Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-11-28
STYLES IN FURNITURE
WHISPERS THAT THE DAY OF THE
COLONIAL Is PASSING.
Collectors Said to Prefer Furniture Of
the First French EN-
pire Now.


From the New York SUM-
It Is whispered along 4th avenue and in
other haunts of antiques that colonial fur
niture is going out. Some collectors are
reported as having decided to sell their old
colonial mahogany, and are now taking a
special interest in the furniture Of the first
French empire. Nobody knows for sure
just why there should be these symptoms
of change in TASTE and the special adj
mirers of the colonial style stoutly insist
that 1t can never really lose its charm for
persons of right perceptions, because of Its
intrinsic beauty. Some guess that the grow
ing taste for the empire furniture is part
of the Napoleonic revival. It Is just a
century this year since the first empire was
set up, and the centennial Of the GROWING
of Napoleon falls on December next.
Another guess Is that genuine empire
pieces are likely to be more cheapiy import
ed hereafter, now that they are century
old and real antiques in the eyes of the Gus
toms authorities. The best guess as to the
threatened change of taste is that the vast
houses built just now require massive fur
niture rather than the delicately beautiful
colonial chairs. tables and sofas. Now.
much of the empire furniture Is massive.
The great pillared sideboards of dark ma
hogany with richly marked veneer on the
solid wood and elaborate decorations In
ormulu go well in dining rooms 30 feet
long by 40 feet wide. In like fashion the
impressive show in the great drawing
rooms of new mansions in town or country.
All these things are to be had now in great
quantities and at high prices.
Several of the dealers in old furniture are
making speciality of the empire style. and
dealers on the other side of the water are
feeling the effect of the demand In this
country Prices are likely to rise. An East
Side cabinetmaker. famed for his enthusi-
astic love for his craft and the lingering
fcndness with which he handles beautiful
LII IL; IL, hnn f har
day of the rumored change of taste:
II do not believe that colonial furniture
is going out. 1t is certainly not falling IN
price, and the best patterns are more val
liable now than they have been at any re-
cent time. I sold some colonial chairs to
customer ten years ago that I'd Like to
buy back now at double the price.
st is true, however. that some persons
are buying a great deal of empire furni-
ture. A collector told me the other day
that he intended hereafter to collect en-
pire stuff instead of colonial, and l have
heard the like from at least one other man
interested In furniture. A single piece of
empire furniture sold short time ago for
5000 1 suppose that a good deal will be
sent over from the other side now, and as
it is not difficult to trace the history or
empire pieces they are likely to come GER
tilted and to fetch good prices. A piece
with history sells quicker than a name
less piece Of equal age and quality. and
the history. by the way, need not be any
thing remarkable.
Here is an American Sheraton sideboard
about century old, and made. l should
think, by southern cabinetmaker. 1t is
not perfect in its lines, for the southern
cabinetmakers did not have quite the best
tradition. This piece, however, is beautiful.
1t is solid mahogany almost throughout,
and its history is known. 1t came from the
eastern shore of Maryland. probably from
the home OF Huguenot family now ex-
tinct. 1t was fifty years in the home OF
another Huguenot family, and was sent
here for repairs by member of that fam
lily. who thinks he cannot afford to keep 1t.
II have put $40 worth of work on the
piece, and with It's history 1t will easily
fetch 1926. When I first saw 1t my guess
was that 1t would sell for $175. I don't
history is worth something. and that is
one reason why empire furniture of historic
interest is fetching good prices"