagle, grebe, &c.
The feathers of the ostrich, of which there are severalvarieties, all varying in texture and quality according toclimate and food, are imported into this country fromMogador, Aleppo, Alexandria, and the Cape of GoodHope , and have been used in all ages as ornaments of thehead. They formed the plumes of knights’ helmets, andwere much used by our nobility in the reign of HenryVIII. , who himself wore one on state occasions. Theblack ostrich feathers have been used for many years bythe Highland regiments, and at funerals. The feathersin their natural state are still worn by the natives of theCape of Good Hope , where it is not uncommon to see awaggoner’s hat ornamented with them. The perfectionto which the art of dyeing has been brought in thiscountry and in France , and the great improvement intheir manufacture in other respects, has brought themextensively into wear for bonnets and head-dresses.
Next in request to the feathers of the ostrich are thoseof the marabout stork, which are of two kinds, white andgrey. These are imported into this country from Calcutta 1in great quantities. They are very much admired fortheir beautiful texture and extreme lightness, and areused for head-dresses, muffs, and boas. The white kindhave at times been so scarce as to be worth their weightin gold.
The feathers of the rhea, or American ostrich, areusually imported from Buenos Ayres. They are usedlor a variety of purposes by the natives, who dye themof different colours, and form head-dresses and coveringsfor the body. The flossy kinds are used for military
plumes in South America and in Europe , and the longbrown feathers of the wing are made into brooms anddusting brushes.
A very graceful plume is made from the feathers ofthe emu, which are much prized on the Continent, andworn there both of their natural colour and dyed. Thefeathers of the osprey and the egrette, which are foundin various parts of the globe, are chiefly used for militarycostumes by hussar regiments : those of the smalleregrette, which are the most graceful, are worn byladies.
The feathers of the Indian heron and the antrenga aremuch prized on account of their scarcity, and are fre-quently worn by eastern princes.
Birds of Paradise , which are imported from the Manillas,have in all ages been in great request as ornaments bothfor men and women, and were formerly very rare. Theyare favourite decorations for the Turkish turban, and itwill be remembered that they were worn by the Nepauleseprinces when in this country.
The feathers of the common cock are also used forladies’ riding hats and for military plumes. The greaterpart are imported from Hamburg. The down of theturkey, the swan, and the goose, is made into plumes,muffs, and tippets; and from the feathers of the ibis,wreaths and trimmings are formed, which are muchadmired for the brilliancy of their colours.
The manufacture of feathers gives employment to agreat number of females, and is principally confined toEngland and France , although of late manufactorieshave been established at New' York for goods suitable forthat country.
The Jury award a Prize Medal to the undermentionedfirm:—
Adcock and Co., 3 Princes Street, Cavendish Square,London (393a, p. 534), for an admirable collection of themost he uitiful kinds of feathers, manufactured and dyedfor ornamental purposes.
The Jury desire to make Honourable Mention of thefollowing Exhibitors:—
Booth, J. P., Cork, and 80 Hatton Garden, London (112, p. 533), for various articles of ladies’ dress madefrom turkey-down and feathers.
Foster, Son, and Duncum, 16 Wigmore StreetLondon (74, Class XXIX., p. 795), for a handsome muffand boa of marabout feathers.
IIknoc, 1 Rue St. Sauveur, Paris (261, France , p.1189), for screens and feather-brooms made of ostrich,peacock, and other feathers.
L'Huillier, E., 86 Rue St. Martin, Paris (1395,France , p. 1939', for various kinds of feathers for orna-mental purposes, head-dresses, cloaks, screens, &c.
Loddk, A. A., 50 Rue Bourg I/Abbe Paris (1329,France , p. 1240), for plumes of feathers ant. weens ofvarious kinds.
Pkrrot, Petit, and Co., Rue de la Bourse, Paris ‘852, Prance, p. 1225', for two rare and magnificentPersian heron plumes and other fancy feathers for dress.(Awarded a Prize Medal by Jury of Class XXIX.)
Tollkt, George, Betley Hall, Staffordshire (154,Class XX., p. 586), for tippets, cloaks, victorines, andmuffs made from goose-down and feathers : a manufactureestablished with the view of giving a new employment toneedle-women.
Artificial 2fair.
The material for this trade, which gives occupation toa large number of manufacturers and workmen, is pro-cured from the north of France, Belgium, and Germany ,and some of good quality is occasionally brought fromIreland . The lighter-coloured hair, which bears thehighest value, is the production of Germany : the darkershades are imported from France . The who! sale pricevaries from 3< .<?. to 60s. per lb., and occasioi al rare speci-mens are of much higher value. A head of hair, such asis bought of the peasant girls in the districts beforenamed, weighs from 1.] to $ of a lb., and is usuallyexchanged for trinkets or articles of dress.
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