Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-05-21
The Craze for Art Works.

Everything must have art about it
to take, said dealer on Broadway.
Il thought the line would be drawn
when utility and quality were found
incompatible with the extreme esthetic
taste for art; but, if bedspreads. jute
velour coverings, tides and splashes
haven't some pretty design of flowers,
embroidery or rocco enclosing on
them, my customers heave sigh and
say: Isn't it pity such good material
should be wasted for lack of artistic
design in their finish?'n
"What do you do in such case?"
Il sit down Immediately and write to
the factory that if they do not get up
artistic designs and weave them with
their manufacture of linens l will not
buy of them. Look at this array of
spreads and colored towels and white
mummy linen on the counter. The
lunch and breakfast cloths are colored,
yet not dark. They are blue and
white, pink and blue, chocolate blue
and gold damask, with napkins to cor
respond. Pretty white ones of mummy
or Grape linen have beautiful designs in
the center and fancy colored borders.
The finish is generally knotty fringe.
Another unique white cloth has GRIM
son border and Moresque design half
yard from the edge, which shows on
top of the table when spread. The
most beautiful designs are roses, leaves
or lilies"
"What is the popular fabric and style
in tablecloths?"
''Satin-damask tablecloths. The de-
signs are of many kinds to please diff
ferent tastes. Some with punches of
grapes and leaves, while the borders
are of acorns and oak leaves. Some
have buttercups and pansies forming
battlement in the center, with mimosa
and ferns interlaced for a bordering.
These are expensive, and five yards
will cost from S75 to 800. The most
fantastic designs are put on tablecloths.
The more odd and novel the higher the
appreciation of them. Mummy linen
or huckaback is generally used for tow
els. Soft, rough Turkish towels are
popular. The white linen towels have
colored borders with figure or flower
designs. On one is Bacchus and his
devotees on 4 jamboree. Another de-
sign represents pastoral scene and
sheep browsing. Splashes or tides
have rows of hemstitching both cross
wise and long. Some have exquisite
borders of flowers of delicate hue. For
piano and table covers jute Velours has
supplanted raw silks, and is decidedly
more handsome. Ii is plush made of
iute, and admits of rich effects in col
oring.
"a piano cover of rich navy blue We
lours, having bright flaming blue
tieur de lis upon it, outlined by old gold
threads, is stylish and artistic. In bed
spreads, the immaculate white Mar
settles are favorites, and sell at $50 and
$50 for the finest. They have raised
designs on them, generally arabesque
in character. Pillows, holsters and
shams are richly embroidered to 90
with them.
Towels to hang on racks for orna-
ment are handsomely embroidered in
colors. Some have torchon lace in
serted to add to the picturesqueness of
the open border work. Some are en-
broidered with roses and Winter cow
slips. Regular artists are employed to
get up these designs, and prizes are Of
! fered frequently to encourage amateurs
to venture and see what new designs
they can study out. 1t is a curious
thing how the art craze invades every
branch of business.
"Of course like it; because, as the
designs are constantly changing and
prettier ones made, new cloths are
bought merely for the style of the de-
sign.-NeeO York Mail and Express.