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

comes up Is 50 Tar realiy new III tiaI VIC
have no recollection of its earlier appear
ance. So, to-day, one of the favorite
agents of decoration is leather, and in ad-
miring the great results obtained by its
use we seldom realize how entirely the
adaptation of this material is revival, not
of the antique as we are all so fond Of
saying, but of fashions that prevailed less
than a hundred years ago. How formal
some of the interiors were in the days of
the Georges, how entirely out Of sympathy,
as one might suppose, with the spirit of to-
day, and yet, if we could turn backward
glance, say, over some ninety odd years,
and gaze into the sacred privacy of some
wealthy home, we should assuredly find
there much that we call new to-day, and of
all novelties none more frequent than leath-
er as a decorative agent. So far, at least,
as the countries of Europe are concerned,
this is profoundly true; here, of course,
matters are somewhat different, although
even across the wide Atlantic, fashion
found its way, and the remembrance of
stately homes in England and France gave
a tone and meaning to those which sprang
up in this country in the prosperous days
which were the forerunners Of independ-
ence. Until quite recently all decorative
leather was imported, and although en-
bossed leather had been produced in Amer
lea, none of the painted leather which is
now in such fashionable demand was man
ufactured in the country. More than
twelve years ago, however, even before the
Centennial had awakened an interest in the
marvellous achievements of foreign leather
workers, an attempt at its manufacture had
been made in New York city, and SO far
the production of painted leather, or, as it
is called, illuminated leather" is in the
hands of one firm. The method of COM
municating color to the material is trade
secret; it has the appearance Of having
been dyed, although oil paints only are
used for the purpose. The effect is not in
the least as if the colors were merely laid
on, for the entire thickness of the leather
appears permeated with color. This re-
suit has only been obtained after years of
study and experiment, and the manufac-
turer is an Englishman by birth. In ev-
cry case background of gold or silver is
first given to the surface of the leather,
and the design is then tooled in colors ac-
cording to the taste of the artists. Most
of the designs selected are in imitation of
the antique, very few being original, and a
preference now is given to those of Moor
ish origin, although Flemish designs play
an almost equally important part.
The Illuminated leather manufactured in
New York is acknowledged by competent
judges to excel that which is imported from
France or Belgium, for the reason that it
does not crack or show signs of wear, and,
in fact, resembles the genuine antique in
that the older it grows the better it looks.
Moreover, it is far more flexible than
French leather, and this makes it invalua-
BILE as covering for furniture. The demand
for this decorative leather is steadily in
creasing, and it is found Of such practical
value that in the most stylish modern
houses it is fast taking the place of other
materials for ceiling and wall decoration.
Some houses in the city are decorated
throughout with it; others have wall and
ceiling decorated in leather for dining-room
and library. The expense Of such orna-
mentation varies, but is never light, for,
although it can be obtained for fifty cents
foot, the best qualities cost over three
dollars foot, and, as rule, decorated
leather guaranteed to wear costs at least
ten dollars yard. For ceiling decoration
it is invariably applied in one piece, and
crossbars of decorative work are used in
connection with it, serving to keep it in
position, SO that if necessary the entire
ceiling decoration can be removed like any
article of furniture Dark leather is, as a
rule, preferred for the decoration of dwell
ing-rooms, and lighter shades for bed
rooms Illuminated leather has much to
recommend it for ceiling decoration, from
the fact that it catches the rays Of light
and presents varied appearance from hour
to hour. Three or four years ago almost
all the painted leather in demand came
from Italy or France. To-day there is ey-
cry probability of American leather being
exported to European countries. The
leather most in demand for decorative pur-
poses is the ordinary OK hide; sheepskin
is too thin, and morocco is only used for
embossing or fancy purposes Goatskln is
occasionally called for, but not often. For
merly French hides were the only ones
considered suitable for the purpose of
painting, but American hides are now very
frequently used The cost of decoration
by this material varies, as before stated
one room in a mansion in Philadelphia
was decorated in leather, that is, ceiling,
walls and chairs were covered with this
material for the sum of 81 300, while the
enormous sum of $4,000 has been paid for
the decoration of a single room in antique
feathers. For special orders Levant or
Turkey leather is decorated, but this is not
a usual thing.
Every year now sees some Improvement
in this art. 1t has been proved that tiles
can be reproduced in leather go exactly
that only keen observer can detect the
material of which they are made, and it is
becoming a fashion to frame such tiles as
ornaments for mantels or brackets. I'M
ported feathers in colcred designs are enor-
mously expensive if they are really genuine
antiques. For example, an antique wal
hanging twelve yards long and two yards
in width is valued at over $4,000, and it
is estimated that it would require fully ten
years work to reproduce it by the modern
method. Such hanging, if used for
dressing or library WALL would be accom-
panied by a deep wainscoting of dark wood
mahogany probably, and have ceiling OF
the same wood richly carved. Oak is also
suitable accompaniment for leather, and
ebonized cherry is constantly used in com
bination with it. The skill attained by the
modern worker in leather is SO great that
when antique specimens are reproduced il
is almost impossible to detect which is the
original, excepting in the greater brightness
of the modern coloring. French artists
have long excelled in this branch OF art
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