Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-11-23
Written for TEE EVENING STAR
ATTRACTIVE HOMES.
Some OF the Latest Fancies in the Way
Of Ceramics.

sroNs-A DINNER WITH SPECTACULAR EFFEcTs-
NOVEL DECORATIONS FOB THE TABLE.
The exhibition Of china at memorial hall,
Philadelphia, is interesting especially to china
painters. The quite large collection by the
students Of the school Of design is looked at
with close notice t1other students and workers.
Nothing, however,of striking beauty or orig
inAlity appears In that connection, though many
pieces are well painted and fred. Miss Louise
Mclaughlin. whose name is familiar to all china
painters, has q number of articles displayed
One odd and attractive effect was gotten by
painting a group Of conventionalized flowers
without leaves; then near them, beginning with
gold, an irregular small figure in outline is
painted. Just outside of this is line Of gold
following its outline, and SO on until maybe
half OF the dish is covered with these close lines.
surrounding the flowers, the lines breaking to
let them ill., as it were. The nearest resemblance
to this design and what may have suggested
1t, is q small island, OF group of islands on
map, with the encircing water lines.
SOME OF THE WARES EXHIBITED.
There are chocolate picture and SIR all tray
shaped dish in this decoration. with dark red
flowers and gold lines, and another tray with
much darker coloring, bronze and black in
effect. There Is something quite novel and
ehecuNe iHu utClOeuig uulnldttuT IN THIS Orna-
mentation. From Cincinnati comes also large
and beautiful display of lockwood pottery, for
which that city Is famous. The shapes and
coloring are so varied and pleasing that ii Is
difficult to pick out any one piece if one has
choice among SO many lovely things. The
high price OF this pottery will keep ii from be-
coming too common-if such pretty things can
be spoiled in that way. The Beileek-made
at Trenton, N. j., in imitation Of the
Irish ware OF that name-is specially
nth al,
ing display OF this china of egg she'll
Transparency and mother-of-pearl hues. 1t
quite rivals in beauty specimens OF the old
world. The prices of this ware, which Is III many
dainty forms. are quite reasonably low. There
is also a large collection OF the art pottery. also
made i'll Trenton. with all ivory body like that
of Royal Worcester, with decorations Ill gold
and coiors. Among the displays by single in
dlvIduals is q small vase, done Ill gold in fine
raised lines, with an intricate interlacIng pat
tern. 1t Is very good and bears close eAaInIna-
ton. the effect, little way Off being that Of
the fine beaten brass wor6 of lud,a. Another
noticeably attractive private collection has u
set OF iruit plates, fruit being the subject but
painted in d soft dull blue that conventIonaiizes
the natural forms i'll charming way. There
seems to be a bloom like that OH pluIns about
this blue that IS very pleasing.
cracker jar is also painted in this same
soft blue, with small dashes OF gold close
together to throw the design into relief--a
embroidery. Still another attractive piece Is 4
brush and comb tray Of the Diana shape with
ivory ground and Il che6tnut branch with burs
Ill brown and bronze, and heavily guided edge.
There Is much in the way of handsome toilet
sets sent by different manufactures. beauti-
ful collection of cut glass has room to itself.
Some that was displayed at the centennial is
shown IN contrast to the superior glass OF to-
day. which comes from Pittsburg. 4 person
must have good memory to remember all the
numerous names applied to the different cut
tlngs. There seems to be slight reaction
against the very low dishes in cut glass. which
have been the fayOrites for some time
past, and still are. for that matter,
though some are now made with slight stand
ard to support the bowl part of dish This
Is a beginning toward the high old-fashioned
preserve" dish which was such an important
article Oh country tea tables. In the centen-
NAL collection is II high celery glass, in strong
contrast to the very shallow tray or boat
shaped dishes now used. Probably in many
families the handsome tail glasses are biding
their time to be once more admired and sought
after i'll the meantime hidden away on closet
shelf. or doing mental service as a receptacle
for jam or jelly when the legitimate Jelly
glasses" give out, and all the odd dishes are
pressed into use.
FANCY SHAPES AND FANCY NAMES.
Many fancifui names are given to the vari-
Gus shapes and styles of china independent of
their decoration. The Diana is very pretty-in
some pieces especially so. The cups are quite
fiat on the bottom. with straight sides and SOW
eral indentations around the edge. All articles
OF toilet use in decorated china much sought
AFTER rs well rs the plain white, which are for
the china painters benefit. The DIANA"
brush and comb tray is extremely pretty with
its straight up-and down rim and dents in each
side of the oval shape. The rim has little
ridges, which are very effective, with gold APP
piled to the raised lines. The "Trianon" has
rim also, but the edge is thicker aud plain.
There are also curves on the sides Of this shape,
but not so sharply defined az in the Diana"
pretty piece of the "Trianon" style is q small
tray with q handle-basket-wise-w the
curve comes ON the sides. This can be used
either for the dining table or for the toilet ia
Bile. La Tosca" Is a name bestowed on num-
Der OF articles, certain shape of
OF this is a leaf-shaped dish for ices.
Single pieces OF undecorated china favorite
purchases with china painters. Especially are
articles looked for which can be bestowed on a
man at present-giving times without being too
palpably inappropriate. or course the un-.
offending man is liable to be deluged with ash
trays, still here is one which is certainly
unique. 1t represents a map OF France, with
the lines indicated, ready for coloring as we'll
the spot occupied by the city of Paris. The
figure of an Englshman intent on his guide
book is in one corner, with his umbrella lying
beside him. Still another thing intended as a
gift for a man Is an inkstand in the shape of a
begonla leaf. A big beetle crawling on the
leaf forms the lid to the ink holder, sunk
into the leaf, which conceals it and forms
the pen tray. This could be decorated in
natural colors Of begonia, or some entirely
different design suited to the space might be
applied.
MECHANICAL ACCESSORIES OF DINNER
Mechanical contrivances have not been gem
orally adopted as accessories Of the dinner
table, but from London comes q story Of such
an enhancement of the ordinary charms of a
repast Awax figure Of peasant girl carrying
basket-life size-was standing beside the
table. As a course Of roast lamb was being
served to the guests slight noise was heard
which drew attention to the figure The lid of
the basket suddenly opened and lambs head
appeared which said .ba-a-a" and then az sud-
denly retired. the hand of the girl touching the
lid as If pushing it down. The narrator adds.
1.-THE effect was admirabiew When desert time
came strains of music startled the guests COM
ing as they did, from the mould of flowers in the
center of the table, which had been noticably
high. Slowly this mound opened and the figure
OF a fairy arose from the bed of flowers, which
danced in time to the music. These were sup.
posed to be aids to cOnversation, as the surprise
would call forth animated talk, but 1t would be
an unfortunate host who has to resort to such
tricks to make dinner party success.
ILLUMINATING THE TABLE.
A new method of lighting dinner tables
in a decorative way has already been
introduced here Electric wires ara RIM