Gardner Teall

New York
June 4, 1920

CONTENTS

CHAPTER PAGE
[I][The Pleasures of Collecting][3]
[II][Collectors of Yesterday][9]
[III][American Tables][18]
[IV][Tea and Antiquity][26]
[V][Cup-Plates][36]
[VI][Chintz][42]
[VII][Pewter][51]
[VIII][Samplers][61]
[IX][Wax Portraits][68]
[X][Hand-Woven Coverlets][74]
[XI][Chairs][77]
[XII][English Drinking-Glasses][84]
[XIII][Stuart Embroideries][94]
[XIV][Delft][98]
[XV][Early Desk Furniture][106]
[XVI][Chelsea][115]
[XVII][Wedgwood][125]
[XVIII][Saving the Pieces][130]
[XIX][Lounging Furniture][134]
[XX][Sheffield Plate][146]
[XXI][Straw Marqueterie][153]
[XXII][Consoles][164]
[XXIII][Sèvres Porcelain][170]
[XXIV][European Enamels][178]
[XXV][The Romance of a Potter: Bernard Palissy][191]
[XXVI][Italian Maiolica][210]
[XXVII][Glass of a Thousand Flowers][218]
[XXVIII][Antiques of Persia and of India][227]
[XXIX][Chinese Porcelains][238]
[XXX][Chinese and Japanese Lacquer][246]
[XXXI][Chinese Snuff-Bottles][253]
[XXXII][Cloisonné Enamels of China and Japan][262]
[XXXIII][Japanese Sword-Guards][270]
[XXXIV][Medallic Art][278]
[XXXV][Engraved Gems][286]
[XXXVI][Fraudulent Art Objects][299]
[Bibliography][305]
[Index]: [A], [B], [C], [D], [E], [F], [G], [H], [I], [J], [K], [L], [M], [N], [O], [P], [Q], [R], [S], [T], [U], [V], [W], [Y][319]

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

[Early American mahogany block-front cabinet-top Rhode Island style desk, 1750-1775][ Frontispiece]
FACING PAGE
[American walnut gate-leg table, 1675-1700][24]
[American pine and walnut chair-table, 1700][24]
[American cherry and maple gate-leg table, 1675-1700][24]
[Late 18th century English tea caddy][25]
[Late 18th century English tea caddies][25]
[Ivory and two tortoiseshell 18th century tea caddies][25]
[Cup-plates][40]
[Early printed cotton][41]
[Chinese pewter jar with bronze cover—early 18th century][60]
[A Swiss pewter wine-flask, Zurich, dated 1766][60]
[American 18th century sampler][61]
[A dated English or Welsh sampler, 1787][61]
[Wax-portrait of Ferdinand I of Sicily, Italian, late 18th century][76]
[Wax-portrait, subject unknown, Italian, early 18th century][76]
[Model of an American peg-loom bearing the name of W. D. Fales of Providence, Rhode Island][77]
[Handwoven coverlet in bed-chamber of the John Howard Payne House][77]
[Chippendale mahogany arm-chair, 1760-1780][80]
[Shield back Hepplewhite arm-chair][80]
[Louis XIV arm-chair][80]
[Louis XV arm-chair][80]
[Three rare Williamite glasses][81]
[Two English glass rummers engraved with Nelson subjects][81]
[A small Jacobite Arms rummer][81]
[Tumbler commemorating coronation of George IV of England][81]
[Two 18th century tumblers][81]
[English 17th century stump-work embroidery][96]
[Dutch delft shelf ornaments][97]
[Four Dutch delft tiles, 17th century][97]
[A pair of candlesticks and a vase of 18th century Chelsea][120]
[Cabinet inset with Wedgwood jasper ware medallions][121]
[16th century Venetian glass covered cup][136]
[Double chair-back settee, Chippendale, 1735-1750][137]
[Settee, Adam style][137]
[Sofa of the William and Mary period][137]
[Sheffield plate tray and spoonholder][152]
[Sheffield plate teapot and coffee-pot][152]
[Straw marqueterie box, French, 18th century][153]
[Straw marqueterie box, English, 17th century][153]
[French console, Louis XIV period][168]
[French console, Louis XV period][168]
[Sèvres white bisque statuette of Voltaire][169]
[Sèvres white bisque bust of Franklin][169]
[A pair of Sèvres porcelain covered vases][169]
[Oval dish by Bernard Palissy, 1510-1589][188]
[Lumières by Bernard Palissy][188]
[Limoges enamel covered cup attributed to Pierre Raymond][189]
[Champlevé enamel casket, French, 13th century][189]
[Early Italian maiolica plates][216]
[Copies of Roman millefiori glass][217]
[Two ancient Roman millefiori glass bowls][217]
[Ewer and basin, Bindri ware, India, 18th century][236]
[Polychrome Persian tiles, 17th century][236]
[Chinese porcelain, Kang H’si period, 1662-1723][237]
[Chinese lacquer vase, 18th century][252]
[Japanese gold lacquer toilet stand, 17th century][252]
[Chinese snuff bottles of the Ch’ien Lung period, 1736-1796][253]
[Chinese cloisonné Palace Censer, Chia Ching period, 1522-1567][268]
[Japanese armour of the feudal period showing swords with their sword-guards (tsuba)][269]

THE PLEASURES OF
COLLECTING

CHAPTER I
THE PLEASURES OF COLLECTING

BLESSED is the man who has a hobby! declared Lord Brougham; and of all the hobbies it is doubtful if any are more blessed than those of the collector of antiques and curios, old prints, coins and medals, rare books and bindings, and the like. “God never did make a more calm, quiet, innocent recreation,” good old Isaac Walton said of angling. But that is true, too, of collecting, which, figuratively speaking, is in itself a species of the art of angling, of dipping into the quiet pools of unfrequented places, there to angle for quaint curios and interesting mementos of bygone days, conscious that though the bait may be small, the catch may be large—besides, there is the fun of fishing!