Evening star., 1904-04-30
ARE AGAIN IN STYLE
DANES OF THE MIDDLE AGES
AND THEIR CHESTS.
Craze for Antique Furniture Has Res
urrected the
Golfer.

The feminine world is again taking to the
use of stately and artistic Golfers or chests
The DANES of the middle ages, who had
no convenient bureaus in which to store
their f1nery, were dependent upon the cof-
fer. Some of these historic chests are
marvels of delicate carving, inlay work
and painting. The greatest artists of Italy
did not disdain to decorate these recep-
tacles.
So valuable were some of the Golfers that
great lady was considered well lowered
If she received one on her marriage day.
1t was placed in her chamber, with the
great bedstead and a stool or two, which
were the sole furnishings. Toward the
close of the eighteenth century Golfers were
all but discarded. Until recently specimens
were to be found only in the museums or
old castles and manor houses of Europe
Now the taste for antique furniture is
bringing the Golfers again into favor Two
seen recently were made for the state
rooms OF yachts They are both carved
and tinted.
One chest is built of weathered oak. deep
ly carved and then stained in green and red
Inc design represents mermaids sporting
IN the midst of an ocean forest. Seaweeds
and shells are the most conspicuous fea-
lures in the picture.
Inc other Golfer is of oak, having a gray
finish. 1t is decorated with burnt design.
up the figures. The subject of these decora-
tlons is scene at the court of King Nep-
tune.
Bed room Golfers are usually adorned with
mowers, birds, butterflies or some allegorical
or mythological scene. One small boudoir
chest has representations of Penelope
among her maidens upon it's panels
Through open windows the sprays of the
climbing roses are blown into the room and
the flowers with the garments of the wo-
men are brilliantly colored
Scriptural subjects were painted on some
of the antique chests. and these have been
we'll initiated by modern workmen. The
painted panel is set deep in the wood and
framed by wide band of moldng. Carved
figures, supporting the corners, and elab-
orately designed lids are features of the
painted chests.
Are Heavily Carved.
The most ancient designs are the heavily
carved ones. Those who are versed in the
history of furniture can tell to a nicely the
age of a chest by the style of carving and
quality of the wood. The earlier Renais-
sance specimens are almost priceless, and
even copies of them are expensive. In ap-
pearance they are not unlike coffin. There
is usually a richly carved base, the long
shallow body above it being slightly curved
The lid projects over the body, and is less
deeply cut than the sides.
A more modern Renaissance chest, and a
style which is more frequently copied, is
embellished with small panels, on which
appear conventionalized foliage designs in
line work. The shading is burnt into the
wood.
Gilded and enameled Golfers are also to be
seen, but they are eighteenth century work
and represent the period of decadence.
The modern household Golfer is usually
lined with silk art fabric. Plenty of
tiny pockets are scattered over the lining
and in these are placed sachets for perfum-
ing the contents of the box The chests
are convenient receptacles for linen, bed
clothes, draperies or garments not in use.
Those who can afford cedar chest need
have no fear of moths. Although these
namental boxes cost more than trunks, they
will last a lifetime. They are distinctly
decorative, and may be made to fit any
vacant niche in small room. The price
varies with the style of decoration and
wood Some comparatively inexpen-
sive, while others, good limitations of the
carved antique chest or the gilded and en-
ameled eighteenth century masterpieces,
are valued as most works of art.