Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-06-01
the japanese treat their panels, and as q sepa-
rate and center panel a cloissoure PLAGUE. the
borders elsewhere being Of inlays Of ivory.
LIBRARY PIANOS

the japanese treat their panels. and az q sepa-
rate and center panel a cloissoure PLAGUE. the
borders elsewhere being Of inlays Of ivory.
LIBRARY PIANOS
are very severe in style, and usually in oval
Such one designed by Mr. Bruce Price for q
Mr.. Platt, Of Ohio, has an oblong upper panel
Of perforated carving in which the foliation
and cherubs heads are equal to, and in feeling
resemble old italian carving But this is the
only ornament of the piano.
One OF the most remarkable pianos ever pro-
duced is an upright for Mr.. Norman B. Ream.
OF Chicago. shaped like Turkish pagoda and
evidently intended for a Turkish room. 1t is
of satin wood. inlaid and relieved with colors
But space fails to tell of the numerous and
costly instruments which have been specially
designed for particular rooms. In Mrs James
b. Floods fine San Francisco music room the
SATIN wood grand piano is superb, much in the
same way as that of Sir Donald smith, italian in
character, the luxurious acanthus leaf being
used TO mark of the recessed form of the key
board. Mr.. Potter Palmer, Of Chicago, one Of
whose habits is to buy pianos, is the owner of
several OF these magnificent new creations.
But the piano is not the only instrument now
in the decorative line. As it happens. the
most decorative of all instruments, the harp,
has not been restored to favor in private life
The harp compares well. Lovely woman is
never so picturesque as embracing its graceful
form. But to accomplish the harp is too
the fingers, and the manicure would for
bid this as in the days of long nails
she prohibited the piano. But in the
same proposition the banjo, guitar and the
mandolin are inferior. For these one need
only make a pretty pretense, and nothing
more readily combines into picturesque ar
rangement than one of these stringed instru-
ments placed with artful art against some
drapery. The mandolin, the most unsteady
unsatisfactory, but the most decorative in
i-i hirba thar no nd
come from Naples, and connoisseurship has in
few cases demanded anything more than its
graceful but essential form. An exceptional
instance is Jersey woman, who has $500
mandolin OVERLAND with tortoise shell, inlaid
with pearl and her monogram in gold. The
mandolin is played with tortoise shell tooth,
and. to spare the sounding board, which would
otherwise be scratched through. drugget, so
to say, of tortoise shell always covers the
place. This is one of the principal fields of
inlay, and in the $500 instruments the design
was butterfly in myriad small bits of pearl.
THE GUITAR,
so long neglected. has for the same reason re-
gained favor. With careless art it arrests the
eye and makes one of those centers of atten-
ton that it is now the fashion to create. More
over, with a ribbon of becoming hue. it may be
strung iewel-like idly about the neck if one can
strum little and greatly assist the human
tableau. II one has fortunately a nice one no
other instrument can furnish so perfect an
accompaniment. Accordingly many beautiful
guitars answer to the renewed demand. Even
the BAN 20 responds in silver mountings and
pearl inlays. 1t is much affected by younger
girls, who find it compares well with youth
and good humor and gay satin ribbons. But
not alone young girls. One of the most beau
tiful banjos is owned by Mr.. Sylvester Hilton,
for which the pegs of ivory were specially
carved.
The only instrument which has in fact re-
sisted the temper of the times Is the violin.
There are gold-mounted bows but decoration
goes no fun ther. What the violin amateur COW
cts is Guarnerus, or a Stradivarius, or, if not,
a modern violin that shall look like one. The
vlohn-makers prices provide for making the
varnlsh look poor and worn in places so much
extra. But the desire for decorative instru-
ments cannot outstrip the violin enthusiast who
keeps the precious fiddle in the dark seclusion
OF its box. Miss Daisy Bowman, of Brooklyn,
Is the fortunate pos5essor of a Guarnerius.
Miss Helen Willard plays upon an Amati. Miss
Wlnlfred Rogers, Mrs. Woodward, ex-Mayor
Hewitts daughters are all distinguished anna
tours with precious instruments.
Mr.. John W. Waters, of Brooklyn, has a COL
lection of old violins.
Mr.. Willis Norvell, of Boston. has two Strads
OF 111O and IVA costing $1,000 and $1,000
each.
Mr.. Thurlow Weed Barnes. of Albany, an
amateur of no mean pretensions. has Strad of
HOS costing $1,000, and a Casper da Salo of
1912 for which he paid $4,000. These are ex-
ceptlons, and only verify the rule that the arts
In all their various forms have been enrolled
IN the service of decoration, and as has been
shown, with most interesting results.
MARY GAY HUMPHREYS.