The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1903-10-22
COSTLY SPECIMENS OF ART.
Wealthy New Workers Pay Fabulous
Prices for Articles for Home
Decoration

alt is a sign of the times that contrac-
tors in New York are building houses in
recent years TO sell TO chance customers
at prices ranging as high as from $780,
600 to 100000 says Ralph ID. Paine in
| Worlds Work. In no other city or time
would contractors dare to build houses
for the general market, hoping to sell
them for more than 100000; but
whereas half century ago the furnish
ing of the wealthiest homes was charac-
terized by monstrous ugliness a single
generation has seen a revolution in
American taste. Even until a decade
ago the acquisition of costly collections
in art was confined to paintings, and the
ruling spirit was to get the most display
for the greatest outlay with a few nota-
bic exceptions. Little by little a group
of millionaires found time and inclina-
tion to appreciate or to value porcelains,
rugs. tapestries and gems. 1t is common
for plutocrat of this era to spend
Sl.00O0O0 in furnishing his home and
the ablest experts sell their services to
insure the highest standard of taste.
An American millionaire paid $780,
600 for three tapestries to fit wall in
ms newly erected palace. Another set
Of three pieces of tapestry was sold for
S3OO,OOO 10 adorn an American home.
Inc wife OF another American paid
SiZo,UOO Tor a set OF furniture not long
ago, and there were only four pieces.
/ Their value was in the tapestry uphol-
sterlng. In shop in Paris there are
three panels OF tapestry for which $780,
OOo each IS asked. The dealer has au
agent IN this country. who is confident
OF hnding purchaser as soon as he
hnds the millionaire who wants costly
tapestries. At the sale of the Marquand
collection last winter rug was sold for
SjS,OO0 1t is supposed TO have been
bought by dealer who Will hold it un-
III ne tlnds purchaser willing to pay
Si5OOO or even $1,000 Tor the treasure
senator Clark, of Montana. has col
lection of rugs among the furnishings
oil MS home for which lie paid at lowest
estimate S25O,O0O. transformations Phil
adelphia can furnish list of 81 600 600
worth OF paintings in 25 frames hanging
IN the private galleries Of her million
aire collectors.
IN Fifth avenue there are perhaps a
oozen lnconspicuous shops which deal
almost exclusively with the very rich.
1he owner of one of these said recently:
There are not more than $50 men in
the United States whom | can fairly
class as possible customers of mine. If
l can get two OF them as regular Gus
TONER'S l Will ask no other patronage.
IL Is true that some millionaires buy
That they may shine in the reflected
glory OF their treasures And as q class
they have come TO recognize the fact
that there is no safer investment from
business standpoint than fine paint
/ lngs, rugs, tapestries, porcelains and
antiques IN general when picked by eX-
/ perts, They buy on rising market, for
the demands OF American luxury are eX-
hausting the treasures of the old world.
IL Is business estimate that any collec-
ton wisely chosen and not bought for
eNloruonate figures will increase in
value at an average rate of four per cent.
year, or the interest on the invest
ment. 1t is still characteristic of many
/ wealthy Americans that small objects,
even If they be priceless from the col
lector's viewpoint. are not bought for