The San Francisco call., 1896-02-16

the old shops in out-of-the-way places in
Europe TEEN with such treasures. They
have almost all been eagerly ransacked,
and In England as much interest is being
shown In collecting tableware of the seven
teenth and eighteenth centuries as is mani
tested in this country. Tea and coffee were
introduced in the seventeenth century. so
tea and coffee pots of that period are in the
greatest demand when the hall marks are
distinctly to be seen.
Much silverware is being made in close
imitation of old English models. and as
one writer says: at is astonishing to note
IN the reproductions of the quaint old
English decorations, in fat chasing, in
pierced work, huting, and in arabesdue
borders, the irregular edges that proclaim
the handiwork of the skilled silversm-th,
rather than the. perfect finish of the ma
chine. Without the aid of the hall marks
it would be difficult 10 distinguish the re-
productions from the originals"
Among the most acceptable of wedding
presents this year are to be mentioned the
Louis XIV candelabra i'll silver or silver
bronze. They have but two lights and are
low enough TO be placed upon the dinner
table, where they are wonderfully effec-
tive when there is buttercup satin slip,
with guipure insertion upon the board.
The candles in this case should be yellow
and the shades can be white, with medal
n
and, speaking of dinner tables, reminded
me that the latest craze is for old two
handled, engraved glass bottles and the
red and white wine decantered therein
makes very effective feature of the table.
Smaller presents for brides are also mat
ters worthy of thought, and old mustard
pots, or those which are good reproduc-
tons of old styles, are acceptable, as are
also salt-cellars, pepper-boxes, hqueur
glasses upon silver rests tiny bonbonnleres
for holding either sweetmeats or powder
puffs, with every useful or useless article
with which we long to fill our cabinets.
Chocolate cup. set in vermeil are to be
noted as novelties, beautiful hues being
much priced.
l have been reading about gentle
woman who is perfect vandal; she is
quite distinguished woman, strange as it
may seem. She has in her possession a
rare and exquisite cold MASTER" which
hitherto she has kept in her gallery, be-
cause she did not consider the nude suit
able for exhibition in her drawing-room.
A few days ago she requested her German
governess, an amateur artist, to paint
clothing on the figure. Naturally, the
effect is extraordinary, but it now hangs
in her drawing room. Allow me to remark
that the lady does not live here.
Brass bedsteads continue in high favor,
and many are beautifully dressed" Ex-
qulSlte pillow SnamS ana spreads are now
to be had of exceedingly fine muslin or
null, edged with a deep rufhe. Both
ruffle and spread are artistically en-
broidered with design of leaves and
flowers in white.
The heavy Renaissance and Irish lace
spreads and shams are handsome and
effective. These are very handsome, but not
SO exquisitely dainty as the muslin ones.
Lace spreads are usually seen over silk
matching the colors of the room. One
width of silk cut lengthwise is enough for
the pillows, trimmed with lace. Two
widths of the. wide upholstery silk sewn
together form the spread, which should be
trimmed all around with lace set on the
silk instead of on the edge of it. Many OF
the new and pretty cotton goods that come
in delicate colorings are used for this pur-
pose instead, ana of course the exquisite
French lawns are much in demand for
this purpose; for instance, I found one
covered with the most natural of wild
roses scattered over white ground; this
if used over pink sateen with the
best results; and l saw another
in friends room through which ran
alternate stripes of narrow light green and
milk roses that was used over green cam
brio and had frilIed edge with lace. Ali
properly dressed beds have the pillows
removed in the morning, their place being
taken by the bolster, which is round and
hard, being stuffed with hair, fiat on the
ends, where the silk brocade or cotton stuff
is gathered into rosette. This arrange
ment is excellent, as the bed has a neat
trim look and the sheets are not visible.
Slippers, such as were worn 100 years