Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-08-15
A Fortune in Tables aud Chairs.

SOIE WONDERFUL FURNITURE DESIGNED by
ALMA-TADEMA.
From the London Truth.
There Is some wonderful furniture that have
seen. The suite consists of two very large
couches, piano, music cabinet, tables, chairs,
fOOtstOols and curtains. They are designed and
made for New York millionaire who has
given no limit, so far as price is concerned, so
That the very finest materials and the most
skilled work have been secured. The designs
are by AIma-Tadema, whose picture "a Read
ing from Homer" now in the academy. is to be
hung In the drlwing-room for which the furni-
ture Is intended. / hear rumors Of f..iezes and
panels by Sir Frederick Leighton, of Roman
scu!ptors at work upon the marble for the same
fortunate room, and OF other details, which
lead HE to the conclusion that ii money is the
root of all evil it is also the root OF all art.
The cOucheS, chairs and stools are uphOl-
stored in silk OF a beautiful shade of pure gray,
traversed by bands OF exquisite embroidery in
colors which are rich, but carefully subdued,
The ground OF This embroidery is also silk, the
color being precisely that of the bloom OF q
ripe plum Upon this the tints Of gold and
curved lines OF pure white, giving q peculiar
delcacy to the whole, form beautiful scroll
and gold runs along the edges of the couches,
and beneath II is u deep silk fringe Of the plum
bloom color, which does not show, except in
the effect OF depth and richness 1t imparts to
the upper fringe.
The woodwork of all this is simply incom-
parable, being minylng Of cedar wood, ebony,
ther-o-pearl to be had. Wherever there is O
corner aswan's head Is carved out of the ebony,
large carbuncles forming the eyes. The labor
OF bending the ivory has been Immense, for 1t
Is essentially brittle substance. On the arms
of the couches there are long curved lines of
tapering ivory, which approach each other
closely at the base, but gradually increase the
interval of width as they rise.
The piano is not yet completed. The upper
part OF the musical cabinet is q, copy Of an
Asiatic temple. The pillars are of fluted cedar
wood, the delicious red-brOwn Of that beautiful
wood coming out with great effect by reason OF
the carving. The capitals are carved ivory in
a mellow tint OF warm cream color. The rest Is
ebony inlaid with various woods and with ex-
quisite mOther-O-pearl, which glitters like
tended for holding the music are of gray silk
embroidered in soft, rich colors, u Tyre occupy
ing the centre.
4 large curtain Is also Of gray silk with a
curious embroidered dadO, the ground of which
is plum blOt}m silk with q quaint design i'm sec
tiOns, in each Of which is q straight piece in
blue and red.
The round tables are too lovely. The wood
work matches that Of the other furniture but
Is not u repetition. In fact, no two designs are
precisely alike. There is something to study
In each back of II chair, each side of a stool
each arm OF o couch. The tops of the tables are
OF Algerian onyx, and they are like bits OF
golden sunsets caught and fixed to be o Joy for
ever SO delicately, purely, transparently, eff
fnlgently pink is tho ground of one OF these
bic cold. Dashes OF yellow and orange are
splashed upon this ground, and have q cloudy
dreamy look that makes one think OF summer
SkyScaDeS.