The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-05-09

HE old furniture fad seems to have
come to stay. The love for quaint
old things used by generations that
are gone seems to grow With IN
dulgence and the collector Will
fare far and spend much to PICK UP some
8 odd niece. especially If halo of historic
Significance chances to hang over IT. There
are MANY collectors in Minneapolis and
q they have in their homes many interest
ing and valuable pieces of furnutre.
The history of furniture Is a part OF the
history, manners and customs OF dlHerent
peoples. and styles are affected by histor-.
ical events. The Hebrews must nave han
excellent workmen to have been able 70
carry out such precise instructions as were
given for the erection OF the Iapernacie
1900 years before Christ. The Greeks IN
their early history had simple furniture.
hit in their later luxurious years their
furniture was sumptuous. being carved
and decorated with figures in bas-relle1'
In gold or ivory and gilt and lnlald.
The excavations at Ponapeii give evil
dence that the old Roman furniture was
of the most costly kind. Tables were
made of gold, silver, marble ana bronze,
and were engraved, plated and enrlched
with precious stones Ivory was used with
all sorts of woods and many of the car
wings in bas-relief treated subjects OF
Greek mythology and legend Veneers
were applied not for economy, but pc
cause with the most beautifully marked
woods a richer effect could be secured.
81 II is recorded that table made for Cic-
ero cost 900 and that one belonging to
Il King Juba was sold at auction for $780,
600. Cicero's table was made OF a wood
called thyme, which was brought from
Africa and held in high esteem on account
of it's beauty. 1t was also supposed tic
bring good luck, the priests producing
incense from it. This wood Is still found
Is In the Atlas mountains.
@ Wood carving f1ourished in the Scan
i dinavian countries from the early Viking
times. Much of the carved woodwork o
the seventh and eighth centuries Is pre-
served in the old churches. The earl,
Russian school is included with the Scan
a dinavian, both being Influenced by Byzan
tine ideas. which in turn had been influ
'enced by the art of the east
at# The italian Renaissance.
In the beginning of the Italian renais
sance the style in furniture was pala
tial; later it became over ornamental
EThe mounting of articles with metal en-
~ REGIMENTS originated at this time In tn
y Iron corner pieces and hinge plates used t
strengthen the old chests. The artificer
began to make these productions orna
mental as we'll as useful. In the six
teenth century metal workers reached
point of excellence which has never bee
surpassed. The metals were often etche
with acids to appear as If damascend.
Silver was used SO profusely to inla
Il furniture in Spain during this .perio
that an edict was issued in 1894 pro
hibiting. with the utmost rigor, the max
ing and selling of this kind of merchan
disc in order not to increase the scarcit
Of silver" beautiful silver table Q
Spanish make is in the collection at Wind
sor castle.
The wood table was not used until tn
beginning of this period Chairs wer
scarce and three-egged stools an
benches were the seats for every one ex
cept the master of the house or an hon
ored guest. Our phrase " taking tt
M chair is reminiscent of the high plac
the chair held in a gentleman's mansio
at this period. ...,..... ..... 4.