Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-02-20
CALLED FRENCH ART
METHOD OF DECORATING
LEATHER AND WOOD.
Used on Everything From Slippers
to Bed Room
Suites.

Written for The Evening Star.
Parisians have long held the secret Of q
simple process of decorating on leather
and wood. At last, however, this French
art" as 1t is called has been introduced in
this country, and all sorts of things are be-
ing decorated after the new fashion.
Among the leather articles seen are slip
pers for house and evening wear, belts,
shopping bags, purses, card cases, table
mats, photograph albums and book covers
decorated In such a manner as to rival the
art of the Photographer. In addition to the
decoration itself, it is quite fad to use the
initial letters or the monogram of the
owner on the object.
The only materials required for this pro-
cess are small vial of fastening varnish,
two soft brushes, sponge, a piece of fine
linen and the design to be reproduced. On
light feathers, like chamois and the fash
ionable pigskin, autographed designs of
flowers, birds and butterflies in colors are
effectively used Half-tone pictures and
letters in black are also desirable, as they
give the appearance of burnt leather. Pre-
pared designs, which are purchased at art
stores, are used for decorating dark leather.
These are covered with white lead or with
a gold back, and are inexpensive.
The worker usually cuts off the larger
portion of the margin of the design, after
which the face of it is smeared with fasten-
cara is taken to cover every portion of the
design. but not to go beyond the outlines.
Five or ten minutes are consumed while the
varnish is drying, after which the vanished
surface is placed upon leather in the desired
position. If it is fleur de lis, to be used
on book cover, for instance the design is
pressed down firmly on the cover with a
photograph roller. After two or three min
utes the back of the paper is carefully
raised, leaving the design on the cover.
Tho Efue1 To,,,1,ae
The next process is to dip soft brush in
water and wash the surface of the trans
ferred picture as gently as possible, in order
to remove the remaining lint. After this the
linen cloth is dampened and used to absorb
the superf1uous moisture on the design
This will also prevent the latter from rising
in blisters, and will cause it to dry evenly
A day is required to dry the design, after
which a coat of varnish is applied.
Some OF the handsomest new flower pots
in the stores are shown with this decora-
ton, many elaborate designs being carried
out. An artistic one seen was for an azalea
pot. and 1t showed large clusters of the
pink blossoms with smilax and ferns
grouped about the receptacle which had
first been painted light green. The effect
was such a perfect imitation of hand paint
ing that it would be difficult for even a con-
noisseur to tell the difference. Another
pretty idea was that of a deep blue vase,
which was decorated with marguerite dali
sizes and their green leaves.
three-paneled screen showed pictures
of the Three Graces, the Cherubs, and
Dawn, applied in the foregoing manner
from fine colored pictures They were SO
cleverly vanished that they appeared to
be lacquered, and the illusion was still
further carried out by the glass which cov-
cred each panel
In Green and Red.
An old-fashioned bed room suite, which in
cluded a four-poster bed and a bureau with
glass knobs, was decorated in the French
art STYLE. The furniture was imitation ma
hogany. and it was, therefore, necessary to
remove the paint. This was easily done
and after each piece was carefully sandpa-
pered stain of light green was applied.
When the furniture was thoroughly dried,
red poppies were transferred to the panels
of the bureau and bed. The chairs and ia
bles We're decorated likewise.
Handkerchief, glove and work boxes. pho
tograph frames, trays and other unstalned
wooden objects are shown in the stores. to
be decorated in this manner. One of the
most popular stains is black which is made
by going over the wood several times with
brush wet with boiling hot logwood. and
then with strong solution of nutgall