Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1895-02-10

workable nightmares, yet twenty years
ago they were looked upon as something
pretty nice. The ideal walnut suit had
head0oard rising to point and slid
ing of In curves more or less graceful 10
the posts, which were surmounted with
fancy turnlike knobs of carved wood.
To-day one OF these old beds would be
looked upon as curiosity in a modern
furniture store, and the manufacturers,
when they look back over their old
photographs, smile with derision when
they come TO one of these back numbers.
With the advent Of oak more atten-
ton was paid to design and to-day the
designer is the man to whom the entire
establishment bows in respect. Grand
Rapids designers are sent To Europe TO
study the styles of other ages and other
nations; they go TO fairs and eXpOsitions
and Libraries. bookstores and art gal
leries are ransacked for their benefit.
The day has long since passed since
anything absolutely new can be pro-
duced in furniture and the efforts Of the
modern designers are directed TO COM
bine the ideas OF the ancient masters
into harmonious and artistic mod.
erD ideas. The French, the
English, the Italian, Greek aud Roman,
the Turk, Egyptian, Chinese and the
Japanese are all drawn upon for ideas
and semi-annually these combinations
are brought out as new STYLES for the
trade to buy. The most prolific field for
the designers in their search for the
beautiful has been the French school.
The styles Of the Louis XIV. and Louis
WI. periods reproduced in modern
workmanship, have long runs and are
still sold. The Louis Nv. styles with
their graceful curves and lines, have
been especially popular, while the other,
more severe have also sold well.
The styles Of the Empire, with
straight lines and dainty brass orDa-
ments, have been good sellers, but have
been supplanted by still later fads. The
new goods brought out this season are
more English in type than French, but
French lines are often met with. The
curved ornamentation which three or
four seasons ago was profuse and mas
sive is to-day dainty aud artistic. Much
stress is put on beauty of material and
fineuess OF finish.
A new feature IS brought out this
year, which, in a manner, is revival of
a fashion popular several years ago.
The goods are of OAK, finished in dark
Flemish, without varnish. The carved
concentrations are in the form OF ropes
for the pillars and posts, aud the panels
are covered with quaint scroll work,
hand carved. The effect is very an
tidue, and the difference between the
goods of this make and the general old
stuff is, chiefly, that the old stuff has
way of falling apart at the joints and
catching in the drawers, while the new
is free from these veXatious inirmitieS.
A very effective method OF ornamen-
tation this year is with brass lnlaid in
mahogany. Pearl and silver, and also
light colored woods Oh the dark back
ground are used, but the use of brass is
something novel, and it is always the
novelties that are sought for. Many
odd pieces for the bedroom are now
turned out TO go with the brass and
iron beds which have become passing
fad Some of these odd pieces are not
for the brass bed exclusively, but will
90 with any style Of furnishing. One
Of these oddities is a pair OF small draw
ers with q mirror above, which can be
placed anywhere it can be desired.
The process of bringing out new
things is slow and cautious, especially
when the idea is a radical departure
from goods then on the market. The
first step is to put out two or three
pieces as q fseler. II the new idea
takes, the following season il is elabo-
rated upon and more goods are made in
that style. II IL still continues 10 sell
well, other manufacturers fall into line
and bring out goods Ia the same general
style, and about the fourth season the
cheaper limitations begin to appear. In
the same way woods and finishes are
brought out. IL is slow process &C
companied by many failures, which,
however, are not very expensive, as
only a limited number OF pieces are
brought out at first.
With deep-seaJed and well-iounded
dread OF INSCRIPTIONS competitors and
imitators, the manufacturer OF high
priced furniture guards his show rooms
at the opening of the season as jealousy
sany mother would her nursery, says
the Detroit Free Press. The new goods
are not for every one to gaze upon.
Only the buyers are admitted and if any
Others apply they must come with
strong credentials or be well known to
hope 10 gain admission to the sacred
precincts. Along in March or April
the restrictions will be removed and
almost any body can see the new goods.
But by that time the new goods will
have been delivered to the trade, and it
will be too late for the competitors to
get out limitations.