The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-05-31
MRS. ARMOUR's $4,000 ORDER.
1t was for Japanese Furnishings for
the Smoking Room.
From the Chicago Tribune.

From the Chicago Tribune.
The placing of an order for Mrs. ogden
Armour Of Chicago with San Francisco
firm for $4,000 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
win be one room therein absolutely with
out a peer in point of treatment in this
or any other country. This particular
room will be the smoking room.
Two celebrated artists have collaborat-
ed in the work, one furnishing the general
design for the treatment of the room,
the other working out the detail and
decorations.
It viii be some time before the decor
ators can actually get to work putting
the material in place, for much of il is to
be specially imported; the furniture is
all to be carved in Japan and China from
special models, and the tapestries and up
holstery are all TO be specially made.
The room will be done in a prevailing
tOne-that is, a delicate division between
old rose and old copper. The floor will
be i'm parqueterle with a prOfusion Of sDe-
cially woven Japanese rugs and mats.
The wall covering will be of silk bro
cade the ground color of which, the old
copper spoken of, will give the prevailing
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
The mural decorations are to be rare
Kakimonos, in colors harmonizing with
the tone Of the room, but each one to
be a worthy example of the best Japa-
nese pictorial art both in subject and
treatment. Some of these will be hung
like tapestries while others will be
framed with the general effect sought
Some of the Kakimonos already select
ed are the work of the most famous old
masters of Japan.
The furniture is all to be of ebony inlaid
with mother of pearl. The carving is all
to be done in the Orient by native art
lists, 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 inge-
nuity in sliding panels, hidden doors and
secret lockers and drawers. The lacquer
will be the expensive and highly priced
gold lacquer, in sharp but restful con-
frast 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 charcoal and
others to contain the paper tapers by
which fire is transferred from the char
coal to the pipe or cigar. There will be
unexpected compartments for the vari-
Gus kinds of tobacco, with ash trays that
are the despair Of the workers in ham
mered metals.
There will of course, be Japanese
screens and vases and jardinieres in ClOi-
some and other varieties Of Japanese
pottery.
Such another smoking room probably
cannot be found in Christendom or out Of
it, And with the rapidity with which for
eign goods and custom is coming into
service in Japan, it probably VIII not be
long before there cannot be found, even
IN Japan, such a thoroughly Japanese
apartment as the smoking room Of Mrs.
Ogden ArmOurfs house.