, 1875-09-05
DOMESTIC FURNITURE.

jcc,s to be exhibited.
DOMESTIC FURNITURE.
THE FOUNDATIONS or GOOD TASTE.
4 few more words respecting the foundation
Of good taste in domestic furniture will not b,
eupurfuous. Authority is to be regarded witt
circumspection ia hne art IS in other depart
ments of human knowledge. Ruskin, EastIake
and Hamilton are good counselors bnt bad mas
ters-not worse than others-but g slayieh arti
tude towards anybody's will Or opinion is IN,
wholesome. There are no means OF arriving
at good Judgment Of pictures statues, OF house
bold furniture. save by an acquaintance with tht
principles Of sound art and the cultivation oi
good taste py reading, reflection, and, especially
observation. The individual opinions OF greal
writars will never answer our private and indie
pendent purposes. The chief benefit to bt
hoped for from the present furniture reform il
not tho adoption OF somo old Englist
fashion OF making sofas and sideboards, bul
our release from fixed fashions altogether, the
application to our personal needa md wishes OF
the general principles OF correct taste. When
this is done ne ehall have furniture that is at
the same time sensible, comfortable. and taste
ful. Let it be repeate1,-the chief benefit to be
hoped for from the furniture reform is
ARELEAsE FROM FASHION.
This is emphatica1ly the most valuable idea
that can he urged upon our loueehoTders in their
present stage OF Development The tyranny OF
fashion is Obvious on every hand, il need bot be-
expatlated upon. When re see Eleam of light
on any side, some sensible idea, and make to-
ward it, fashion as likely as not ID there before
u.s. ana adopts the Sensible idea, and carries it
farther,-to an excess. OF course.-and puts
upon it high price, aud gives it. name, and
10, the sensible idea has yanishod! This is tile
danger OF the rage for 'tEastlake furniture, nj
The very name Indicates It.
WHO Is THIS EAsTLAKE,
that he should 1nfe over us? Why, he is the
former Director Of the British Natioaul Gallery,
an ACCOMPLISHED artist, and an emlnent art
scholar. Aeyerthelosa, he is not infaible and
knows he is not He has been more than once
egregiouslv taken in by spurious pictures in
buying for the National Gallery, and preferred
to repose his Judgment upon the critical eye of
q certain ,well-known dealer. He has produced
one Of the best books upon Household
Taste which We have. full OF good pr.n-
ciples and good hints, but suited to richer and
more fixed soclety than ours, aud strongly mark
ed with = personal taste for particular heavy
old English style, which weare at liberty to adopt
opening. and has seized upon him, Already we
hear the confident objection, III Oh, hut it is not
East1akian," aa though this were OF any lmpoe-
tauce. the fact il that it ID not Of the
least consequence whether our carpets. OF our
Wallpaper, or our chairs and tables. are
IN accordance with the taste of Eastlake or
Dresser, OF England, or Of Mr.. Jenney or Nr.
Clarke, OF Chicago, or ausbcdy else, provided
they answer our purposes well. and do not Tio~
late the senslble sound PRINCIPLES OF good taste
ahectatlon Of q taste for "Eastlake fur
nltute" SO Commonly professcd, Of
ten by very vulgar aud iil-educated people, is
no better than any other fashion, and probably
Will not endure any longer. The predilection OF
the English authorities Tor heavy. ssrpisht work
undoubtedly good il REV Of tile outrageous
use OF woodwork made in almost all
our handsome furniture. Yet it may be ques-
toned whether thay do not carry the principle
too far. It ia founded, as they declare, upon
lhe loea Of Woralng in accordance with the prop
critics OF the material employed. using wood for
always in The direction OF the grain 80
as to preserve its greatest strength. 1t is sur
pflsiug. however, that
EARLIER AND MORE IMPORTANT pR1Sc1-
. PIE
obtains no more prominence in their minds, the
loea OF working in accordance with the material
That ls going to use the furniture is to eay
Tue human figure. It is Of great deal more i'm
PoItance that chair or sofa should bear some
relation to the shape OF the persons who repose /
npon them than that they should conform to any
1ualltles 3 Of pine or oak timber. II wood does
= Easslake furniture would furnish but slight
,leT to the sort OF animal that uses it.
ne ndherence 70 straight lines being persisted
. TO degree that amounts to beotry. Objec-
IONS % ornamental curves in atraightg1alned
IND lnde1ib]e wood, scroll Saving, and unneces-
'ary kinks in the legs Of black walnut tables and
'9ars are unquestlonablv eoand but what is
ne objection to a bent rail across the back of
'nalf! There ss no danger OF persons who do |
lot understand woodwork being offended
y ~ H. and those who do. are we'll |
ng the curved bar all needtul strength. |
s9at real objection can be made to the bent |
AK ana cane seated chairs 90 common in Offices? |
Above al what objection can be made to the |
ns;t ana leht and strong cane and wicker
'osk iuro'trte s DOW abundantly supplied in our
aarkets The disciples OF Eastlake appear to
1lnK u curve a sin, but the indications !
re-: that the American taste will turn. /
pore than the English At least, to the
eaoesque and airy styles, which need
a od'ess no ln1erlorfty. When our spring buggies
1g British vehicles. then and not before may We
'ok 1or the general adoption Of the extreme
Ea6tlake style =" OF furniture. Let us not as
t1xens o. Tree country, be. imposed upon; let
take esstlake. as We take Ruekin, With manE
raans na OF allowance. It may be that be
pecalties, and can teach US = thousand useful
a'oss, ~ out ne u not infalible; he has boobies
ke other enthnsiasts. and above all he did not
rlte With new to Western American civ,llza-
on. II We prefer to hang our pictures the
a1a.a! ~ a. NY, On one hook, aud he advises two,
. cannot yield to Eastiake on any REASONS he
IS YET submitted, and ne claim the right
talk With him about 1t. Nevertheless,
40 great good may come ont OF the
5l.aupn. Besides the many specific
nss tnas We get from the books, the idea is
1wning that there ia no absolnte NECESSITY Of
blowing the fashion in household furniture.
: soon = this fact is fairly recognized, ne shall
re made great gain; for we shall be able
! ! haye furniture as We rant It, We shall escape
e s!oreitant p prices put upon all, fashionable