Omaha daily bee., 1883-01-10

OF the designs selected are in imitation
Of the antique, q very few being orig.
incl, and a preference now is given to
those Of Moorish origin, although
Flemish designs play an almost equal
ly important part.
The Illuminated leather manufac-
tured In New York is acknowledged
by competent judges to excel that
which is imported from France OF
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 1t grows the better 1t
looks. Moreover, it is far more Taxi
BILE than French leather, and this
makes 1t invaluable as covering for
furniture. The demand for this dec
o~rAtive leather is steadily increasing,
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 aud wall
decoration. Some houses In the city
are decorated throughout with it,;
others have wall and ceiling decorated
in leather for dinining- room and
library. The expense of such orna.
mentation varies, but Is never light
for, althc ugh it can be obtained at the
rate of 80 cents a foot, the best quail.
ties cost over 90 foot, and, as q rule,
decorated leather guaranteed to veal
costs at least $10 a yard. For ceiling
decoration it Is invariably supplied In
one piece, and cross. bars of decora-
tive work are used In connection with
1t, serving to keep it In position, so
that If necessary the entire ceiling
decoration a be removed like any
article of furniture. Dark leather 10,
as a rlle, preferred for the decoration
of dwelling rooms and lighter shades
for bed rooms. Illuminated leather
has much to recommend it for ceiling
decoration from the fact that 1t catches
the rays of light and presents q varied
appearance from hour to hour. Three
or four years ago almost all the paint.
ed leather In demand came from Italy
or France. To-day there Is every
probability of American leather being
exported to European countries. The
leather most in demand for decorative
purposes Is the ordinary OK hide;
sheep-skin Is too thin, and roc is
only used for embossing or fancy pur-
poses. Goat skin Is occasionally
called for, but not often. Formerly
French hides were the only one con.
sidered 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
II Philadelphia was decorated in
lesther, that Is, ceiling, walls and
chairs were covered with this material
for the sum of $1,000, while the
oil ormous sum Of So, 600 has been paid
for the decoration of a single room In
antique feathers. For special orders
Lsvant or Turkey leather is decorated,
but this is not a usual thing.
Every year now sees some improve
ment In the art. 1t has been proved
that the tiles can be reproduced in
leather 80 exactly that only q keen
observer can detect the material Of
which they are made and it is becom'
ing o fashion to frame such tiles al
ornaments for mantels or brackets
Imported feathers In colored designs
are enormously expensive if they arr
really genuine antiques. For exam
pie, an antique wall hanging IL yard
long and two yards In width Is valued
at over $40, 900, and 1t ia estimated
that 1t would require fully 10 years
work t9sIsproduce 1t by the modern
METHOD Such a hanging, If used TO
q dressing or library wall, would b
accompanied by q deep wainsooting o
dark wood, mahogany probably, AM
have a ceiling Of the same WOO,
richly carved. Oak is also q suitabl
accompaniment for leather, and ebon
lied cherry is constantly used in com
binstion with it. The skill attaine'
by the modern worker In leather Is 8
great that when antique specimens ar
reproduced 1t is almost impossible t
detect which Is the original, exceptin
In the greater brightness of the mod
ern coloring. French artists hav
long excelled in this branch of ar,
> but they fail to produce the sam
complete accuracy OF detail as tn
American manufacturer.
Many of the fashionable chairs te
day are covered In what 10 known a
Spanish hide, which, however, unlea
, really antique, m either froI
= France, Italy or Belgium, and Is mar
ufaotured in imitation of the Moorls
: designs which were introduced Int
Spain In the fifteenth century. Frol
, Spain the art of leather working ira,
eled to the Netherlands during tn
occupation of the country by tn
Spaniards, and so in Flemish spec
. mems We find constant trace of th
I Moorish influence in which they reall
originated. These Flemish design
|, are usually florid and highly ooloret
those which are more purely Mooris
are geometrical and lower toned
color. The most expensive of a
e leather is that imported in the roug
. from Cordova. 1t is much used fC
screens and panels, and Flemish d,
signs wrought upon 1t are specially e
feotive. In early days artists who's
= fame was made did not disdain
q paint upon this material, and it ell
' tered largely into the decoration
palaces and large buildings at the tin
), of the earlier Renaissance. Althoug
1t has played the part OF all fashion
, and been from time to time almo
' lost sight of by the general public.
!, Is safe to affirm that there never hi
= been a time when the lovers OF II
y beautiful have not sought to expre
ideas in this material.
Riches in Hop Farming.