should
be sold at public auction. These exceptions were made because it was
feared that they would fall into the hands of Americans. The sale of
this great historic collection took place in May, 1887. The forty-eight
parcels were subdivided into one hundred and forty-six lots, and there
were sixty-eight buyers; the sales to twelve of them brought over
100,000 francs each. The largest lot, the great corsage, which sold for
811,000 francs, was purchased by a single American firm, the largest
buyer at the sale. The purchases of this firm amounted to 2,249,600
francs, or about 34 per cent, of the entire sum realized; while as to
quality the same firm obtained more than two-thirds of the finest gems,
among them were three Mazarins; a pear-shaped rose brilliant weighing
24-27/32 carats, for 128,000 francs; a pear-shaped white brilliant
weighing 22-1/4 carats, for 81,000 francs; a white brilliant weighing
28-7/16 carats, for 155,000 francs; and an oval brilliant weighing
18-1/32 carats, for 71,000 francs; or 435,000 francs for the four. All
but one of their purchases were secured by private American customers.
The great interest attached to this sale was due not only to the fact
that many of the gems were of very fine quality, but also to their
historic associations; the history of many of them could be traced back
several hundred years.
The
collection of antique gems, numbering three hundred and thirty-one
pieces, formed by the late Rev. C. W. King, of Trinity College,
England, the greatest of all writers on engraved gems, was sent to the
United States for sale in 1881. This collection represents the summing
up of Mr. King's vast knowledge, and none has ever been more thoroughly
studied. His numerous writings mark an epoch in the study of this
branch of archaeology, and only the loss of his sight led him to part
with his treasure. The growing interest and taste in archaeological
matters in the United States induced him to send it here to be sold
intact. In October, 1881, through the friendly mediation of Mr.
Feuardent, it was purchased and presented to the Metropolitan Museum of
Art by Mr. John Taylor Johnson, the president of the museum, where it
now remains. Near it will be placed the Sommerville collection. Mr.
Maxville Sommerville, while spending the past thirty-two years of his
life in Europe, Asia, and Africa, has collected cameos, intaglios,
seals, and other historical gems, and as a result of his liberal
expenditure of time and money he is today the owner of one of the most
unique and valuable collections of engraved gems in the world. It
numbers over one thousand five hundred specimens, including Egyptian,
Persian, Babylonian, Etruscan, Greek, Roman, Aztec, and Mexican
glyptic, or jewel-carving art. All of these are represented by
specimens of singular excellence, affording us a panoramic view of the
achievements of civilized man in this direction. This remarkable
collection, now at his home in Philadelphia, has been loaned to the
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, where it will soon be placed on
exhibition, and the public will be afforded every facility to study the
beautiful achievements of the glyptic art.
