Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1896-07-25


Smoking Room.
The placing Of an order for Mrs. OF.
| den Armour Of Chicago with 5 San
Francisco firm for SO. 900 worth Of
/ Japanese art work and carving has
brought to Light the fact that when the
artists shall have finished their work in
her new residence there will be one room
/ therein absolutely without a peer in
/ point of treatment In this or any other
country. This particular room will be
the smoking room.
Two celebrated artists have collabo-
rated in the work, one furnishing the
general design for the treatment of the
room, the other working out the detail
and decorations.
1t will be some time before the deco
rators can actually get to work putting
the material in place, for much Of it il
TO be specially imported. The furniture
is all to be carved in Japan and China
from special models. and the tapestries
and upholstery are all to be specially
made.
The room will be done in a prevail
ing tone-that is, delicate division
between old rose and old copper. The
floor will be in parqueterie, with pro-
fusion of specially woven Japanese rugs
and mats.
The wall covering will be of silk
brocade, the ground color Of which, the
old copper spoken of, will give the pre-
vailing tone to the color scheme of the
whole. In the weaving of this brocade
a great deal of gold thread will be used,
not merely to give lines and suggestions
/ of color, but III masses Of rich emboss-
/ ing.
The mural decorations are to be rare
Kakimonos, in colors harmonizing with
the tone of the room, but each one to be
q worthy example of the best japanese
/ pictorial art, both in subject and treat
ment Some of these will be hung like
tapestries, while others will be framed
with the general effect sought. Some Of
the Kakimonos already selected are the
work of the most famous old masters OF
! Japan.
The furniture is all to be of ebony in
/ laid with mother of pearl. The carving
is all to be done in the orient by native
artists, and the designs show a wealth
| and richness of carving seldom seen
outside the palaces and temples of Japan.
The cabinets will abound in lacquer.
They will be marvels of japanese in
genuity in sliding panels, hidden doors
! and secret lockers and drawers The
lacquer will be the expensive and high.
~ priced gold lacquer, in sharp but rest.
full contrast with the carved black
ebony.
The smoking outfits will be in silver
and bronze, in grotesque forms. They
will contain, after the japanese manner,
little receptacles to hold lighted char.
coal and others to contain the paper
tapers by which fire is transferred from
| the charcoal to the pipe or cigar. There
will be unexpected compartments fol
the various kinds Of tobacco, with ash
trays that are the despair of the workers
| in hammered metals
There will, of course, be japanese
screens and vases and jardinieres in
! cloisonne and other varieties CT japanese
| pottery.
Such another smoking room probably
cannot be found in Christendom or out
of it. And with the rapidity with which
foreign goods and custom are coming into
service in Japan it probably will not be
long before there cannot be found, even
in Japan, such thoroughly japanese
apartment as the smoking room of Mrs.
Ogden Armour's house. Chicago Trib,
/ une