A JAPANESE NOBLEMAN'S ROOM.

Inangahua Times, Volume 93, Issue 93, 16 September 1878, Page 2

A JAPANESE NOBLEMAN'S ROOM.

Mr Strottcr, of No 18, New Bond street gavo a private "iow of n Japanoso noble, man's room, erected under tbo outhority of tho Governor of Kioto, for tho uso of Dr Drosser, while ho wns staying ns a Royal quo.st in Jnpan. This room bas recently been imported in seporato pieces resembling n phild's puzzlo, was put together by nn English joiner in nbout n couple of days, aud as now arranged it will enablo unyono to form a protly ac* ourato idoa of a Chinoso reooption room in upper class life. It is about 12ft long by rather less width, ani about Oft ir. height. Tho roof consists of several panels of cedar wood, nil tho wood in tho room having a very fino pohshod surfneo 5 tho walls aro formed chiefly of slides opening in tho adjoining room or inlo a quadrangle (most residences of a superior class boing built in tbat form), nnd finished at tbo sides with black lacquered strips of wood theso slides being paper manufactured irom native fibre, and tastefully docorntod wi.'h tho figures of birds and various omhlonutio representations, At tho ond of tho room is a protty roccss, tho upper pnrt of whioh is oomposod of wood out into a kind of fretwork, so ns to ropro** sent a flight of storks. Closo to this is a Inreor reooss, which in accordance with the fashion of tho country in lii&rli life, is reserved for tho necemmodntion of the Mikado, should ho over dei-.n to visit tha houso ; and thero is an opening U tho side for the entrnneo of refreshments designed to prevent tbo sacred oountennneo from being profnnod by tho «n*?o of any of tho domestics. Tho floor is oovorod with matting mndo of fine straw, and no one ever dreams of cnterintj* tho npnrt* mont with shoes on Soattored about tho norn aro a number of utensils of various kind?, including culinary vessol.**, a metal pnn for warming purposes, a sword ready to effect tho ' happy despatch,' and a curious smoking box. Bosidcs tho room with lhe ordinary gear, thoro havo boen imported a considerable number of choice .Tapnneio curios in difforont metal*, illnsitrnting tho wondorful development of the nnlivonrt nnd tho old Itnlim liko painsInking attention to mhiniiro and to truths fulness to nature. Among theso nro nn oxydised silver fen service, in which thoro i.s somo beautiful dn*nn«ceno work, displaying marvellous skill nnd industry in under euUing nnd enorusfiniz ; a > sort of tnzfA of bronz*, with somo exquisite gold inlaying; n di-di of oloissonee with enamelling which will ropny caroful examination ; a aplendid old ineenso burner, inennso being copiously nsed among' tho wonlthy in Japan. Thoro aro also novel nnd interesting specimens of that larquer work in which tho Japanoso huvo confessedly diitnnced nil other nations. Tho room nnd Iho curios will for somo limo bo open to tho publio view.