The Portland daily press., 1879-03-25
price according to width and quality, from one

price according to width and quality, from one
to ten dollars per yard. '-'
Mr.. Morris's firm object to horizontal bars In
curtain drapery. They say the wall papering
should be between fr;eze and dado, and the
eurtaining show only q rich surface pattern.
Inc Oriental tendency has developed into
something which partakes of the hues and
com olnations Of all lands, 1t seems to us; Ger.
talnly the parti-colofed drspery, with every
variety OF blossom worked in it's natural colors
on foundation of white or olive-tinted satin.
came from the Orient as an idea; but English
TASTE mas laid hold of it and robbed IL of its
ARABIAN Nights effect, though critical people
rRo 10 cali 1t japanese" or "Persian," while
nrms ike Mr.. Morris's show these splendid
stuts in moderation when they are embroi.
dered go profosely. not liking to introduce
them into public rather too fond of the gaudy
already
Mr.. Morris, of course, shows tiles 10 limit
less variety. but these sre less novel to Ameri-
cans accustomed to the fine workmanship of
new YORK and Boston, nor are they easy
enough OF exnort or cheap enough to be
temptation. Naturally on leaving Morris's
one expects to find in other artistic upholster-
ers feeble limitations or a lower degree of orig.
inallty: This, however Is by no means the
case. Druce & Co. and a few other firms show
the most complete novelties, and in many in
stances at lower price; even wandering up
into the uDaristocratic but intensely crowded
region of Westbourne Grove, one finds the
"artistlc upholsterer' showing 'artistic' wares,
and the recurring tints of the season-oliye,
dusky blues and reds, old gold and lemcn-if
somewhat crude, are at least as effective in
general way.
Chintzes and cretounes, fashionable in pat
tern and hue, are shown at the decorative
houses for prices varying from twenty-five
cents to three dollars per yard, while
firms like Heilbronner send out woods
used for crewel and embroidery at one dollar
and twenty-five cents per yard. The
duskiest reds blues are generally chosen
Tor f1rniture-coveripg or draperies in the wools,
and heavy velveteen is employed as finish or
even trimming. Chairs recently made up at
an artistic house had stripes of deep red vel
veteen on white wool, the wool being wrought
In close and intr cate outline pattern Of shaded
crimson Silks These, of course, were only for
the ornamental" chairs of the room. Anoth-
er set OF three, intended for library, were en-
tirely covered with wool, and were deep and
softly cushioned as lounges, the round of the
back and arms being richly embroidered, but
so adroitly were the worked pieces introduced
that they could be removed or renovated at
Will. Figures give one, after all, very realiz.
ing sense Of thugs; and as 1 have been permit
ted to dip into an account-book, will make
some extracts to show what an English lady
paid noted "artistic" house for the furnish
ing OF drawing room in her country house-a
large room, we should explain, with polished
floor almost ebony in tint-at cne end wide
windows, two smaller ones at one side, an
srchway leading Into smaller room, and one
curta1ned doorway:
Cretonne for windows (pattern in Queens blue,
leaf leaf and vine on white grOundl. 60. -, ss5 90
blue, black, and crimson predominatine). -. 80 90
Sretonne and bamboo chairs and long sofa. -. 60 90
Mantel-black woods, three-storied, with long
narrow mirror. rs 90
Two carved chairs ......................... 80 90
Flve-oelock tea table" ".................... 20 90
Long ebony table with twisted legs. ....... IS 90
davenport ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. 25 90
Ihree long wall brackets with painted panels. 40 90
Two low cretonne ottomans. ns................. Is 90
Total l.......................S4 1920 90
OF course the room.included variety of kpick-
knacks which make English drawing-rooms
beautiful and bome-like, but these items may
give an idea of the money value of p.etty ''sr-
tistic' upholstery in England.