"We lack but open eye and car To ¢ Orient' marvels Blind in China! That is what so many of us are out hero, blind Jat last to a realization of the factual beauty of the Far East that is ours for the looking. Most ig with the prejudices: note only the superficial differences in art, We prefer: homeside art, endeavour to surround ourselves with things which "look tural," and fail to take advantage Jof the riches which the ancient vilization of Cathay offers us After every visit to Mr. Strehlneck's studio at 7a Ningpo Road one vows to go more often,® for in addition to the art treasures that] tone may acquire there one gains! '2 new insight into the art of Chi and the spirit which lies behind expression. These rooms, full of calm beauty and harmonious colours, contain many all-but price-ess museum pieces, ungrudgingly exhibited, but they also contain many inexpensive bits, quite wit the grasp of the most modest. purchaser, As an amateur collec-for put it: "One feels one is forming Jone's taste in buying anything at meek's. One can't buy an thing. It isn't found in this studio."
For one who is looking for Christ mas gifts which will be beautiful bat not- ruinously costly Chien Lung bowls dating from 1736-96 fare suggested, and then there are white, Kanghsi ware, small jade pendants, and ear-tings, lovely 1 ornaments, or bits of ivory. For those who do not insist upon too great an antiquity there a charming paintings—upo!
dating back some fifty year inthe daintiest pastel shades, in great variety of subjects. More ambitious, still not beyond the limits of" one's pocket book, are the Ming scrolls which go buck 400 years, The recently discovered Chinese frescoes, 1400 years old will be of great interest to all who are at all interested in Chinese art. These wall paintings were done water colour on plaster made from a special flour made from a riee-Tike grain and held together with fibre. These came from the White Horse Temple of Loyang in Honan, and the only others which Mr. Strehlneck "has seen are in the Horuji Temple in. Nara, Japan. The colour is marvellously preserved in these examples of early Chinese art and their strength and vivacity of movement is strangely modern. The treatment of figures reminds one very strongly of Leonardo da Vinei and suggests speculation as to the influence of Chinese art on Europe. No one should miss secing these piety
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.