The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1882-12-16

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upon this material, and it entered largely
into the decoration of palaces and large
buildings at the time of the earlier Renais-
sance Although it has played the part OF
all fashions and been from time to time al
most lost sight of by the general public, it
is safe to affirm that there never has been
a time when the lovers of the beautiful
have not sought to express ideas in this
material. 1t is extremely durable, and
has more to recommend it for the purcha-
ser than for the man whose bread and but
ter depends on selling it, for the reason
that a house once fitted up with it may be
considered as needing little restoration.
The same is true, Of course, of chairs-and
the durability of leather-covered furniture
is one of its greatest recommendations
Trimmings for leather chairs, whether the
material is plain, embossed or painted, vary
according to taste and the dictates of fash
ion. Just now oak, mahogany and ebon.
lied cherry are most in demand. Work.
men for embossing leather must necessari-
ly be skilled artisans as rule they are
found among English or Americans, al
though some Germans are employed In the
business. The latter are good at imitation
but slow to originate, and while they follow
directions with great accuracy they seldom
aspire to anything like originality.
A hide varies SO much in thickness that
the process of embossing or tooling can
only be carried on successfully by work
men who are alive to the fact, and SO reg
ulate the pressure of their hand machines
with great nicety otherwise the design
would be in unequal relief, or on the thin
portions of the material the instrument
would cut instead of merely indenting.
The latest style of colored leather is the
iridescent, and it is extremely beautiful
The reason of the superiority of leather OF
American preparation to that prepared by
the French undoubtedly lies in the fact
that the latter use shellacs for coloring,
whereas the oil colors employed by the
| New York firm are far more durable, dc
not impart any stiffness to the material
and are so far incorporated with it that
they do not rub off. Recently most mar
velous success has been attained in the
production of bright and vivid colors in
leather. Flowers, fruit, and even the ex-
quisite plumage of birds of paradise have
all been copied with faithful accuracy, and
a very favorite design now is that known
as the American, which is combination
of native American flowers, fruits and
birds The designs for representation in
leather are made by special artists in every
case where originality is aimed at, but a
preference is generally given to copies from
old designs, frescoes, etc. A large wall.
hanging, for example, represents the Can
terbury Pilgrims, or some romantic or his
torical scene will be selected. If Venetian
feathers are to be produced something fan
ciful or allegorical will be chosen. Fol
hangings, French leather serves well, al
though as far as accuracy of design and at
tention to details goes it can hardly com
pare with that made here, and for all pur-
poses where great wear is unavoidable il
cannot be recommended, for the reason
that it cracks and the color rubs off
Plain-colored leather is no longer either sc
popular or SO fashionable as embossed OF
painted leather, and that which is used is
English. Spanish designs are very usually
representations of figures, and there is al
increasing demand for the reproduction Of
japanese designs in this material. These
have been very successfully attempted, ano
as many as 5000 yards have been made in
execution of single order.
When plain feathers are used, a prefer
ence is given to dark colors, shaded browns
or maroons, and the same deep tones are
selected for the purpose of painting contin
uous designs, just as dark wood would be
chosen as ground for decorative panel
The rule for the decoration of walls in
leather is to have a third of the space in
that material and the remaining two-thirds
in wood work in the shape of wainscotine
and frieze Some of the Railways in the
most modern houses are beautifully decor
ated in this way in gilded and painted
leather, combined with dark wood work
and contrasting with stairway of polished
white oak. The deep tones of the leather
are admirable foils for the coloring, and
produce in marked degree the effect of
light and shade.
Hall chairs are now generally covered
in gilded leather, that known as Spanish
being the most popular Such chair
may cost $45 if finished in handsome wood
An ordinary drawingroom chair in emboss-
ed leather and handsome frame will cost
$35, but both will have the merit of being
practically indestructible. In fact the only
thing that can be urged against the uni
versal application of leather is to be found
in this there is SO little margin for change
possible, and, as the very essence of fash
ion is change, it will be matter of con-
siderable expense to fit up house with
leather with the prospect Of changing its
decoration for the next fashionable mate
rial. Panels are now made on embossed
and tooled feathers, and such work is ii
reality perhaps more beautiful than the
more elaborate paintings upon this mate
rial. AS a rule, all raised work is more
effective in leather than any application oi
color to the perfectly fat surface Of the
material, for the reason that in one case the
full beauty of the leather is shown, while
in the other the interest and value attach
to the skill with which it is disguised
There may be great merit in so manipula
ting any material that it shall look like
something else, but true art consists II
bringing into play the inherent beauty O
the material itself, for which reason W.
NAV be permitted a preference for thos'
exquisite designs in relief which are car
r;ad ont in the natural tones of the leather
or for the effect given to the material By
artistic embossing and tooling. Colored
painted and iridescent feathers must be I
matter of passing fashion, but the expires
sion of beauty in the material itself will
outlast all fashion and reman as an endur
ing testimony of artistic possibilities.-N
u Times. '.sar1o
! Black as Sign Of Morning.
"Black is the sign of mourning" say
Rabelais, t'because it is the color of dark