Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-09-15
HUNTING 0LD| PIECES
Hints for the Amateur Who
Would Be Sure.
GOOD WAYS OF TELLING
WHEN IMITATION CLOSELY RE-
sEMBLES THE REAL.
Many Desirable Articles of Genuine
Value Are Getting
Scarce.

ture mas almost developed into passion OI
late years. 1t has suddenly become the
fashion to have curios Of all kinds in the
home furnishings. Therefore, as demand
always creates supply, there are to be
found on the market hundreds of mastery
limitations Of the work of the great artists
in furniture. Some Of these limitations are
open and aboveboard reproductions of the
antique, but others are such successful
limitations of ancient furniture that 1t Is
necessary to be very wide awake If one
meditates purchasing specimens of the old
craftsman's art.
The coarse and rough limitations that ore
seen in second-rate shops every day never
deceive the searcher after the antique, but
really first-class work may easily impose
upon even the elect and reasonably so,
when it becomes known that there are
skilled workInen who make a business OF
initiating worm holes In modern furniture
before it proudly blossoms forth to become
the joy of the innocent amateur collector OF
the antique.
1t is usually at this time of the year that
the housewife Is seized with the spirit OF
refurnishing her home or adding by way
of adornment a few new pieces. II the
antique Is her special choice the following
suggestions may be of interest. The mod
est buyer is alone being considered. she VINO
would spend al the very most hundred or
There is kind of sham too popular
nowadays, and of all shams 1t Is the most
dangerous-to. buy old wood, possibly the
fronts Of drawers or panels OF cuPpoafos'
and mingle the old and new to the con-
fusion Of the uninitiated. 80 - :.
Sometimes dealers have the honesty. 10
say that goods of this description are made
up articles, and often these pieces are
quite worth adding to ones coliecu9 ~ ,, n11
cause the wood in their construction 10 well
seasoned and the grain fine and exquisteiy
colored.
Look Inside.
When a cabinet is the object under con-
sideration it is we'll to open the drawers
and inspect the lining. If the article fs
genuine they will be lined with oak or ELM
but if a modern imposture the lining Will
be merely plain, stained deal. Other evil
dences of the real thing are the weight and
the doweling which in old furniture ls
peculiarly done. But all these signs ia ~
when the genius of perfect deception is
abroad One simple thing to notice Is the
state Of the polish. 1t should be put on
perfectly smooth, and the varn1sh shouio
not seem to be carelessiy run INTO the
corners Another evidence is that the
edges are comparatively soft and ROUNDED
by wear and not sharp or clearly cut.
In spite of the widespread interest ana
knowledge in furniture ana decorative ar
generally there is great CONFUSION VI
way that some collectors of antiques per-
shade themselves that because thing is
old 1t must necessarily be beautl1ul. SO
there are those who think that TO CONFORM,
to certain style is sfaVish ana Iachins ~, ~
originality, To such people French style
Immediately conjured up bowknots. gar
lands and gliding, while we KNOW that this ~
expression of art can exist without any .!
these and still be true in character. Wna1
styIe in house furnishings should really be
taken to mean Is character appropriate
ness and an acceptance Oh those ruies
which the experience of centuries mas
proved the best yet allowing scope LOT III
dividual requirements.
Keep to the Style.
The collector of antiques should also bear
in mind that a piece of furniture must
never be selected irrespective of the differ
ences in it's style-that is, when single
apartment is to be furnished-for II Jun-
bled in a heterogeneous mass the result
| will be no more satisfactory than collec-
ton of pieces IN a furniture shop. There is
no character no originality; only mot
| ley collection of things.
The skillful artist knows well that in
| decorating and furnishing house har-
, mony of color and form Is the first es-
sential, and the collector of the antique
| should have her walls decorated with re-
gard to the furniture for which they are
| to form a background.
| tesoue than the placing of piece OF
French art in room decorated in the
| Dutch style? Still decorative errors, per-
| haps of a less glazing nature are met with
| on every hand and in homes of culture,
| more's the pity. The French style of fur
! nishing will be very popular this winter,
| my lady needing this setting for her Louis
XVI and Henri II gowns. An especial prize
| in French examples is the Boule furniture,
which is particularly happy in its cabinet
| specimens. Andre Charles Boule was the
| cabinet maker or eboniste to Louis XIV.
| and the first and most characteristic work
connected with the style of lie grand
| monarque'' is known as Boule. The Boule
| is an elaborate kind of marQuetry inlaid
| with tortoise shell, brass, ivory and ebony,
| the origin of which can be traced to In
dian, Persian and Damascus incrusted in
| lays Examples of Boule work are now
very valuable and command high prices
| when they are offered for sale.
For Modest Tastes
| The inlaid Dutch furniture resembles
| somewhat the Bouie, but is quite within
tho hounds Of the modest antioue MIR.