The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-01-16
BEA UTIFUL FOR THE DESK.
Fittings In OLD Breton Ware or italian Fni-
ence Replacing silver.

ence Replacing silver.
Desk fittings and appointments of dull.sur-
faced French ware, made after models from the
famous old Breton potteries. are brought out
now. Gnd are much moro tho mode than either
the Dresden china belongings or those fashioned
of Delft ware. This new-old French product,
utilized in this way, even threatens to supersede
the oxidized and silv or appointments for a
unique, up.to-date writing table. The surface
is SO lustreless as almost to resemble smooth
grained wood in texture. and the ornamentation
consists Of shields, flags, and heraldic devices.
with an occasional coronal of green as
it occurs in the escutcheon Of some
high and mighty scion of the old nobility. Only
the darkest shade of blue. 30 deep as to be al
most black, and various tones Of clay color. shad-
ing from pale yellow to a deep red orange. are
used in the coloring. The complete outfit for n
desk made OF this china can be procured for 1915.
The ink wells and the holders for mucilage,
sealing wax, &c.. are of curious shape, most un.
modern in appearance. and the cracked and
lined surface OF the china, made to resemble
ware that has seen centuries of service, adds to
this impression.
"All of this faience ware made at that early
time in Brittany was designed for use In the
households of the nobility" said the china i'm
porter, In response to a shoppers inquiry.
There are no plates or cups and saucers such
as are in uso In these days; only the big, cum
bersome platters, trenchers and drinking mugs,
and the vessels in which were brewed tho drinks
popular at that time. These now desk and study
table accessories have been contriveda and adopt-
ed from the original models. That ink well, for
instance, Is the exact copy Of n clay stow pot
in which cooking was actually done at the time.
1t has tho long handle and the cover with the
fitted lid Just like any modern-day saucepan.
~ ..-. IA laa hoo, ,Nala o.,al . - a,ts . l. -
measurements OF n desk. All the appointments
have been adapted In the same way. and the OK
act style of decoration preserved even on the
smallest and most insignificant knick.knack.
different and blended escutchcons have
s sdISrinu variety snd general to tho style ehin IS a nat slik in
The devices are all simple. though prin.
cipally taken from nature. and the rude fur
plicity makes the Breton ware distinctive and
easily told from the Italian ~faienee and the
pottery made in other sections OF France. At
Nantes. for instance. although these same colors
are used and the old style shapes adhered to,
the style OF decoration is much more complex.
Certain of the vases, tankards, and curious
old trenchers and cendlesticks that come as a
mounted as single or set up on the
moulding shelf above, arc as interesting as
vase with a neck as long and narrow rs The
tabled dish that the storEk invited tho fox to eat
ont OF. III mas no elnDblllsnInent save me nom
est-looking old coat.of-arms, n barred gate on a
dark blue field, and n watchful device on tho
pennon above. A curious old pitcher with an odd
handle is in the shape OF q rooster: only the
dark blue and clay color and dull green being
used ir. his makeup. lie is Just in the act OF
growing, and his open mouth ia, the mouth of
the pitcher. There IL a quaint'shnped tankRrd.
straight and square set, with a heavy lid open
oratcly carved. The shield. flag. and crossed
weapons on the bowl Of this piece arc different
in design to the other. but show just tho same
paNNnF nIAln I N lima nn1 lnN Fnlnp IN Ihn
cracked-over cream surface. A peculiar china
box for holding memoranda or, souvenirs Of one
sort and another resembles q half dozen plates
piled together evenly.
The price OF these platesf' asked a lady.
trying TO lift up one. But the box cover came
OFF in her hands instead and che smiled al the
mistake. III stood II little way of ami looked
at that ink well and tho vase beside IL l should
say they were made OF wood and were cOlored
with poker work, " said the shopper. "only," she
added, the blue Is n shade too rich for wood
staining. ! don't see how they can c%ontrivc to
glaze ,crockery Mt all and yet have 1t look 50
lustrclcss."
Only a few foot away from the quaint old
Breton desk furnishings are, those made after
the Italian patterns. parti-cOlorOd. ana with de-
signs all twisting SerpGnts and headless cupids
and forms Mailman. half.beast, AZ affected by
designers of the Italian school. The ink wells,
pen holders, stamp boxes. wax and mucilagc re-
ceivers, and boxes for whatnOts. all have do
signs curiOuR and complex, and forms past md
ing out depicted In blues and yellows and scar.
lets on tbS smooth cream ground, 0pe Wv "