, 1875-08-22
HOUSEHOLD ART,
EAETY AKR EfIHN1YHBE

Tho attention frat excited By Eastiake's book
on Household Taste has put the designing Of
household furniture fairly within the province
of the fine arts, and no artistic subject perhaps
e1cites wider or more genuine interest in gen.
e1al society. In Chicago. as veil as in the other
large Cities there is steady and conssantl5-n-
creasing, though not yet large, demand for furni-
turo Of special construction. Our best-kuown
designers arc Mr. ". l.. B. Jepney and George
r. Clarke, architects !; while Mr. Scott, the
wood-carver, is also known in connection
with this subject. Mr. C1arkP just now
has 4 considerable amount OF furniture,
made after his own designs, collected in his
Offices in the Merchants Building, preparatory to
oe1ng sent ont Of the city. This furniture, be-
>ns OF d careful and tasteful design, and intend
cd for a variety OF rooms, pa,iors, libraries,
halls, and chambers, is worth the inspection OF
persons interested in the subject. Its merit is
largely in
THE sXP11crT1 OF ITS DEs1oH
and in the great variety and az the same tina the
harmony Of the ornamental detail There are
six OF eight walnut bookcases, made for library
Of the dimensions OF about 81 by 16 feet. They
nre of the same height, and the principal hori-
zontal lines are kept upon level With each
other; but the width is varied to suit
different parsz OF the room. The con-
struction is perfectly simple and evident, and
the parts are all real, the supports, and
hinges, and handles doing in every case the
work which they profess. the decoration, be-
fides the beauty sought in tho general propor-
tious, is OF three kIads: iucised ornament. that
is, ornament cut into tho Tood NTH craving
tool. sometimes With the ADDITION OF color, bFass
etsap~hinges, and inlaid tiles /; but it is used
with 1es,raint. not too 'av1sh!y. 4 pair OF smaQ
bookcases are peculiar in having the cupooards,
with brass hinges and tiles iniaid in the'panels.
at the top instead Of the bottom. the engraved
ornament is drawn chiefly from natural objects,
beasts, and fishes so much approved BY tha
English authorities, 'a2d the exact de-
eign is never repeated The tiles are
designed and uasde especially for this set CT fur
n,ture. 1t is scarcely worth while to attempt
detailed description Of the different articles.
There are several mantels Of walnut and oak,
bedstead and other chamber furniture OF pine
etc. 1nls furniture will remain in the city ont d
dav or two longer. It may be that there lssome-
body who can tell us
Or it may be that no more ny5terious criterion
of Judgment is needed than this: 1s this fur
plture going to answer we't the purposes Tor
which it is intended It is strong and dnlab!e
and ia the construction sound and honesE2 ara
the general proportions well-jndged 1s the lam
cful decoration within the ordinary acknowledged
rules of sound sEt, and has the designer displayed
good taste in it There ia room, OF course, Tor
. difference Of opinion 10 regard TO these ques-
tions eapecsly tue last, in Any Particular case,
Int with this allowance for things not to be dis
nuted about, there ls no danger in answering
them fayorably to Mr. Ciarke'a designs, and.
having 60 answered them. there is little need
for inquiry uhether The Work B Ii aceo1o WILL
any school or master.
Before proceeding TO some general observa~ !
tons on the design Of furnlture, rotd about |
the
COST OF FURNITURE or SPECIAL DESIGN
will not be out OF place. since many people ara |
deferred from attempting TO procure it because |
of the supposed great expense. For snls tne
fashona ahIs dealers who have taken advantage |
of an atrecIed taste for so-called Eastlase 1ut-
uitrre in certain circles, are to blame. IL may
be- laid down as = general rule tano TINS Ii salo
with authority that furniture, such as that de-
scribed above costs just about the Same as
fnrnture OF the same class bought A. the stores.
This. If the charge Of the deslgner u not in
moderate. The cost Of the deaigos Is counter
balanced by saving in "ood-car"ne, rnico ae
a3o,47 tns sh''f f.sSonabie fa1niture @ but
astsnsrs. stis s"psgsd Sp .re:',en. 'n1
tho set above described, OF solid oak heauufnl5
polished cost Less than An equally-ele821. 4tt
cta Of any Of the ordinary patterns. MOI u
there any ieason why the pr1oes should increase
largely, uniess from, the growing reputation OF
partlcular designer, because the mechanical
work can ali be done BY ordinary Tofkmen. Any
nsrson OF good taste Who will take tho trouble
to study the subject frats.n!z' w;th reon ne oe
things in happy way. can do great deal TO-
vats furnishing room sdes'vsg lss
other artists enthusiastic in their profession:
encer to promote the spread Of good tsste' and
frse 70 impart the secrets OF their trade.
powxR1oHr EXCEPTION NAY Be TAKEN
tn calling this furniture Eastiake furniture,
Il is mors properly furniture Of specill deslgn
or. 10 this instance. furniture in an old Eoghsh
style. Tie intelligent public ia difhdent in What
rol.tes to the canons Of good taste because ,,e %
Ia manY pointa between the arbitrary ano -
enrd des o such wstsrs .s !. s,t
t.t,on that eYeu now hlghiy-cultivated person
expresses his (or more likely herr denur to hssst
LIKES opinion. Take, for instance, the mA''ef VI
E1TExs1ox Dn1so-7ABLEs. l
in which NO are sozry to Say slr Cn11ssope1
Dresser sgreas With bun. After pointing out taas