New-York tribune., 1905-08-15
DOMESTIC ART In PARIS.
Utility, Combined Scith Elegance, the
Chief Characteristic.
Paris, August !.

august l.
& American visitors to Paris have been caught
this week in a heat wave. All day the sun SHINES
with blistering force Those persons kept by
business in the capital and compelled to go
abroad in the daytime flock to the little piers
which are sprnkled thickly all along both banks
of the Seine and travel as much as possible by
water rather than by tram and omnibus. Inc
swiftly moving boats carry with them ue-
licious little breeze. while the striped awnings
keep off the sun. The Parisians accommodate
themselves quickly TO altered conditions anu
bring an astonishing amount OF arusuc IN
sgenuty to bear upon their every day tasks
II IS not easy in a Paris apartment seIl-
contained fat on one story-unless said apart
anent be built on a very handsome scale-to ig-
more the presence and proximity OF the kltcheh
stove. however discreetly il may be managed
In these hot days, therefore. the Paris house
keeper seeks TO minimize the number OF min
s,tes during which the preparation of the family
k.neals calls for heat Beginning with iced melon
and ending with salad and fruit-(excellent
peaches are being sold in the streets at cents
apiece)-the inevitable outlet which must be
.xot in somewhere can here be cooked in a clever
little contrivance requiring neither gas, spirit
nor fuel of any sort Tearing up the halfpenny
newspaper Of yesterdays date into small slips.
they are packed into a little pan of aluminium
white metal. which fits beneath a second vessel
sh&llOWeT make, IN winch the cutlel is placed
The paper is then lighted. and when all the
slips are consumed the outlet is cooked while
the temperature Of the kitchen or dining room is
not raised a whit
From the intelligent and artistic use made by
the French Of any and every class OF the uten-
Kils they find ready TO their hand IL is only a
step the artistic skill bestowed by French
sNvorkInen on the utensils themselves and the
little show now open in the Galliera Museum is
well worth a visit from this point OF view. The
building is almost as cool a the Louvre. and
The TWO halls devoted TO the exhibition
allied with beautiful specimens Of the metal
workers art applied TO articles OF domestic
use The materials used are iron, tin. pewter.
steel. with decorations of brass. copper and. in
some instances Of gold. Many OF the models
have been purchased this week by American
firms. A wealth Of charming fancy has been
s1Rvished Of those things which used
20 constantly and unconscously that they strike
a surprisingly new note when treated in this
decorative way. An elevator door in iron, with
sornaments Of pale brass shows graceful a
design that IL would even reconcile busy
ITO one OF those inopportune halts which
common IN hydraulic lifts IN dry weather here.
Half way between two stories. with help in
sight, a half hour could be pleasantly passed In
deciphering the intricacies Of the work which
finishes in triumphant garland of flowers car
.1led high up to side in a Louis XVI style.
The whole Of the centre of the gate from top
TO bottom is wrought from single piece Of
metal. as are the two Sides and the interlacng
Of buds and tendrils is skilfully and ingeniousy
executed. A replica of this has been secured
for a wealthy resident Of Boston.
Electric candelabra have received a good deal
OF attention from artists. one of the daintiest
shown here was a branch of fuchsia, the tiny
globe containing the electric wire forming the
heart Of the cayx.
Finger plates for doors and cuphOards. window
bolts. hinges keys and key holes fire dogs and
trays: such things these are well represented.
rOf obvious utility. every school Of arts and crafts
1latura'ly sets its pupils to work them. More
original are the ornaments exposed in a hand
some wrought iron stand, by Brosset, consisting
OF a bracelet and watch Of steel. with gold in
ciusjations. OF the finest workmanship, these
objects are perhaps more curious than beautiful.
The character Of steel is so essentially severe
that it does not lend itself gracefully articles
OF personal adornment.
In another stand devoted TO pewter work is an
article which rivets the attention. 1t is the
figure OF a monk, Of about a foot IN height, his
smoothly finished and polished draperies hang
ing in straight folds TO his feet On his head
1here is a ring. evidently pick him up by and
beneath his chin small crack is apparent,
which seems 10 indicate that the head unscrews.
What he be meant for? A glance the
catalogue tells you. II is a 'bouillote' a hot
wGter bottle, destined 10 warm some ones bed.
Gould art and utility be subtly combined?
The little figure is more characteristic than any
other thing In the room only French artist
could have produced anything witty
and SO elegant It is perfectly adapted to the
object it is intended TO serve. and this is the
quality which characterizes the best Partisan
work
This is indeed the secret of art. and il is her
gecogniton Of this truth that makes the French
woman the best dressed in Europe. Her
COS umes are perfectly designed to suit the
cas- which they are be worn, and any
aone who is daily handling French contrivances
and Implements cannot fail TO be impressed by
.the same han mark. Utility is sacrificed
40 elegance: il must be combined with II, and the
-workm9u q has here a sureness OF touch which is
astounding. The wrought iron show drives home
Ihis truth 10 the foreigner in few minutes
c. I. B.