New-York tribune., 1901-08-11
ART IN THE HOUSEHOLD.
FIELD OPEN TO WOMEN WHO CAN DE-
SIGN ODD PIECES OF FURNITURE
PIGS OF Artistic MAKE
RUGS OF ARTISTIC MAKE

|
Every year sees an increase in the work done by
women in the direction of household art, and dem
| onstrates their peculiar fitness for it, An inter
| esting exhibit Of work by English women now in
| studio shop in New-York contains some highly
original pieces furniture which is the latest field
| to be entered by woman.
A hall stand of striking character is a sample of
| what is being done in this direction by the
| Woman's Guild of London. 1t consists of deep,
open closet or recess for coats. and above that
low, inclosed closet for hats. Every detail in the
construction is the work of women, the old
brass hinges and door pulls the small closet
doors. and the graceful hooks. different from
simplicity. almost amounting to severity, marks
the lines the only ornamentation being a single
line Of carved ieursde-lis each side OF the
lower recess. yet the piece Is full of charm.
A tea table OF true English solidity and quaint
ness is another attractive piece. 1t is extremely
low and wide. and has a lower shelf for sand
wiches and two narrow side shelves for empty
cups. 1t is Of oak. stained green and bears tea
table equipment OF brass in fascinating designs.
The tea caddy is of the oldest ever seen. 1t is
a fattened oval in shape and the cover is an
upright piece with extended hook on each side
On one hangs the perforated spoon now fashion
able instead OF the older tea ball. and on the other
spoon for measuring. 1t is altogether one of the
bewitchngly queer things that go straight m a
wonans heart.
On the same rigorous lines as hall stand and tea
table is a bookcase. small and low of size 1ust
suited to wo1nan's den hold her own nets IN
literature.
These things all prove that you must encourage
people to be simple and natural If you want tru.
art said the artist in whose study they are in
showing them. This movement among women
toward the household arts is of the most i'm
portant and far reaching in the whole modern de-
veopment of woman's work. When their practical
knowledge of the needs of the home is supplemented
by training in simple principles Of design they can
produce finer results than are often attainabIe bv
men, believe that in furniture they have an
immense opportunity, and 1t Is surprising that
more women have not taken UP it's designing"
The linen work from of Lady Warwick's
schools is beautiful. shows how successful her
effort TO re-estabsh the old home industries has
| been. The linen is hand spun and woven the dives
are extracted from the vegetable kingdom every
detail fulhls Ruskins requirements Of absolute
sincerity and honesty in business while the utter
simplicity meets every demand of art. The softness
of these dyes cannot be approached by aniline
colors. while their durability is unequalled
The old sampler stitches charmingly util-
ized in table covers and other articles Of that
nature. One square piece of exquisite blue. with
border of stitch in white. is full of dell
cate charm, and seems quite the prettest thing
imaginable until one sees the equally bewitching
piece whose decoration is applied conventional
lied vine in red and green linen Of dreamlike
tnts.
with applied decoration of red and green. Unfort-
unately there bells of the ceiling variety to
pull in America but these four inch strips might
serve to hang the hinge side of a door to
shut draught that often troubles one or 1t
would be admirable long, narrow door panel or
centreboard that divides the panels In ordinary
! doors.
OF a different quality of beauty the window
draperes of a thin, crepy texture that admits
light freely yet radiant with rich, deep, saus-
flying color in outside designs Trees and birds and
beasts and flowers patterns and in one
lovely instance all four are used IN a Noahs ARK
sort of picture Truly. no lace. however hmy and
delicate, could afford such delight as these dim
| hints of forest color and forest life.
All here shown is not English however. ATnert-
| can women hold their own nobly in brass and pot
| terry, draperes and rugs. From the Adirondacks
| and from Connecticut have come rugs and hang
ings that deliciously artistic revtvals of the
| The Betsy Ross rug is woven on hand looms of
strips cotton and denim, all colored with vege-
| table, homemade dyes, and the designs. although
! generally in simple, broken lines, have peculiar
| fitness and charm. The reds yellows. browns and
| blues are beautiful without exception, and the
knowledge that the rugs can be put in tho tub and
| washed easily tableclOth does not detract
from the value in a housekeepers eyes. Some are
Of silk and the suggestion of luxury is correspond
| ingly greater
! much originality. One woman, whose candlesticks
! of pottery, moulded by her deft fingers, are
suggestive of old farmhouses in Italy and Spain, is
| now experimenting, seemingly with much success.
| on secrets of glazing that have descended by will
! from father to son for many generations.
| Brass bowls of attractive shape and color, cop