The morning call., 1892-02-07
DECORATIVE METAL WORK.
Its Use IN Furnishings Of EV2TT Kind al h9
Present Time.

The decorative use of metal would alone
be sufficient to form a volume, writes
contributor 10 the Decorator and Furnisher,
leaving aside the delicate manipulatiOns
of gold and silver smiths. The commercial
artist who makes use Of iron, bronze, cop
per, brass and nickel, from the production
Of huge iron columns to the ornamental
plaque decorated with the bust of a poet,
finds a thousand metallic forms which serve
to decorate cur furniture and beautify cur
homes the consideration OF which is worthy
of the most careful attention.
The use and application OF metal work
aud decoration, both as fixtures for appli-
ances and useful domestic articles, are very
ancient. We find records Of bronze being
extensively used by the Grecians and Ro-
mans, Greece especially bringing the arts Of
working bronze to perfection. Not only are
works Of colossal form produced by them
in this metal, but the ornaments of their
temples, doors, weapons, armor, and the
prows Of their galleys, were made of it.
They had also the process OF hardening and
| temperng bronze, which enabled them TO
make this metal into many implements
which required a keen edge, such as axes,
saws ana so on
Coming down to our own times, we are
ltitiuitlA tliHt all t- tiIt lhditN ItAUl HIS JuoA
| introduced by A. NelbY Pugin, one Of The
ablest modern Gothic des gners, it was made
especially apparent that brass was a metal
| having beauty Of its own, aud that it could
be used Go 3dYaHt sc in many ways, both In
ecclesiastical aud domestic purposes. Brass
/ will take on a brilliant polish, and the
| metals adaptabiItY for design has been
Thoroughly appreciated by modern design
eTs In all Work connected " ith the house
! hold there is now no need TO say work for
I brass IN arrangements Tor lighting, in grilieS.
dishes. ornaments, and so on, fer 1t IS used
with overwhelming success, ana is even
/ made into such things as jaTdInieres and
tables.
Another material which adapts itself ad-
/ mlraOly 10 the decoration Of furniture is
/ bronze. Ne have scarcely employed the
I meta FOR us particular surp0Se for many
years, whereas the Europeans have been very
s6IllluI IN is use Tor generations. Bronze
has as yet Jailed TO become widely popular
IN America, one reason being the prefer
eucg shown for articles made ia copper by
( the various electrU-patinE and galyanu-
plastic process and oY reason Of the prefer
euce shown Tor brass on account of its more
cheerful appearance Bronze has a mellow,
/ sober hue, and It's durability and adapta-
blllty 10 the various purposes required aud
! tie choice effects that can be produced by
( the application Of bronze TO all light wood
such is satinwood, ash, pine, ana SO on.
furniture makers. We have 30 doubt that
this metal. with its grave. unobStrasiye
toEe>, wiI be more generally used than
hitherto In this country.
The use If copper in decorative metal
work is largely on the increase, by reason
Of the ease with which it can be used in
various e.ectToplatjuE processes
( The e.1cu0ty ping OF metal has been carried
50 far that entire shop fronts are construct
ed by tsiS process One Of the ceilings of
the Equitable Building is made OF electro
plated copper on wood, which exhibits the
capabilities of this beautiful method Of in
! terror decoration.
The use IF metal work in modern furnish
Ings Of all kinds IS making rapid progress,
and taking the place OF articles that have
/ hitherto been manufactured of wood. One
firm manufactures altar ratings, banisteTs
card tables, ceilings, mantel brackets, coats
Of arms, columns, cranes, bank and Office
fittings, elevator fronts, elevator cars. es-
cutcheOns, tenders baskets, ire Innings,
fire screens anu fire sets, tlue shoppers, gar
den seats, gates, grille panels guards, ash
receivers, hat racks. hall stands five-0'clock
tea-kettle stands, lamps chandeliers man
tes. letter chutes, medallion newell posts,
tai partitions, ratings. statues, screens,
traus0ms, urns and wOJd-caryeTs, in brass,
bronze copper and rCn.