The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1885-06-13
Domestic Decorative Art.

|
ways supposed that high art was practically
beyond the reach OF the machine. And so un-
doubleday it is in most art matters; but of art
needlework that can no longer be said, howe
yer paradoxical this may seem. When one
has examined such work rs has been shown
this week, and may be seen today at the sew
ing machine rooms of +. ID. Sweetser " Co. in
the Postofiice Block, one maryels us much at
the skill that can produce machine that will
execute such beautiful work as at the perfec-
| ton of the work itself It's amazing to think
| of machine doing 1t ALL
| At the Exhibition this week the room was
filled with art work, hanging from walls and
filling cases in every form Of needlework ina.
ginable-just such work as fills the tlorid col
umns Of the art journals, the ability to exc
cute which seems to most women "a consum-
nation devoutly to be wished" but hardly at
tainable in this short life.
| For example, there was hanging Of olive
sateen, with broad band OF peacock plush, en-
broidercd deliberately in Persian colors. Ano-
ther conspicuous object was a portere of car
shades darker, decorated with mosaics and
silk and arasene embroidery. Another was
wine color, with passion oine embroidery in
skein and tablet silk In another place hung
pair of curtains in cream colored grenadne,
with band of blue satin; one decorated with
applique work Of grape leaves veined with sha-
ded silk; the other etched with gold and rose
color. Another piece is novelty curtain OF
Ada.canvas, with scroll in disc design couch
ed in shades of zephyr. These are all very
elaborate works, perfect in design and eXecu-
ton as the most painstaking hand-work, and
marvels of beauty and elegance. In the same
class Of work are many other pieces on light
and heavy materials, some in different designs
and worked with different materials.
Turning from these one encounters, say,
double screen, in cherry frame, with panels
of black satin, on one Of which is the lovely
golden.rod growing over a pile of old rails;
on the other spray of sumac worked in the
gorgeous autumnal shade. What could be
more beautiful? Or, there is another in an
ebony frame, the panel of which is a sunset
landscape scene in the unique and bswitching
Japanese style, the beauty of which is so OBJ
vious but so hard to explain.
Then there are table covers in different de.
signs, one a very elaborate piece, being re-
presentation Of the costly and luxurious
Turkish work; while on the walls are hung
pockets, banners, bannerettes, on which are
worked snowballs, tiger lilies, tleur de-ls,
etchings, &C., &c.
In the show cases are specimens of both
practical and ornamental work, such as fancy
lies; &c, &c.
Now all this work be it remembered, elab-
crate as it is, is all the work of artistic taste
in plying the Domestic Machine" which
thereby substantially makes good its claim to
facilities for using all materials used in hand
embroidery, such as silks, arasene, chenille
crewels, zephyrs, &c, The requirement Of
the art of using the machine is very easy.
No one without the taste for the proper use
Of color can do handsome embroidery by ma
chine any more than she can do it by hand,
but having that taste and skill in the use of
CoIoT, HI Ihis WoIh 10 posSiuic W any onc WIZ
uses this machine. One lesson in the use of
the embroidery attachment, which is simple,
is generally sufficient; sometimes more are
given. Indeed much Of the work is possible
WITHOUT any attachment, And the work is
done with that proportionate rapidity that
the sewing machine has over plain hand sew
ing. Indeed, there is no one thing, it appears
to us, that will make art in the household
possible to those of slender purses that can
be compared to the Domestic, and we should
all return grateful thanks that it is so.
But we must not forget the chef.d 0ure OF
the exhibition, as supreme test Of the won
derful facility of the Domestic "Quecn
of the Orient" AN almost lifesize female fig.
ure, leaning on stone column, over which
are growing leaves and grasses. rhe flesh is
done in solid silk stitching; the Roman tur-
ban and plumed fan, with embroidery silk;
the cardinal drapery and blue girde in ara
sene, while the urn and jewels are done in
trusse. 1t is not only the most elaborate but
also the most perfect piece OF work Of the
kind we ever saw, and is certainly marvel
of execution.
Our ladies' who have not seen this cxhibi.
ton should make haste to do so at once, by
all means, and they will find the visit most
interesting and valuable