The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-07-19
TABLE LINEN FROM THE EAST.
FALL FASHIONS UNLIKE any
THING SEEN HERE BEFORE.
Exquisite Embrolderies From China, Japan
and Persia--RIch Decorations OF Lace
and Drawn work---Old italian HEIDI
quilts Drawn ON for Patterns.

qeiHitS Drawn ON Tor Patterns.
Because Of the demand here for fine
linen, embroidered and wrought In needle
work designs, the Orientals have taken
to importing linen from other countries
and working into It's beautiful mesh such
patterns Of embroidery and lace as the
Western world would never take the time
nor have the patience to manufacture.
| 1t is the rich weaves Of the fax and the
soft grass cloth Of China, worked with in
finite patience by women Of Japan, Persia,
Armenia and India, that will adorn the
tables Of the wealthy during the coming
fall and winter Fashions In table linen
from now on will be radically different
from anything which has been in vogue.
except that drawn work will lose none Of
it's prestige and Duchesse lace will continue
favorte in smart dining rooms
When have New Workers. ever sat down
to dine upon forest of the miniature dwarf
pines OF Japan, such as are cunningly
wrought with the needle In raised en-
broidery upon table cloths OF the most
delicate linen! Yet sets Of linen 10 dec
grated will be among the smartest novelties
for the coming season. and the labor in
volved in the making OF them will prevent
their ever becoming common, even II the
prices we're not prohibitivs Of such result
The newest styles OF table linen are all
Oriental in workmanship, IL not In character,
and are separated into three general styles
Chinese, Japanese and Persian. The styles,
and even the colors, are totally differ
ent, while the patterns selected by the
nationalites represented indicate the
character Of the workers and some OF tho
national traits.
Think OF the patience Of Chinese work.
ers who will embroider border nine inches
wide with flights Of several hundred butter
flies and not place any two butterflies in
the same position! The change In all the
forms for ornaments done In embroidery is
one Of the chief charms in Oriental work
The eye Is never wearied by repetition, al
though a uniform pattern ia always pre-
served In the work. In the butterfly table
centrepiece not only are the innumerable
butterflies which adorn it all placed differ
emily, but an effect Of perspective ia pro-
| duced by having them smaller toward the
centre.
The Chinese pieces come in tablecloths,
two sizes OF centrepieoes, and finger and
plate dOilies, and are extremely moderate
in price, considering the quality OF the
materials and the work upon them For
the most part the figures in the embroidery
are not conventional flowers, such az have
always been and probably always will be
popular, but lively and deliberately formed
fish, with spirals about them, skimning
through ripping waters. and splendid
dragons, twining long tails In high art
fashion among the roses and lilies of earth.
The stork, too. Is popular with the Chinese
workers, and, like the butterflies, 1t shows
individual inclinations In the matter Of
flight. The birds are lovely, whether In
white upon clear delft blue, In blue upon
white. or in all white. Other patterns
favored by the Chinese are chrysanthe-
NUNS. cherry blossoms, tiger lilies and
the lotus flowers. The last is not common
| pattern with them and appears chiefly
when they wish to use the rim Of half
closed flower to form an irregular border
to circular piece Of linen.
Although pure white is the leading thing
in table linen, and other colors are not in
vogue at all, there is one exception-o e-
ramic, or Wedgwood blue. This blue ap-
pears in two shades In the new table linen.
and the Chinese use three shades In their
embroidery, shading the objects worked
| in it,
A flsh piece worked In three shades Of
blue has suggestions Of ripping water and
| spurts Of foam in It. Through the elab-
| crate fish and water design runs a deco
ration OF trailing vines and seawesd, and
the latter. with roses, outlines the scalloped
border, while above the deep border, In
the centre Of the piece. Is wreath Of flowers
The Chinese pieces are worked In blue
| on white white OH blue, and all white, and
| are made in square as well a. round sets,
| with buffet scarfs to match. The square
sets are sometimes scalloped on the edge
and sometimes finished with deep doubla-
| hemstitched hem.
Most OF the pieces are made with deep
border effects, but the cherry blossoms
and storks cover the entire cloths, while the
tiger lily patterns are mingled with other
flowers and leave scarcely any plain linen
| in the centre.
Chinese table sets are worked in linen or
merceriN u cotton upon fine linen or Chinese
grass cloth--but the Japa nese sets ar.
very high above the linen in heavy satin
stitch embroidery. While the Chinese sets
laurder well, those made by the Japanese
are considers u moro effective, II also more
difficult to clean.
While the Chinese have flower and seal
Hoped and hemstitched edges, with an oc-
casional cut out leaf embroidered in the
corners Of squares. the Japanese seem TO
prefer round pieces with borders formed
by the out lines OF the designs and they
rarely use any color. An occasional pat
tern worked In wistaria or Wedgwood
blue is seen. but these are few and not
popular, at least for the dining table.
In fh., i ia ha