The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-01-30
BEAU11FUA TORTOISE SHELL.
New DesiGus That Mako Extremely Effective
. hut Costly Ornn tncntn.


The tortoise shell goods imported this season
are q distinct innovation on the severely plain,
solidly expensive articles that have. won APP
prevail for generations. Appointments. other
than combs and hair ornaments, have q grace
ana lightness and an up-to-dateness about them
that the designers In shell work have never at
tempted before. Photograph frames, mirror
stands, cabinet pieces. and belongings OF the
desk and study table shown by the dealers this
winter are carved in patterns as delicate as lace
work, and in nearly all instances have the
amber-hued shell and the darker. richly tinted
pieces charminRly iatermingled. The old style of
tortoise shell goods was seldom carved, maybe a
little prim. up and down zigzagging on the
straight ridge of high comb or perhaps a simple
beading along the edge OF a fan stick. The only
other style Of ornamentation consisted Of
monographs or a bit of scroll work, in gilt or
silver. applied to the polished surface. The de-
signs wrought in tho shell now are all different,
showing figures. leaf work, and o variety Of
regularly carried out patterns.
An easel frame, possibly Id inches high, and
costing $3.50, is q miracle Of fine handiwork,
interlacing, transparent leaves and tendrils
twining VI the sides, and q slender, shapely
goddess poised daintily on top as q centrepiece.
Just enough of the pale amber shell has been
worked In in the dark groundwork to tighten
nav ShSsb- - eh o ;" bai hS"hy NS'aoSN
production stands a medallion frame of the
type made a season or two ago. 1t is heavy
and squarelooking and totally unrelieved by
any attempt at ornament. Being moulded from
an all.over piece of one entire shell, 1t is as ex-
pensive as 1t is ponderous. 1t would seem from
the very character Of the tortoise shell, with its
translucent depths. that q style Of workman.
ship that allows the light to play through
T,is tho 1taI;nn ort;sts and mannfootrrar an.
naa.to harn d,soaroro, nna ~harnnar noss,hi.
IN nth the new W. goods there are p persed.up wings nss' and
s transn.r anu ' strses ma" Ths an honhon 70 ba give uni. omS
jewel boxes have not SO much chance to be airy
in design but they ere decorated with pale pink
coral. turquoise. and pearl. in inlaid patterns
set off with gilt. Motherof-pearl would seem
to have been formed for the express purpose of
combining with the tortoise shell. A clothes
brush. SO light in weight that at first handling
! surprises Sou' =" a n'"rvciousiy intricate
carving on the back laid on over a foundation
brush. and every appurtennnce for the toilet
made to match this. The full set mounts up to
Very nearly 5000. 4 toilet set Of tho same s0,s
number OF pieces, but of entirely different de.
sign, with some Of the more expensive amber
was made up by a well firm at Christ.
mae for 81, 500;
III uI1N AItII In HG Il hUl Ih III 1l NGl
sive costliness. There are many delft imita.
lions, compositions of celluloid and other ordi.
nary substances. laid over and inferminoIed
with a modicum OF the genuine shell. hut the
real article is very expensive.
1.-The price OF that box r. INQUIRED n shopper
the other afternoon, as she admired tho smooth
beauty of n box for lin saIye. n tiny case not
much larger round than a silver dollar and OF
scant Thickness.
"Seven dollars" replied the clerk.
And that powder box, the
one y"
Fifty dollars" was tho answer. And this
box. taking one of n larger siZe from the show.
case. "is $40. It ia made from nm rnusmaIIv
fine piece Of shell, and the lights In It are par.
ticularly good"
who was looking on. iii I had been asked to
guess the price. I should have said SlO or SI2 nj
the utmost"
No one OF these boxes Ind any carving or or.
namentation. They were turned ont ~ sofia
shell and polished Until the surface reflected a
myriad lights and shades. Photograph frames
for small pictures. light in WEIGHT ns we'll os
effect. a1d exduisitely carved, can be bought for
SIS and 8I5' There are naner Eniyes VIII
Beautifully smooth blades and handles va.
riously wrought, some fretted and dIipreed