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| THE PORCELAIN PORCH - The most striking
feature of the German Exhibit on Columbia Avenue in the Manufactures Building was the Porcelain
Porch of which these pages offer several other views in detail. The
Austrian Portal rises at the extreme
right, but the reader is to know that from the balustrade in the same
region to a point much further than the left of our scene, the entire
structure is china - the output and monument of the Royal Porcelain
Factory of Berlin, and the most astonishing performance in the
history and achievements of pottery. The transportation to Chicago
without mishap, of the enormous and fragile construction, added
wonder upon wonder. Between the Saracen pillars and under the
statuary at the apex, was the largest of several paintings on
porcelain tiles, representing Germania and her foremost sons of
industry and courage. The scene was on the Rhine, with Cologne's
cathedral towers, Germania in the clouds, and Father Rhine in his
boat below. The light has glowed from the blocks of tile, and the
beautiful picture is indiscernible. This painting was the work of
Professor Kips, who superintended the entire exhibit, and with skill
and good fortune safely erected the sturcture at the Exposition. The
Germania Club, of Chicago, became the possessor of this trophy of the
ceramic art in November, 1893, and it was re-erected in their
handsome club-house on North Clark street. The great iron fence of Germany stood in front of this
open space. |
