Evening star., 1901-06-01
MARQUE Try INLAYING
Old-1ime Desil Cleverly Followed
MODERN vs.. ANTIQUE SPECIMENS
Copies Recently Seen Might De-
ceive the Elect.
HIG HIP RICED EXAMPLES
MODERN vs.. ANTIQUE SPECIMENS
HIG HIP RICED EXAMPLES

| Written for The Evening Star
| 1t seems as If the mind of man. or rather
woman. could scarcely think of any scheme
for household decoration that the where
withal to carry it out would not be imme-
| diately forthcoming. All that the past has
| given US both In tradition and also the con-
| crete example Is now brought to our doors,
! as 1t were. certainly within easy reach Of
| even the inert in such matters
The contrast that twenty-five years have
brought about In America is really star
| tling when one considers it. Ideas were
plentiful enough In 1876. perhaps, though
| possibly that may be questioned but to
carry them out was a task gigantic. No
| shop could furnish artistic or novel furni-
ture or fabrics, and to instilI in either deal
ers' or workmen's minds a UNIQUE concep-
ton with any prospect of having 1t real
lied seemed hopeless. Then a trip to
Europe was necessary to get anything out
of the ordinary, but now Europe has been
ransacked by the people who cater to ar
tlstic tastes because what fashion de-
mands will always be forthcoming in any
direction whatever.
Years of PrepnratfOn
1 was talking recently with young man.
In his curio shop surrounded by beautiful
and really rare antiques, and he said he
had spent two years in Germany studying
the language in order to be able to intelli-
gently search for and buy the objects
| which would bring his collection up to it's
present condition of superiority others do
ing the travelling for him in different coun-
tries. equipped also with the capacity to
talk to the natives in their own tongues
and so CLEAN all that was possible of the
best. Modern minds, quick to perceive
what was desired by purchasers have been
making reproductions of old furniture and
furnishings, and thus the market Is fully
supplied Some people buy the new things
lgnorantly. as numbers Of the dealers sell
them as old. unscrupulously. Some buy
them Willingly. preferring to be the first
users OF their household belongings but
many people will have none of the new
training eye and hand to discriminate and
only selecting what to them has the added
charm that age and use have given.
Old Dutch Work Copied.
Mahogany furniture made from old de-
signs has been some time In the field. but
marquetry inlaying until recently could be
counted upon as antique. If it were in ap-
pearance or course. much French mar
quetry Is made, 50 modern in every way
that no one could be deceived: but Dutch
work with its quaint and. to connoisseurs
more attractive designs, one felt pretty
sure or, II the mahogany itself showed the
wear-possibly 'tear''-of wears. Now in.
genutty,. seeing the demand for articles in
idea. and old mahogany furniture. plain in
itself. Is decorated with the inlaytngs
which characterize the other, and modern
workmen. keeping to the designs and COL
would deceive the very elect It will be a
pity II marquetry is made in such quanti-
ties now that we shall see 1t ad nauseum
and so rebound come in favor of undec-
Grated woods.
A Fine Specimen.
That Is look into the future, however
| and the shape of certain pieces 1 have
lately come across is so Enthusiastically old
that no one could hesitate as to their gen.
uineness. The smallest daintiest bit 1
have ever seen in this inlaying is a tiny
stand, not more than ten by twelve inches
on top. with four slender legs, and a shelf
near the floor 1t is the height of an or
dinary table. but looks taller, as it Is so
| small. The oddty about it. besides the
shape. Is the addition of four wooden COM
partments covering the top. to hold mag
azines, photographs or what not. Every
where 1t has beautiful patterns of mar
quetry. and Is In good preservation though
showing signs of use. 1t Is a fascinating
| little piece. and If one does not mind paw
Ing $50 for such a mite 1t be bought!
Another charming piece, and one still un-
copied. l think. as these odd shapes are
only seen once or twice In lifetime is a
low cabinet. something like two steps In
shape. the lower standing not more than
two feet from the floor. The front and
ends are solid, and the back part, coming
some twelve inches higher than the front,
mas huted front which rolls back and in
cious things. and all covered with good
designs in the yellow tones Of some of the
Dutch marquetry.
Correctly Placed.
1 saw one piece some years ago which
was like this In construction as to the slid
ing front. and very low, q box on legs
which Is now an effective ornament in a
handsome modern drs wing room, its low
top displaying so well the ornamentation.
and Its height making It capable Of being
set below window and against white
wainscot which is good background for
its colorlng This piece Is exactly the
same yellow color Of marquetry as the
last named. and one suggests the other so
much as to make 1t seem probable they
might have been made by the same hands,
or, at any rate. in the same place. bet
ter cabinet Is a companion piece in the
room first mentioned. and quite a different
erect Is produced in the marquetry Of that
piece, some green. touch Of red and
browns being combined with the almost in
variable yellow. Two other pieces are
among those lately seen. which are odd
enough to be mentioned. one a jardiniere,
tdDie Sndpeu, WIN crossed legs and deep
border of the inlaying. which includes a
zinc pan. wide and deep. about 22x24
inches. and which would be a beautiful
receptacle for growing plants.
Ornamental Screen.
The other Is a screen frame, upright,
and with rather heavy bases. with an orna-
ment added to the top bar Of the frame.
which was double that is. an inner one
slipped up and down, so that used in front
of an open fire the screen can be raised
twelve inches or SO in order that the feet
of the person sitting near might be warmed
while the face would be protected from tie
too ardent heat of the fire. This is elab-
orately decorated, in marQuetry. but the
center has been taken from the frame, and
one can only surmise as to whether tap
estry, brocade or embroidery had erstwhile
been chosen as the croWning effect Of this
handsome piece. IT,
Many modern large II cabinets are dec
Grated with marquetry, but 1 have only
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