The San Francisco call., 1895-12-01

The great difficulty nowadays in select
ing gifts for those blessed with riches is to
find something unusual, quaint or an
tique. In the East curiosity shops abound
where can oe found many artistic treas
ures and curios, but to make such search
successful the would-be purchaser must be
well-informed and have an abundance OF
time at his or her disposal.
X X 4 X X
There are only few curio stores in this
City. At one of them that recently dis
covered are to be found rare bits of silver,
ranging from 8 to 100 years in age, oddly
shaped little pitchers, massive and Sc
verely plain silver salvers. l examined a
dainty slipper OF Dutch silver lined with
gold which is meant to hold either
flowers or bonbons for my "faire
laidie." The silver is quantity wrought.
On the toe is represented a young gallant
assisting a maiden to step out of boat.
The damsel is represented as coquettishly
smiling upon the youth and tanning her
self. The next scene should represent her
as struggling in the waves, the prospect
being that between the fan and her smiles
she fell into the water but instead she is
shown fourishing around with a huge
watering-pot and beaming still upon the
same infatuated youth. Needless to say
the designs are not modern, and although
Trilby never wore a slipper of this
size, it will not be long before these
pretty ornaments will find their
way into some of the Christmas
boxes about which we must all soon begin
to think.
X X X 4 X
An ov1nicifo foo-ooHdv ho11 rl-a1
was also shown me, and how l longed
TO have it sent home for my own little
tea-table. 1t is a beauty and would
adorn the prettiest of tables. A great
massive claret jug is well worth looking at,
the grapes and leaves being faithfully rep
resented. Cream pitchers made during the
time of Queen Anne and the Georges are all
in view, and bonbon boxes about 200years
old can be had for a moderate sum. A
wel-known clu ubman here had selected
one OF the best OF the pitchers, showing his
good taste. A pair of candlesticks abso-
lutely plain, of massive silver, are about
500 years old and are TO be had for trifle
over 500.
At large store downtown an exception
ally handsome set of bOuillon cups are on
exhibition. They are of the finest porce-
lain, with perfectly painted wood violets
on the inside. These cups are mounted in
delicate fiIigree silver.
K X X K
At the same place l noticed quite
crowd collecting in front of one of the
windows, and l was not surprised when |
saw the handsome display OF cups for our
horse show. Several of them are very
handsome and of artistic workmanship.
Speaking of cups also saw a most APP
propriate present for man. 1t is Doul-
ton loving-cup- The ground is of deep
crimson; it has a border of cards and
in dark chocolate color walk around the
cup-a handsome ornament for a bach
elOr's room, and one he will appreciate
more, probably, than a white satin cravat
case EN- broidered in-well, say, forget-me-
nots or rosebuds.
X K X K X
Now, let me suggest to the men that
they should examine the exquisite china.
as well as the silver before purchasing.
For instance, SET of plates, just arrived
from Paris, will make any woman who
is blessed with taste sigh if she cannot
order a dozen, for on a strange, grayish,
pinkish, purple ground in the center of
each plate is marvelously painted a great
white bird in fight. Each plate has diff
ferent design, but all are the work of a
true artist.
Among the most novel and fanciful of
the new silks imagine over a plaided
ground of the richest colors large Louis |
XVI patterns in black or mere black
stripes alternating the brilliance of the
under colorings. There are also plaids
over which large, hairy stripes Stimulating
fur form square or diamond patterns of
the most curious effect, and others dark
ened by silk stripes in black, or somber !
tints either plain or gauffered. The same |
effects are obtained upon light, soft vel
veteens. Dark colors prevail with the ex- |
ception of some new shades of gray called |
"Bat's Wing" 'Tamatave" and 'Zanzi- |
bar" In blues are to be had the corn
flower and the Felix Faure; in vioIets the
Glers and the Boussuet; in greens the
Medicis and the emerald; in burnt shades,
the Maryland and the Madeira.
X * X k&
do not consider it healthy to form the
habit Of wearing fur around the throat.
but must confess the medici collars of fur.
and small waVy capes or Zibeline or two,
or even three, are very fashionable and
equally becoming to long-necked women.
When zlbelInes are worn, the. beads fasten
the boas, and the tails are half-hidden in
falls Of rich creamy lined lace
Fur IS also used to line many of the
handsomest embroidered velvet capes. A
beautiful little one from Paris is lined with
eIHlnei the COIar ana 'front.' are DOrdered
with sable. The mantle itself is of black
velvet beaded in roses and leaves; the GEN.
ter of the flowers is of dull satin. The
shape is simple and fits tightly over the
in folds or godets about
the hgure, extending trihe below the
Walst line. These plainly cut mantles.
with black velvet or black satin faced
cloth, make handsome costumes, provided
each article is the work of an artist, for to
make our skirts hang properly requires that
q woman should be- more than a mere
o@ress1naker, @ as the cachet of toilet de-
penas more on this than anything else.
excepting, perhaps, our sleeves the style
1 9d "hlch undergo almost hourly changes.
dney are now certainly less wide at the
shoulders, but they are not less extraya.
CANT. AS In Paris, the fashionable sleeves
consume four yards and half of silk, but
they are beauties, assure you. Speaking /.
OF french women reminds me that L ..
have frequently read that a Parisienne
rarely chooses her toilet exactly ike any
given model. She usually shows her per-
sonal taste. Now this is an excellent way
of doing, provided one is certain of ones S
personal taste; otherwise go to a good {