Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-04-08

Boston Correspondent Art Amateur.
The use Of tiles for house decoration is stead
lily increasing. Embossed tiles, French tiles
with fa1ence flowers in relief, rich enamels
which deserve to be set separately cen medal
lon," Spanish raised tiles in light blue and buff
arabesque of Saracenc style, English Doulton
Wedgwood, valentia, Moresque, Arabic, are but
1.-THE Of the higher priced sorts. The latest
kind is the pottery tile in the yellow brown.
red and dark brown of the old tortoise shell or
teapot ware, till now devoted to fire-proof jugs
and teapOts. An embossed tile with rich brown
glaze Is made in this lustrous ware, which in
the deepest shades is really handsome. This
native majOlica is especially good framing a
fireplace inside mantel Of pressed brick, or
deep red cherry, as seen at the Household Art
rooms in Boston. Out of the whole range of
mantel tile. The large vauted fireplaces of
moulded Philadelphia brick, the front courses
of alternately square and cylindrical brick, have
good effect in public waiting rooms and halls,
and an arch Of keyed pottery tiles added is in
the best of keeping.
Glass mosaic for inlaying the walls of rooms
Is an idea on trial with decorators. The name
has not satisfactory sound, but the work,
which is thick pieces of Opaque colOred glass
fitted in Kaleidoscope patterns in demi-lunes,
foils and medallOns. lightens the tone of an
apartment with Saracenic gayety. A large hall
In Chicago was lately decorated with semi-circu-
lar headings of mosaic In turquoise, pale buff,
black and white. ranged at the same height
round the walls, and the artist declared himself
pleased with the result With careful taste very
bold and gorgeous ornament can be attempted,
and the effects Of semi-precious stones and
costly inayings gained by this means.
Marble mosaic, after the antique is made from
small bits Of different marbles laid in cement in
regular patterns, mostly geometric ornament,
the figures of animals in the Roman style being
left to ancient taste. The Household Art Com
pany of Boston supplies such mosaic in slabs for
the hearths and jambs of f1replaces In entrance
halls, and has been placing them in fine houses
in New York and Washington as well as Boston.
Among other experimental ideas found with the
pottery tiles and glass mosaic in this company 3
workrOoms are iron portrait plaques. Heads of
the sculptor, F. d. Miliet, and Virginia Gershom
are the only ones which have yet been made,
and though nothing more has been attempted
than the sketchy lkenesses which belong to
modern art, the metal has taken the impressions
so faithfully and even sensitively that it is evil
dent iron is fit for more artistic uses than we
have yet dreamed of.
Have you as much pot metal lying about the
art rooms In New York as figures in Boston, in
the shape of plaques reIiefs and replicas Of old
work? A plaque in relief is the coveted decora-
ton Of the informed BOstonan, and If he can
not import genuine antique or modern bronze.
he takes in plaster or composition, cOppered,
silvered, or in Berlin finish, and feels superior
over it; and presume good New Workers and
Phlladelphians do the same. Suffer me to say
In full and free relief of SOUL after being shown
good many of these works Of art, that had
rather have pebble from Cohasset beach. worn
by the sands and storms, that was really and
truly what it seemed to be, than all this preten-
tious rubbish, and the bare possibility that some
one may offer me plaque in tinfoi or Hello
gabaus in red bronze, has been sufficient to de-
prive me Of natural sleep Those who sell these
things are not wanting i'm keen and accurate
IA tnir Of
show. How can they deal in these imita-
lions! s. D.