New-York tribune., 1897-12-12

ING sPECIAL DESIGNS
1t is a gratifying fact to people who are inter-
ested in making the interiors of their homes at
tractive that never before has there been time
when such beautiful and artistic effects could De
rroduced for so comparatively small an outlay
of money as at present. Really fine furniture Is
now sold at extremely reasonable prices. IL IS
not only of good quality as regards wood anu
finish but in design it is OF remarkapie eNcer-
lence If 1t claims TO represent the s'yie Vi
particular period. II does so faithluIly' anu "''
n seldom encountered confusion OF coilh'S'i"s
patterns This result has been brought apou'
largely through the increased knowledge WHICH
people in general have acquired regarding VPeH
of furniture. They know what they are ioohIhs
1or. and if a salesman should show them table
or desk copied from the Empire period, ana an
nounce it as a piece Of Louis NV or Coor'a'
dos,or tbore would be small danger that his
description would have much effect Ihe S"h'e
educated taste of buyers has made its influence
feIt also iIpon the modern styles, which DO not
nretanl to reproduce the antique Simple grace
ful lines are commended and purchased, ana
there is absolutely no market for the clumsy
towering. over-0rnate articles which were seen
IN almost every house fifteen or twenty years
ago.
II &c doubtless true that customers know more
about the style than they do about the naterial
OF furniture. Many people are content, so lohs
as an article appears well and looks rs II IL had
the quality OF endurance. to take 1t without IN
ouiry as to the wood OF which 1t Is composed.
II might be thought that this would be point
ascertainable at a glance but the arts OF We
neering and staining have been so highly deVei-
oped Of late that tables and chairs are ifeque"'-
ly not what they seem.
sr1o o.
wood which are most used at present for the
manufacture OF all kinds of furniture oak and
maho; any would suggest themselves at once
There ,s no doubt that they easily hold first
nIace. The oak admits Of so many different
kinds OF treatment that II can be made suitable
for everything except parlor furniture. where
u usually gives place to more ornamental
wood Oak in its natural light shade is used
with a high polish, and IL Is equally attractive
when stained dark brown and provided with
a dull finish to simulate old English OAK
CHARTERED oak, so-called from the way In which
the pieces are cut from the trunk OF the tree. IL
most highly valued, on account OF It's beautirui
markings Being hard and firm in texture. oak
limits of elaborate carving, where particularly
decorative effects are desired
Nearly all the good furniture which is finished
to give the appearance Of mahogany is now
actually veneered with that wood Some OF
the cheaper pieces are merely stained birch. but
the use OF this Is becoming less common. Few
pieces of solid mahogany are sold. on account Of
their great cost; and The veneered articles are
usually handsomer An odd feet, not known to
most people, is that mahogany Is frequently
yeneered upon mahogany-an additional proof
that this method OF finishing furniture IL prac-
tised as well for the results which II gives as
for It's smaller cost In this way the most
beautifully grained pieces can be selected for
the veneering and applied upon n surface which
Is palmer and less desirable in It's markings.
When the body OF the article Is not mahogany.
II Is Of any other hard wood, which in fact
answers Just as well foundation for the
mahogany veneering. All the mahogany seen
In the stores has been stained slightly, to give 1t
the rich reddish color which the antique furni-
ture has acquired by age. The variations In
tint from a light brown to deep red. like that
of rosewood are caused by the different shades
OF stain which are used.
After the oak and mahogany, birch In It's nat
ural tint Of golden brown ard the delicately
marked bird's-eye maple are the next favorites.
The latter wood is especially popular for bed
room furniture. One reason for the popularity
of these woods and the total disappearance OF
such old time varieties cherry and black
walnut Is to be found IN the locality in which
most American furniture Is made to-day. This.
generally speaking. is in the West and particu-
lary in Michigan where the city of Grand Rapids
Is well known as a centre Of the furniture-mak-
ing industry. Naturally. those kinds Of wood
which are most easily obtainable In the neigh
borhood are most widely used Oak, birch and
maple are Of this class. while cherry and black