New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-08-26
A BEAUTIFUL HOUSE.
CHINESE AND JAPANESE WoRkMEN
MAKE THE DECORATIONS FOR

MAKE THE DECORATIONS FOR
LONDON DWELLING.
| From The London Daily News
| Evolved built and decorated by himself.
| york upon which Mr.. Mortimer Menpes mas
been engaged for some years, and OF whicn the
| final touches only just completed, the won,
| derful and beautiful house that he has created
| in Cadogan Gardens stands unique, and WILL
| doubtless. attract large number OF his frienos
and admirers to the private view to-day ~
| no special order of architecture. and certainly
not to be called a Japanese house 1t may De
| described as gorgeous, yet tempered by Ine
most delicate and rehned artlsuG tas s,o nc
| first feeling experienced by the visitor upon en-
tering is somewhat that Of solemnty, while the
absolute harmony and originality of the whole
STAMP themselves upon the mind
Desiring TO introduce an entirely new scneme
| of decorative art. Mr. Menpes, while on re-
cent visit to China and to Japan, discovered
| the value of native labor Armed with his own
| plans, designs and blocks-for the gifted artist
| combines thespractical knowledge of carpenter
ing with that of adornment-he employed FOR
| the greater part of year nearly seventy chi
nese and Japanese workmen. all Of whom he
pronounces to be true artists" to carry out his
| schemes Metal workers. wood carvers porce-
| of other skilled laborers. worked under his d.
rections. with the ultimate result that he has
| created house of infinite beauty-a veritabe
| work of art.
| The idea throughout is obviously flowers"
| from the entrance halls. three in number. to the
| living rooms which come first under notice.
| The scheme Of decoration that runs through
| each room is different flower carried out to its
| minutest detail Thus the drawing room,
| peonies the studio, cameas; the dining room,
! cherry blossoms. the halls, chrysanthemums.
| To begin with the 'peones'': the ceiling con-
| ssts OF a series Of square panels With the flower
| carved in polished blackwood mounted on
base Of gold. there, are apparently about two
| hundred panels, yet no two alike. The cornice
| which may be described as an arch half circle,
| with it's slim black curves showing the gold
| base through the spaces connects the ceiling
-t-ith frin of 10
| it breaks over the slender divisions of the great
| latticed window panes that are covered win
| transparent paper. Throughout the house the
windows double, and in sliding grooves
| with ample spaces between-ths causes the
! rooms to be cool in summer. warm in winter
insures perfect ventilation. and effectually keeps
| out the noise of traffic \ lacelike screen from
| the ceiling nearly half way down. partially
| divides the room into two, in the further END
! of which stands the famous old red lac cabinet
that once belonged to Mr.. Whistler. The walls
| are hung with richest silk Of male gold color,
| specially woven in the looms OF CHINA, as are
| also the entire upholsteries Of every chair and
| couch. The doors. four in number are carved
IN the same design. and studded at the corners
| with bronze worked in with the same hover
| while their very handles represent raised peo-
| MES The carpet is vermilion in hue, with broad
black border-one grand sweep OF color that
seems to mount and to bloom upward on the
| rich details. Two other cabinets, respectively
| high and low with broad open shelves. are OF
| the finest blackwood carving, and of bronze
| work that looks like the most delicate lacework
|
| The fireplace has copper fittings and is tiled
| I'm black and yellow small check squares; two
| gigantic bronze peonies support long. slim
| glass, set deep in plain black frame, Win req
| lac behind, over the mantelshelf upon which
| stand rare specimens Of red and gold porcelain
| and bronzes.
The system Of electric lighting Is equally
| characteristics At various parts Of the room u
! bronze arm OF conventional Dough or tree '
carving supports little squat lantern m9unt .e
in bronze the flower tracing being backed with
| vegetable tracing paper for the sides. This.
while effectualy concealing the sight or the
wire. in no way diminlshes the light. that ais,
| perses a soft glow the whole room, and
| throws up the hues of the rich red lac DELI
ciously. On one side group OF ten long slen-
! der Chinese Temple" lanterns mounted In a
black frame, fitted with a sequence OF electric
light completes picture OF Oriental beauty
that. indeed, the Occidental mind can hardly
| grasp.
| The "camellia" studio adjoins. In this lofty
studio two musicians galleries occupy one side.
and are divided by door leading into private
| staircase. All richly carved with the dls-
| tinctive fower-the stove is concealed by deli
cate network of bronze stars that suggest lace
work. The ceiling is similar TO the others in
| design. and. to utilize space-al part or Inc
| artists scheme-no pictures hang on the walls,
| while the furniture. worked on the same plan,
even in the sleeping rooms is all quit lt, IN -
| every detail and scheme of color is carried
| out In the same manner. The bulk or the beau
| tiful porcelain services for dinner breakfast
| etc. Is the work Of Mr.. Menpes's own brush
| painted In japanese pigments and fired In that
| countrys kilns The great polished blackwood
| dining table is peculiarly worthy of note, be-
| cause Of the wonderful scheme Of electric light
| ing introduced. Standing upon 1t. slightly ele-
waited narrow table, so to speak, is Of frosted
| glass the top decorated with lovely thick Chi
| nese silk, the sides left clear: eight difused
lamps. cunnngly concealed below the spaces,
shed brilliant light upon the plates. but sub
| dued upon the diners-an arrangement that can
| not fail to find favor with the fair To the
| remarkable collection of porcelains. Of clo-
| some of screens in beaten gold gided on to
| gold and FURNISHED whereof the secret Is re-
lgiously preserved by the Japanese), no words
| can possibly do Justice
| The ceilings Of the "chrysanhemum" halls
| are gorgeously carved the entrance is by the
| middle and on the left. where hangs a magnih-
cent carving. eight feet long by four feet broad.
| Is the second hall which breaks out half way
| I'D into n gallery, and up to the top of the
house through the staircase. The third hall.
| on the right contains truly marvellous cary
| ing on one single plank, OF chrysanthemums
| standing out five inches In thickness: also,
mounted In plain black frame, gigantic en-
| brolderylike cloth of gold, than which nothing
finer he found in Japan.
Yet few words must he said OF the little
| morning room. Here the decorations are car
ried I'm like fashion. except that fishes take
| the place Of howers-fshes big and little. dis
| port themselves on the panelled ceilings. with
| their base of gold; on the carved doors with
| their bronze corners. fishes form the handles
| fishes everywhere. In this room Mr.. Menpes
| makes the following remarks. which shall be
! given In his own words: 81 intend" he says. ito
! use this house alike for portrait painting as for
| starting whole series Of works In connection
| with japanese and Chinese labor. Only think
! Of what be done in electric fittings, in wood
| carvings. In metalwork In brocades, Talking
| OF the difference between labor here and there.
| this worked for a few pence a day. and lived
| upon the heads and tails Of fishes because they