Page:The Building News and Engineering Journal, Volume 22, 1872.djvu/241

 — ) eee Marci 15, 1872. THE BUILDING NEWS. 223 What would he have said if he had seen the works of the Japanese in vases nearly 3ft. high, and dishes 2ft. in diameter, entirely enamelled (<n both sides in the case of the dishes) with designs more minute and accurate than any he ever saw in the church plate of his day—the culminating epoch of the arts of the middle ages ? Japanese enamels are characterised by great sobriety of colouring, bright colours being sparingly used. In this respect they differ from the Chinese, in which the brightest possible colours are introduced throughout. The principal colour in Japanese enamels is a dark green, and is adopted, generally, as the ground tint. Other colours, such as lilac, drab, and dark blue, are frequently employed for the grounds of the variously-shaped medallions introduced in the designs. In almost all specimens which have come under the author’s notice, the green ground is ornamented with a delicate spray and leaf work, with small flowers studded throughout it ; the leaves are in various colours, including drab, light green, and white. Medallions of different sizes, formed, when small, of various geometrical designs, and, when large, of devices derived from animal and vegetable life, occur at intervals, sometimes symme- trically placed, and sometimes erratically disposed. Along with these medallions pieces of diaper work, of both regular and irregular shapes, are introduced with the most happy result. It is impossible within the compass of one paper to give any idea of the almost countless varieties of diaper pattern used, or of their intricate colouring. Sometimes a wonderful degree of care and skill is observable in their mani- pulation, especially when the design is of a small repeating geometrical figure ; for instance, in a diaper, most difficult to put together, the author counted no less than 103 separate squares of wire in the quarter of a medallion of only 1+in. radius, and it must be remembered that each of these squares had to be shaped out of the fine ribbon-wire, and soldered one by one to the ground of the article. Of the designs of the conventional flowers, rosettes, and scroll-work, found on every piece of enamel, it is impossible to speak too highly, and their colouring is invariably harmonious and effective. On large specimens of the art the dragon is perhaps more frequently depicted than any other object. The Foo is another favourite representation, and is com- monly shown in the act of descending from its lofty home towards earth with its numerous Jong and richly-coloured tail feathers floating around it in graceful curves. In this shape the sacred bird is certainly one of the most artistic conceptions of the Japanese artist. The material, which for its proper display requires to be cut up by the metal lines into minute divisions and distinct forms, is highly favourable for depicting birds, fish, foliage, flowers, and all descriptions of purely ornamental figures; but is, on the other hand, incapable of rendering landscapes or any scenes requiring perspective. It is simply impossible to convey any idea of distance in the material. The author had scen a landscape attempted on a Japanese dish, -but the result was of the most archaic character, and a total failure. (To be concluded next week.) i THE HYDE PARK PAVILIONS. N the exuberance of their loyalty, the vestrymen of London, some eight thousand strong, must needs be accommodated with comfortable pavilions from which to view the “ Thanksgiving” procession on the 27th ult.; accordingly, the Metropolitan Board of Works (constituted of delegates from the various vestries and district boards of works), in right royal style, gave instructions for the construe- tion of such temporary structures, first on the Thames Embankment—no matter how much the new gardens and the young trees might suffer. Scores of loads of timber were carted on to the Em- bankment, only to be carted away again to Hyde Park and Holborn when the route of the procession was changed. The “tasty and gaily-decorated pavilions” for the vestrymen were thereupon erected in the park, and served the purpose for which they were put up. When they were in process of being pulled down, it occurred to one or two zealous M.P.’s to ask who was to pay the expenses incurred, which are variously estimated at from £3,500 to £7,000. The answer given by Colonel Hoge (who besides being chairman of the Metropolitan Board of Works is an M.P.) in the House of Commons last week will not satisfy the ratepayers. Colonel Hoge is reported to have said :—‘ There was no definition in the Metropolis Local Management Act of 1855 as to ex- penses. The Board were to levy the sums which in their judgment ought to be charged for defraying the expenses of the Board in the execution of the Act. Those expenses embraced everything con- nected with the duties of the Board, and were not restricted as suggested by the question, but, on the contrary, included many other objects.” A corre- spondent of the Times points out that Colonel Hogg, although Chairman of the Board, has clearly not taken the trouble to read the Act on which his own powers depend. He says that the 170th clause is the clause, and the only clause, which confers rating powers on the Board, and simply enacts that the Board shall, from time to time, charge on the various districts of the metropolis the sums ‘“ which in their judgment ought to be charged on those districts for defraying the expenses of the said Board in the execution of this Act.” Now a re- ferevce to the preamble of the Act, and the 135th and subsequent clauses, will show that the only oljects for which the Act can be executed and ex- penses—including, of course, incidental expenses— can be incurred are sewerage, drainage, paving, cleansing, lighting, and making improvements. As the Times correspondent asks, ‘will anyone pretend that even the most violent distortion of language can bring the erection of these now famous pavilions within the meaning of the above clauses? It may also be asked, if Colonel Hogg is so sure of the justice of his cause, why is he afraid to take the advice of thelegal advisers of the Board as suggested in the House of Commons last week? The sum per ratepayer will of course be but small, but the precedent is important, more especially as it is said to be the third, not the first of its kind. But we are glad to think that the ratepayers are not alto- gether without a remedy in the matter. The 193rd and the 195th clauses of the Act enact that the Home Secretary shall in the month of April appoint an auditor of the accounts of the Board, who shall in the month of May hold his audit, with full power to send for all papers, documents, &e., and ‘he shall the time of such audit make touching such accounts; he shall have full power to examine audit, allow, and disallow the said accounts and items therein.” We trust the question will be raised on this issue, so that if vestrymen must be so exceedingly loyal, their loyalty may not be expressed at the cost of other people. ae ee ARCHITECTURAL ASSOCIATION. T the usual fortnightly meeting, on Friday even- ing last, Mr Rowland Plumbe, F.R.I.B.A., President. occupied the chair. Messrs. W. Black- well, A. Drew, G. W. Nicholay, A. W. N. Burder, and R, Curwen, jun., were elected members of the Association; after which Mr. J. S. Quilter, one of the hon. secs., proposed a vote of thanks to Mr. Pearson, for his kindness in allowing the members to visit his new church of 8, Augustine, Kilburn. Mr. H. C. Boyes seconded the proposition, which was carried by acclamation. Mr. Quilter then gave notice that on Saturday (to-morrow) afternoon a visit will be paid by the members of the Association to the works at Burlington House, Piceadilly, by the consent of Messrs. Banks and Barry, the archi- tects, when Mr. Ruddle, tne clerk of works, will attend and accompany the visitors over the building. Referring to the proposed revised schedule of pro- fessional charges, to which reference was made in our report of the last meeting of the Association, Mr. J. Douglass Mathews quite approved of the remarks made at the last meeting by some members, to the effect that if the opinion of the Association as a body was sought on the matter, the opinion of the committee merely ought not to go forth as the opinion of the Association; but there seemed to be some misapprehension as to the intention of his letter and of the committee (of which he was secre- tary) appointed last year by the Architectural Con- ference to consider the question. It was the object of that committee to get together as large a number of individual opinions on the subject as possible, as a basis on which to make the revised schedule one consonant with the views of the profession at large. Therefore, he submitted that it would be best for individual members of the Association, as young architects, to express their opinion of the contemplated changes. (Hear, hear.) With re- ference to the Voluntary Examination, Mr. Quilter said that no doubt the members would be glad to hear that the examination was to be held this year, after all (subject to the usual condition as to a sufficient number of candidates sending in their names), an announcement to that effect having ap- peared for the first time in the professional papers of that evening. (Applause.) As would be seen by the advertisement, candidates desiring to be ex- amined either in the art section or the science section exclusively, would be permitted to go up for examination in whichever section they might select. Application to be made, and the required proba- tionary work to be delivered at the Institute Rooms, on or before Monday, the 25th inst. Mr. Spiers said that he might just state that as there had been some misunderstanding about the matter this year, ifany gentleman desiring to go up for examination had not completed the required preliminary work by the date mentioned, there would be no difficulty in getting it in a week or so later, provided that notice be given by the date mentioned. The President was glad to see that the examination was to be held, and that all doubt with regard to the subject had been clearedaway. He believed, however, that it was greatly owing to the representations of a few members of the Association that the Institute had given up the idea of zbandoning the examination this year, and it therefore behored the members of the Association to see toit that the examination did not fail for lack of the required number of candidates. Several donations to the library having been announced, in- cluding some volumes presented to the Institute, _ Mr. G. A. Audsley, architect, of Liverpool, read a most interesting and valuable paper, entitled ‘ Notes on Japanese Art,” a report of which appears else- where. —_—_—_—_—__—_—_ OXFORD ARCHITECTURAL AND HISTORICAL SOCIETY. HE second walk this Term took place on Satur- day week, when Balliol College was visited. The members and their friends assembled inthe Hall shortly after two o'clock, and were received by Pro- fessor Jowett, the Master, who gave abrief account of the early history of the College, which, he ob- served, was founded about 1269 by John Balliol and his wife, the parents of Balliol, King of Scotland, and that it had occupied its present site ever since. The oldest part of the present edifice, he said, was the west end of the Library, which was built about 1410 by a Master of the College, who was Vice- Chancellor. The old Chapel was built in 1520, and the old part of the College in Broad-street in 1750. The Master then pointed to the drawings on the table, those on one side representing many parts of the old College, and those on the other being photo- graphs of Sweetheart Abbey, near Dumfries, built by the Founders of the College, but now in ruins. They then visited the Chapel, which was built some fifteen years ago from designs by Mr. Butterfield. Its chief features were pointed out, and after visit- ing the Garden and the Kitchen the party separated, The second eyening meeting of the Society was held, by permission of the Keeper, at the Ashmolean Museum, on Tuesday week. Nineteen new members were elected, and one new member was proposed for election at the next meeting. Mr. W. Nanson, of Trinity College, then read a paper ‘On the Anti- quities of Beweastle, Cumberland, and the neigh- bourhood.” Bewcastle, Mr. Nanson said, was about 20 miles north-east of Carlisle, and was now in a most wild and desolate spot, there being only about half-a-dozen houses and a church init. It had, however, at a very remote period in the his- tory of the country been a place of some impor- tance, as it was a Roman Station in the year 78, and it had been so for a long time. It was now re- markable only for one thing, and that was a Runie monument in the Church-yard, upwards of 1100 years old. It was in a good state of preservation, and bore an inseription which was supposed to sig- nify that ithad been erected in memory of Aldfrid, King of Northumbria. Mr. Nanson gave an inte- resting historical account of Bewcastle, and of the warfare connected with it down to the tenth century, and he hoped some day to be able to continue the history from the time of William the Conqueror, when the Castle was granted to a Norman, down to the seventeenth century, when it was destroyed by the Parliamentary troops. Mr. James Parker and Mr. Earwaker made a few remarks on some antiquarian points alluded to by Mr. Nanson, and after a vote of thanks had been given to that gentleman for his interesting paper, the meeting separated. ———_o——_—— CHIPS. The freehold property known as the Inns! of Court Hotel, Holborn, occupying an area of 21,000 superficial feet, and possessing frontages to Holborn and Lincoln’s Inn Fields, has been sold by auction by order of the Court of Chancery. The reserved upset price was £48,590, and the purchase was made by the representative of the Midland Land and Investment Corporation (Limited) of Birmingham for £62,700. An estimate of £260 has been accepted for ad- ditional cases and tables for the museum in Kelvin- grove Park, Glasgow. The museum is supported by rates, otherwise it is open “free” to the public. The Weclesiastical Commissioners have decided on restoring the chancel of Milton parish church, near Gravesend, and the work is to be commenced shortly after Easter. Messrs. Adcock and Rees, of Dover, haye taken the contract.
 * hear any complaint which any ratepayer shall at