The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-03-23

housekeeping time being near at hand
the thoughts of the housewife are turning
to dreams of new furnishings and draper
les Ii she visits the third floor of the l..
S. Ayres & Co. store this week she will find
an array of lovely things to beautify her
home that will make her believe that her
very best dreams have come true.
The art floor of the store is having its
spring showing of new things, some of
which are priceless antiques. this week,
and there is all manner of beautiful and
exclusive pieces of furniture, drapery and
ornaments to be found there. The little
green room is a treasure-house of beautiful
things. it's furnishings including a great
chest of Italian oak wonderfully carved
with watchful dragons apd graceful scrolls.
thrown out by the background of bright
gold. The key is a fitting 'opeE sesame"
to the chest-quaint and big and long. as
though it were the key to untold treasures.
A screen brought from Burmah is of cigar
wood cunningly carved with heads and
figures of idols and animals and mass OF
lacework. In the center is hung big round
gong with its padded stick, which serves
now as a dinner gong, whatever its primal
purpose may have been. a curious chair
of japanese redwood has a curly dragon
for the back and the fierce head protruding
at one side makes the thing fascinating. A
table of Italian walnut and a hall piece of
Italian oak are deliberately carved. One of
the handsomest things in the room is an
immense mirror and table of deliberately
carved Florentine design.
A number of carved teakwood tables are
shown, one of especial beauty having a bor-
der Of carving as fine as lacework, and
its support is a trio of carved dragons. A
library table of Italian walnut, handsomely
carved a pedestal of griffin design, and a
carved chandelier are among the other
handsome pieces of furniture.
Quite in contrast TO the antique pieces
is the showing of 'Crex' furniture fash
toned from Minnesota grass. All kinds of
pretty things woven from this prairie grass
are shown-not only porch swings and
rockers and porch rugs, but fancy chairs.
settees of artistic design, tabourettes,
tables and footstools, all fit for the daintiest
of summer drawing rooms. When the
..Crex" furniture was first introduced sew
eral wears ago there was an impression that
il might be satisfactory as porch furniture.
but that il would have no lasting beauty or
seryiceability, but the furniture has proved
itself far nearer to being thing of beauty
and a Joy forever than even its admirers
dared hope ii would be.
HANDSOME LAMPS SHOWN.
Lamps of all designs are an important
part of the showing. A number of hand
some pieces of the effective Barbadienne
bronze, an American bronze of exceptional
artistic value. are shown. one handsome
lamp is set in a bowl of the bronze, the
lamp itself an urn of Japanese brass. An
other lamp is a tall urn of East Indian
design, of hammered and cut brass, sur
mounted by a japanese shade. The hand
some shades of lowered designs with heavy
frinees of translucent beads in rich colors
are special features of the department
In draperies there are the exquisite cut
yelours the French tapestries and the en-
broidered silks. In the Aubisson tapestries
shown The tapestry is entirely hand work
OF exquisite design and finish and a set of
a sofa and four chairs costs s. 100. Benga-
line silk portiers embroidered i'm any chosen
color TO order, art noveau silks double in
texture and woven in artistic designs In
shades of blue. green and lavender, and en-
broidered tapestries are shown for draperies
or for furniture.
4 pretty idea in curtains has the body OF
silk with a border of lace and Irish applique
To take the place Of the more familiar lace
curtain and its overdrapery. The curtains
are made TO order IN any color.
,,o1de ess design and chamber curtains of
French lace and insertion are among the
lace draperies.- The wallpapers shown are
of the latest designs, which tend toward
large patterns and gorgeous colorings.
chintzes and taffetas for hangings and fur
niture are shown in patterns which match
the paper designs
\ newer note in furnishing. however. is