Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1882-12-28
COVERING FOR FuRNITURE.
What is Used for Very FsshIOna.
be Drawing and Reception
Rooms.
New York Times.


New York Times.
When we come to a consideration Of
tapestry we fnd many qualities and
varieties in this favorite material,
varying in value according to the fine
ness of the worsted, the amount Of
material needed, aud the tine neces.
sary Tor the completion Of the design.
In some Of the finest tapestries in imi
tation Of antique designs which are
known as broehe tapestries, the
threads are tied at the back, and this
necessarily involves a very great deal
of labor and time. Palaces aud
churches throughout Italy, Sp in and
France have been ransacked for de
signs, and great value attaches 10 any
new discovery, which alter years Of
rumaging, does not take place very
frequently. But there are always the
standard antiques. just now those Of
the time Of Henry III. are 10 special
favor, but people have, ia a measure
to be educated up to q knowledge oil
tapestries, and purchasers are often
compelled to rely entirely upon the
statements Of the importers. Most Of
the tapestries Of the finer grades are
made at Mines in the south OF France;
ordinary varieties at RoubAiK, a large
manufacturing town. Silk stufs, sat
in damask, and broche, which is les:
used row Than formerly, are imported
from Tours and Lyons.
For very la hIOnable drawing and
reception rooms silk velours are used
perhaps more largely than any other
material. Indian aud Persian rug,
are employed for the covering q
lounges, but only to a limited extent:
such a style is not likely to become
generally fashionable, one reason beins
TIA they cau be copied 10 cheap goods;
just IS a few years ago great interest
was felt in the novel use of saddlebag.
as chair coverings until the market
was flooded with cheap limitations o.
those unique materials, when thev al
once lost all favor for high class i'm
porters. For up stairs rooms, bed
chambers and guest rooms, printed
cotton fabrics are IN increased demand
The public generally call all the yari
eliSs OF these materials by the common
name OF cretonne. but 10 the trade
cretonne is the very poorest of printed
musllns. Superior goods are known
respectively as French toile a wolfe, az
being in substance aud quality imita
tive OF sail cloth, crepe, cloth which
Is a cotton fabric not unlike monte
cloth, mcquette, or ribbed stuff, il
imitation OF tapestry and a new
material which is to be generally
fashionable next season, and which i:
extremely handsome and known a,
reps gobelens. For country houses
these various fabrics are in use. even
in the reception and living rooms,
while for the best city houses they are
IN universal use for up stairs rooms.
The better class is fifty inches wide.
prices vary according TO quality, color,
and variety Of design, beginning al
seventy five cents, and often reaching
a value Of 81 80 a yard. They come.
with very few exceptions. from Alsace.
where the old French industry is kept
up.
For ordinary wear in houses whers
economy is a necessity, coverings for
soft tufted bedroom furniture are often
made ola material known as fern
cloth, which is all worsted, with 4
small design of maiden hair fern. This
is an essentially practical material,
wearing well and procurable in All
neutral colors. 1t costs about So 80 a
yard. and is City inches in width.
For drawing room hangings, where
rich effects are wanted and economy
is a consideration, Spanish satin is a
very handsome material. 1t is manu-
featured in imitation of old satin, and
IS pllable and hangs in most graceful
folds, and that lisa point which ia as
Stunning more and more importance as
people become more alive to that
which really constitutes artistic effect
The preference to- day is for solid col
ors, excepting in the case of Tapestries
the high class furnisber relying for
harmony OF effect rather upon com
6inatlous Of materials than variety OF
design, Tapestries are procurable
with square designs expressly adapted
Tor the backs and seats OF chairs
which can also be obtained in silk
plushes embroidered ia twisted silks