The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-02-20
rnonrxTtrn rrnNTrunn.
Hevei Futntshsiss N Quaint pssisss ana
Beautiful vy~erkuanshfp.

slrn made Of eboniEed wood and set of with
panels Of parchment and dullsurfaced metal
are to be found at exclusive furniture dealers.
Chairs. settees, desks, stands for lamps or vases,
and cabinets are included In the list. All are
curiously shaped and ornamental, but each
piece shows the dressed goats skin somewhere
In It's construction and the long. knotted silk
fringe that gives n patriarchal Eastern effect.
The quaint nrmchairs of this pattern have
one Of tho uprights at the back extending
much higher than the other, unfolding a
lamp or iambeau Of the carved wood.
The ebonized wood is so black and rioh
as 10 resemble velvet in effect. Light woods
arc combined with 1t. and an Eastern scene Is
etched on the parchment back, the figures In
the picture being barely indicated and the trees
and hill much In the foreground, as is the Gus.
tom In primitive work OF the kind. Deep white
silk fringe hangs from beneath the seat, the
knots in the plating are fastened with bronze
sequins, and a bordering Of bronze outlines the
parchment seat and back.
The amply long and wide sofa has the entire
back and seat Of the dressed goatskin. The
ebon frame is inlaid with an almost white wood,
and all the scenes pictured on the light cream
oolored skin are in brown and delicate wood
tints. The single chairs are without the fringe
and designed In the quaint all-in.one pattern
sometimes seen in O garden chair. The light
parchment, with It's decorative picture work,
shows Off to good advantage oil studded at the
edges with squares and ovals of the dull metal.
Each one of these single chairs costs $s5.
A unique desk has the extension shelf Of
parchment laid In a handsome framing, and tho
drawers above and the quaint cabinet top Of
black wood inlaid with ivory. What looks to be
the door Of q locker in this desk, with parch-
ment panels let in, is contrived to shield the
OpapinU of m appret drnwar neanf m hpld moat
jealously guarded secrets. The front of the
desk has a fall of the tawny fringe from the
parchment, and the back has q slender upright.
terminating in the fanbeau and hourglass, to
match the large armchair.
A beautifully shaped stand for holding n cor
ner vase or statue has panels of parchment let
In tho inlaid framing. The parchment shows
the same turbaned pashas sitting at the foot of
mountains. maids with red kirtles leading goats
along, and curious-looking people crossing
bridges. as are painted on the backs of the chairs
and the sides of the desk. A PLAGUE for n
library wall in a concave frame Of ebon wood
inlaid with ivory is also of parchment. The
painting is in typical Eastern characters and
hieroRlypbics. Jardinieres are shown with
goats skin panels also. the light and dark wood
framing and natural coloring of the skin har-
monizing pleasantly with other appointments
and surroundings.
There is a revival of quaint old Florentine
furniture-sofas with female heads looking
from the carved backs, and the grotesque half
man, half-brute figures unfolding, the arms.
pieces is SO smoothly turned and has
such a gloss that 1t looks ut first glance
s sion In The ,e fscss. and nde the e cu ESGds seiSm ebsPfies,
about are as carefully done as though in
marble. Considering the enormous amount, Of
work on this furniture. II does not seem high
priced. A superb extension table. with the
p%priEhts formed Of four dragons with their
the weight on their shoulders, is $50. The
slender, graceful dragons are as delicately fin
is III In every detail as are their prototypes up
chairs and divans are upholstered in leather.
An alternative to the leather upholstery is that
having gold or silver threads ~interwpven with
silk In a rich brocade. either shaded blue or
In the carvings on tho massive cabinets and
s SelenS to- t are S Italian .n' se ihts,fu Of aEsoss iont
forms and halfcurled leaves; Clpids looking
out arms or legs, but well provided with wings.
Every smallest leaf or tendril. every hoof or
dainty precision of masters at the art. Each
piece OF this furniture Is a study. The owner of
a cabinet with %sondolas imaged on the front
manned by cupids-or of a cabinet with mystic
dragon forms entwined about the drawer
IiuhuiNo "hu DS'i'b AIN W.
holding the shelves. and nymphs playing
hide and seek on the top piece. will have food
for thought and be reminded Of all the fables
and fairy tales he ever read or listened to. In
noting the variety and gracefnlncss OF these
flowers and figures IT is hard TO- realize that they
the poor wood carvers of Italy, who are not rated
as artists and are not paid as such. They have
not begrudgeful of the time they expend in per.
fecting. Q flower or a dragons head for n sofa
back. They are said TO enjoy doing the work.
and probably that accounts for its beauty. They
put something of themselves into i.
In an apartment to itself is a collection Of. gar
den and terrace furniture copied from pieces
used in the grounds of the great mobiles abroad.
A garden chair made TO fold up. but rs plain in
Is because Of the inlayinE that ornaments the
back, a certain dull blue staining being EN-.
inIaid work is al he TOP o. the high back and
on the uprights that support he seat. There is
a settee much like "a bench with a slat across the
flowers, made in tho same wood, having the dull
blue inlnid pattern for Crngincnt. Chairs md
cabinets that have much, distinction ARE, OF
polished mahogany. with elaborate ivory inlai,i
work. the ivory sculptlred out in NEUROLOGICAL
designs and then lcvclled in with the surface.
There are goddesses and Cupids. with their float.
ing scnrfs and wrcaths depicted in sharp relief
On this inlnid furniture there is no carving. An
unusual looking chair, of narrow, prim out
lines. scarcely wide enough to rest the shoul.
length picture Of n king or prclatc nicheG in tho
centre Of the tall wooden back. The picture is
Ohty u bWlll pHuel panied on eDOnV, nut the
bright colors of the kingly robes and the flesh
tints Of face and bands show out to advan.
tage. Even the jewels in the sceptre are in.
dictated. but tho colors arc very soft and fine.
Another chair has a royalty Gowned dame rs the
centre OF attraction: she wears gray and blue
and her hair is deliberately coifed. An armchair
Of similar pattern. but less rigid in outline. has
a matron and child on tho, ebony panel, tho
child In n scarlet dress and with bright gold
hair. These chairs. with the vivid bit Of color.
yet so unobtrusive, are the p~rettiest in the col
lection. Some with the picture backs have
parchment seats. but the most effective are up'
h~olstered in dull leather. Such u variety oil
Florentine furniture has never been brought ia
New York until this season.
PRINCESS BEATRICE'S n STUD Y