Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1886-12-24
NEW THINGS MADE OLD.
ONE OF THE FINE ARTS OF MOD
ERIN CIVILIZATION.

STOCK In Trade of the French Truqueur
Furniture That Has to Date from the
Sixteenth Century-Porcelain-ve
Industry-Literature.
Truquage, although a term probably
unfamiliar to many of our readers, never
theless deserves to rank among the finer
arts of modern civilization, such is the in
dustry and skill and ingenuity with
which it is carried out. Burns cottar
mother was chiefly admirable for the skill
with which she gard auld things look
maist as well as new" but the truqueur
Aevotes himself, on the contrary, to the
art OF making new things look quite as
good as old. The connoisseur of furniture
of the present day is well aware that, for
certain important qualities of soundness,
good workmanship, and good taste, that
the "old is BETTER" with valid reason also
for his opinion. But the crowd, who have
neither his leisure, his knowledge, nor
his experience, naturally fall into the
hands of the scientific experts of truquage
an easy prey to the spoiler
The stock in trade of the French tru-
queur and his English congener-quite as
expert as he-need not be large. Walnut
juice-which gives an agreeable mellow
ness of tone-and nitric acid are neither
of them expensive. The latter initiates
pretty closely the ravages of ants, and
holes bored with a fine auger easily give
the wormeaten appearance when appeals
TO the lover of the antique in carved fur
niture. The writer was uniformed by
workman's wife that her husband was one
OF those solely employed in tie boring or
anger business; but in Paris live worms
are kept to do the work, and do it even
better, and to order, which is more sur.
| prlsing New oak can be stained by a So
luton of old iron in hot vinegar, which
darkens it to a deeper tone; it is then care
fully oiled and polished. The price de-
manded, however, is such that Bargains"
can be boosted of by the inexperienced
while really fine work always commands
Its value in the open market.
FROM THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY
The unhappy pieces Of furniture which
have to date from the sixteenth century
are severely beaten with heavy bludgeons
which serves to give them the worn ap-
pearance necessary to the three centuries
| OF existence. A common device is to
paint the panels of cupboards, roughly
carved on the premises with white paint.
They are then dried in the sun, and, after
Keeping some months, are washed in pot
ASH which removes the paint in patches,
and the exquis lite finish of the carving be-
meath is apt to be taken for granted blythe
buyer, who is aware that in the last CEN
tury much good paneling was thus
painted, and preserved to our generation
in consequence in all its pristine freshness
of cutting and outline. Bull of very
ordinary description is ornamented by
French dealers with brass scroll work.
after the designs of elliot, who succeeded
BUM. Those who can be taken in by
these mechanical reproductions must be
left to their fate
In porcelain and faience one can only
! say caveat emptor, so clever are the tricks
by which even the learned are deceived.
AT Cages mandatory at Versailles the
faience de Nevers is reproduced to perfec-
ton; but here all is lair and open dealing
II the buyer prefers his purchase AN
tique," M. Cage will bake it for him until
the glaze crackles. 1t is further mellowed
in manure heap, and slight extra
charge is imposed. The special marks of
tavorlte potters are easily initiated and
as much pains is taken with the
spurious wares, with intent to deceive, as
would suffice to give value to real speci-
mems. The character of the early decora-
lions Is carefully preserved-the even
white OF the Monsters ware; the dead,
dull white of the Marseillaise and the
careful finish of the old Delft potters.
OLD PALATIAL FURNITURE
At Venice the reproduction of the old
palatial furniture is a thriving industry.
and the same at Florence; but it possesses
little or no artistic value. The ebony is |
BLACK stained wood; the stipi are bone,
and not ivory; the shapes and patterns
are, however, carefully copied and the
prices are not excessive, and good patterns |
are distinct gain in furniture but the |
modern production will not have the last
ing qualities of the old. Ivory triptychs
are manufactured at Versailles. The |
golden tint is gained by boiling in oil.
then plugging into boiling water, and dry
ing before hot fire. which cracks the
ivory to perfection. These require a very
skillfui eye to detect, as the carving is
often meritorious
The arts of truquage extend themselves
even to literature AS long ago as the
seventeenth century we find the printers
" Lyons and Rouen Stimulating princeps
editions of Racine and Moliere. The
type, the p'ter, the colophons, all being
reproduced with INSCRIPTIONS accuracy,
and then palmed off as genuine upon the
unwary purchaser. The manufacture
still prospers, aided with the photo
gravure processes and the art of fac
oihue' % also are ola letters and auto
graphs successfully fioated, signed by
cardinal de Retz, or Colbert, or whom you
please, fetching a good price and always
challenging scrunity. The history of the
Shapiro forgeries ofs the Pentateuch are ,
fresh in the recollection of our readers. 1
They were offered at the moderate price {
of 81 100000. SO also the famous vernis
Martin can still be bought at Paris, very
like, but still not genuine; and clever
painters, whose work is as good as Ian i,
crets, can be found to figure as Watteaus :
with no mean success. But at present the +,
secret of the real Martin vernis remains
lmpenetrable as it is exquisite London +
Queen. :,
Swimming Bath of the Great Cirque.
The French, the Parsians especially q
who are excellent swimmers, will be able
10 en- Joy life in Paris this summer Tho i.