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Elisina Tyler to Mildred Barnes Bliss, November 26, 1926

Antigny-le-Château
par Arnay-le-Duc
(Côte d’Or)
November 26th 1926Friday.

Dearest Mildred,

Your letter of November 22nd has just arrived. It has come delightfully quickly, and carries great news.

Before I forget, by getting absorbed in the world your letter flings open to my imagination, let me say that a distinguished German scholar, Dr Marc Rosenberg, has asked us to send him photographs of the poinçon“Stamp.” under our chalice, and I believe he is asking you too if you could send him photographs of those on your paten. Would you be so kind, as to have a large photograph of the paten taken at the same time, and also large photographs of the details, say a photograph of the centre, and one each of the two groups of apostles right and left? These would be very valuable for study, if they could be as near as possible to the life size of the paten. And may we also have photographs of the poinçons?

I am sure Royall will be delighted to have the photograph of your Fatimide stuffSee letter of November 22, 1926, in which Mildred Barnes Bliss refers to the “little Fatimied [sic] fragment.” and of the turban, and Hayford Peirce, who is here now, wishes me to give you his warmest thanks.

It seems to me very difficult indeed to judge whether the price asked for that silver treasure is excessive. But £12,000Approximately equal to $58,500 in November 1926. is a large sum of money, and I should be inclined, on general principles, to say to Kalebdjian that the price you pay must include his 20%.For price and commission, see postscript to letter of November 22, 1926. I don’t think the deal would be refused, and Kalebdjian would bestir himself and do the bargaining.For Royall Tyler's recommendations, see letter of December 4, 1926.

If you need a courier to go to Cairo (at the expense of Mr. X, the present owner of the treasure), either Royall, or I, or Peirce would be very glad to go.

I hope so much that “Syria”Syria 7, no. 2 (1926), containing the article by Charles Diehl, “Un nouveau trésor d’argenterie syrienne,” 105–22. has arrived. My subscription came very late, only last week. The article is disappointing because it is so dead, but the reproductions are very good, and Diehl throws light on the subject, malgré lui,“Despite himself.” almost.

I am going to do my best to see the little tunic.Although in a later letter of March 14, 1931, Royall Tyler states that this textile is in the Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C., it is a tunic inscribed with the name of the Buyid Bahāʾ-al-dawla, ca. 1000 CE, from the Naqqāraḵāna of Ray, which is now in the Textile Museum, Washington, D.C., acc. no. 3.116. See Arthur Upham Pope, A Survey of Persian Art, from Prehistoric Times to the Present (London: Oxford University Press, 1938–1939), 3:2009, 2031, no. 12. See also letters of November 22, 1926; November 30, 1926 [2]; December 21, 1926; January 7, 1927 [3]; and May 3, 1927.

I shall so greatly look forward to seeing the photographs of the Stevens and the lovely Watteau.For these two paintings, see letter of November 22, 1926. I think I remember the Stevens on show at the exhibition of Belgium Masters at the TuileriesThe Salon des Tuileries, Paris, an annual art exhibition for painting and sculpture created on June 14, 1923. 3 years ago.This may be the Exposition des artistes belges, held at the Galerie de la Palette Française, 112 boulevard Malesherbes, Paris, in 1922.

There were five splendid Stevens’ and the one which Royall described to me after seeing it with you, was the finest, on the “warm” side.

Dearest Mildred, beauty on such a scale is the essence of life, and it looks to me as if you and Robert were moving in a lovely glow! Bless you both.

Our news are mild. Royall is having a very interesting time, and a busy one, and is going to Geneva on the 1st of December. I can’t catch him now in Budapest, to ask him about the lecture,See letter of November 22, 1926. as he is going to stop off in Vienna to negotiate (for the S. Kensington—and this is a secret,)—if possible, the purchase of a fine object which the Monastery of Heiligenkreuz wants to sell.See letter of July 21, 1926. I am sure he would most gladly take an opportunity of going to Stockholm while you are there, if he can do so.

Would you let me know at what time the lecture would take place?

Bill is fearfully eager to have a listening-in set, and has also won the Shakespeare Fifth Form prize, which Royall also won twenty-five years ago.

Antigny is bathed in mellow sunshine. The workmen of the Monuments Historiques are building up the vaults of the chapel, and making a nice noise by hitting on the stones that are to make the top of a fine old chimney on the tower.The Service des monuments historiques of France had classified the chapel and round tower at Antigny as historical monuments. See letter of September 5, 1923. And I am preparing to eat a meal of omelette, pintade aux choux, salade de mâche avec celeri et betterave, and a compote de poires,“Omelet, guinea fowl with cabbage, salad of mâche with celery and beet, and a pear compote.” all grown within the hedges of Antigny. Yes, and the cheese too! Oh why are you not here to share it.

My very best love to you both.

Ever yours devotedly,
Elisina
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