The evening times., 1899-07-03
4 Fever FOR ANTIQUES
Americans Demanding Medieval
Furniture and Tapestries.
Importers Searching Europe to Sc
cure the Choicest Specimens of
jects Among the Stocks of New
York Dealers-Big Prices Obtained.

New YORK, July 3.-EuTOpe Is pelnB
secured for the choicest and most beauti-
full antique furniture to satisfy the desires
Of Americans, who have been interested
keenly in the productions of the Old
World. In this country knowledge of OBJ
jects of art has broadened very much in
recent years. ~
Wealthy persons are satisfied no longer
with limitations or copies Of old and ia
| nous tapestries ana tapestried furniture.
They want the originals, no matter what
may be the cost They distinguish readily
between the real and the counterfeit. The
homes, as a result, are being made more
| fascinating and beautiful by the collections
| from European shores.
| Leading dealers in objects of art will tell
you with every succeeding year that the
demand for the finest specimens of antique
! furniture is increasing among the people
| of this country. Many residences contain
| the most superb examples OF art in furni-
ture. This is true not only of New York,
but Of Boston. Philadelphia, Baltimore,
Washington, Chicago, San Francisco, and
OF other cities. The demand is so great
that the supply is very inadequate. Since
last fall the dealers have been called upon
more than ever before to find the best an
| tiques for their patrons.
1t Is believed that the stock will be in
| creased now that the war with Spain has
been closed. There is a large amount of
beautiful antique tapestried furniture In
Spain. The rancor of the late war has not
passed away. Importers of antiques have
been careful not to enter the Spanish field
too soon, but they hope to resume busi-
ness there quickly.
| IN
| Europe to spend the summer in searching
for rare and costly objects of art for their
customers. The summer season is always
dull in the city. 1t is the opportune time
for them to cross the Atlantic and stock up
their establishments.
Searches for Works of Art.
Especially In these days is desired cary
ed wood furniture. seated in the tapestry
Of the Louis XIV, Louis XIV, and Louis
XVI periods. Enquiries made at the we'll
/ known antique furniture houses of this
city show that they cannot buy large
enough stocks to meet the demand.
Agents in Europe are paid large salaries
to search for the beautiful tapestried fur
niture Of the above periods. Every corner
of the continent is searched to beautify the
homes OF Americans. At the present time
, the stock in the establishments of this
city Is not nearly as large desired
though visit will show that there are
beautiful sets and separate pieces in the
market
The prices for these splendid objects OF
art vary. Exquisite sets of Gobelin OIL
, Beauvais tapestried furniture will cos,
usually between $4,000 and $50 900, and
sometimes much more. according 10 The
: beauty, the richness of design, and the
9 wood carving.
In the establishment of Duveen Brothers
! in Fifth Avenue, there are beautiful sets
of antique furniture, seated with the tap
estries of Louis XIV, Louis XIV. and Louis
I XVI periods. The Messrs. Duveen are il
t Europe at the present time, and it is SAID
= that the firm, in spite of their energies in
collecting rare treasures, find it out of tht
question to meet the demands. Many
. wealthy persons are fond of buying sep.
: arate pieces as well as sets. Some of these
separate objects of art bring very higf
!. | figures.
4 In Duveens' there is a handsome set O.
\ antique furniture, consisting of sofa ant
six armchairs. seated in Gobeln tapestry
:, of Louis XIV period. The frames wer.
. | carved exquisitely. On the back of th
= sofa was picture of a chateau upon al
q, | ivory silk background. This set is valued
= at sl2. 900.
: Another superb set, seated in Beauvai
tapestry of the Louis XIV period, has al
old rose background. This set consists o
a sofa and six chairs, with beautiful cary
ed and gilt frames Upon the back of tn
sofa is a representation of Cupids at play
On the seat is a picture of a deer hunt
The armchairs are superbly decorated
The set is valued at $4,000.
One of the separate pieces in the stool
was an interesting French Sedan chair o
the Louis XIV period. It is lined witt
figured velour. The woodwork is carve
to delight the most artistic eye.
Bergcres of the Louis Nv Period.
There are also two bergeres seated il
Reauvas tapestry of the Louis XIV period
with an ivory silk background. The woo
is carved splendidly. The coloring il
= grand. There are figures of oxen ON tn
n backs, and of animals, such as the wolf
n the antelope, and the bear on the seats
q Thes, two chairs are considered TO b
wort $500.
- An exauisite bit of furniture is a fin
4 screen. whose frame is carved in mos
y delicate manner, and whose tapestry i
a Beauvais. The scheen is of the Loui
Ia XVI period. Upon the tapestry is a rep
T resentation of gardener holding flowers
A. The tapestry has an ivory background
r with an old rose border The coloring
- remarkably fine. The screen sells for S10(
1t is about three feet high and two fee
- | wide.
: More specimens of the Louis XVI perio
:. are set of four chairs and a sofa, seate
in Watteau tapestry The chairs are pret
tier than the sofa. There are pictorial de
signs Of shepherds on the backs Of tn
), chairs and animals on the seat. The back
ground is ivory white, with a green Dor
der. On the back of the sofa Is repre-
x sentation Of lady holding a dove. Tn
b decorations on the seat are Of animals. Th
d gilt frames of the pieces are carved beau
d tifully. This et'sells for 81, 600.
,e In the stock there is double set OF tn
: Louis XVI period, seated in fine Aubusso
: tapestry. 1t consists Of two sofas, fou
IS bergeres, and four armchairs. The frame
l. are carved. The tapestry has an ivor
'e background. There are floral decorations
is representations of animals and draperie.
l. The coloring is beautiful.
le o. l.. Sypher, Of Sypher & Co., in Fift
Avenue, also show superb specimens
antique furniture. Mr.. Sypher says tha
thirty years ago. when he began TO i'm
st port antique objects of art, there WEI
& very few specimens of furniture OF tt
= Louis XIV, Louis XIV, and Louis XVI De
4 riods in this country. He said there was
10 steadily increasing demand for antique
10 by Americans, until now the importer
n rare unable to crafty the desires of veal
20 thy persons.
a They know and appreciate rich ar
tiques.' continued he land display sFler
did taste. They appreciate, in adornin
the interior of house. that tie decors
tive effect Of the specimens OF the Lou
I'd XIV, XIV, and XVI periods is strikin,
Z. Examples of all three periods are place
in a drawing room and can harmonic
80 d