Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1883-11-06
For tie Democrat.
RANKINGS IN PLEASANT PLACES
No II.
AN HOUR IN THE "uoUsEHorD ART" ROOMS

AN HOUR IN THE "HoUsEH Old ART" ROOMS.
To the Editor of the oxford Democrat:
Riding up Boyl-ton Street In car on
my way from the Fair, friend called my
attention 10 the tall, narrow, deep rcd
building bearing the sign, Household
Decorative Art"
Coming from delightful stroll through
the Public Garden, magnificent in its au-
tumnal towering, with little time 10
spare, entered the stained glass portal Of
the Household Art Rooms. Much as
hid been prepared 10 enjoy, 1.-The half was
never told" The lover OF the quaint and
curious can fnd ample material here for
study and admiration.
The aim OF this firm il 10 educate the
public taste AMI then supply the demand.
Accordingly, some half dozen rooms are
lifted up in highest style of low tiles, this
is not pun, modern ceramics, ancient
Drasses and so on al inhnitum. Mr. C.
Wellington, member of the present firm.
has been identified with the project from
its beginning IN 1870, when Chas, w. Ell
,Io,t, at los fremont, laid the foundation.
ia n humble way. of the present flourish
rooms shows heaps upon heaps OF tiles
for walls, fire places, hearths, floors, walks,
etc.
Mr.. Wellington said tiles are largely
used now in bath rooms. halls, kitchens,
and even stables, for walks. They come
in variety OF shapes, beautifully colored,
and can be arranged according to the taste
OF the builder.
The firIn employs a large corps OF work
men, ~ execute outside orders. very
handsome fireplace and mantel has recent
liz been put in house In Portland by Wei
ipgton 4 Burrsge.
The Low Art Tiles, OF which mention
has been made, are controlled by this ts-
Establishment. These art tiles aud plastic
sketches are OF such recent origin, that
| comparatively few are aware or the exist
ence of such works on this side OF the
water. IL Is only three years since Mr.
| Low laid aside the palette. The result OF
the three years experimenting is highly
| satisfactory and there seems now no OBJ
stacle Ia the Way Of wonderful achieve
ments In this direction. Mr. Lows train
| Ing rs painter has enabled him ~ origin
ate beautiful glIZcs in all the new tones OF
color. Hawthorn, apple blossom, ounce
blossom. etc, are made ior fire places aud
| ncarths, with borders To match, accom-
panying them. O1e OF the largest plastic
sketches in high relief, Is An owl tearing II
Dat, and measures eight and one-half by
tweuty-four and one-half inches. Another
| represents sheep in pasture with deli
cately nodded landscape In the background
| Ideal heads, monks, and figures In ancient
costume have been successfully tred.
The April Century, 1852. contains long
and elaborate description OF the tiles,
| their manufacture, and some Of the proc
csses employed by Mr.. Low at his works
| in Chelsea, Mass
Among the many novelties, We noticed
| particularly Chinese cora Of unknown
sntiquity; a huge pair of andir"us, from
/ Nureinburg, dating back 10 the with cen
| fury; aud in the Flprrntine X BON, 4 curl
ously wrought Venetian candle stick at
| tracted us. A colonial mantel, taken from
an Old Revolutionary mansion recently
torn down on Copp's Hill, with its Vir-
giDia brass fire place. Regular hob CRATE,
probably brought over by the first settlers,
possessed historic interest aside from its
peculiar construction. The hobs OF square
boxes on either side Of the CRATE and close
to the fire, have no doubt held many q
pitcher OF cider or null, ID wiue.
| A table OF delft faience, bearing in add
ton to the quaint Dutch figures, appropri-
ate Inscriptions, was fingered over in the
vain attempt to decipher the meaning OF
the fat Dutchy looking letters.
An ING enious device of MI. Wellington's
Was an ice tank, which could only be made
To- run by pressing the loot upon spring
in the floor. The caps, too, were shaped
like an egg shell, and provided with han
dies and hanging places, SO that absent
minded guests can not bestow them care
fully upon ones pet illustrated books or
leave them half filed with water for the
mischiefloviDg fodder to dabblc In.
or the ancient Indian fabrics manufac-
tured, XVlth century goods, rare vases,
| broDzes and medalIions, space allows only
| mention.
"Who goes to look but leaves and longs
To look again" II. S. A.