Newport daily independent., 1905-05-25
ANTIQUE FURNITURE AGAIN.
Bedroom Golfers of the Middle Age1 Are in Use Among the
 Fashionables.

ue LcHlulut WOllu ID dSdAu Idhlu6 UU the use of stately and artistic coffers or chests, reports the Washington Star.
 The danes of the middle ages, who had no convenient bureaus in which to store their finery, were dependent upon the coffer. 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 receptacles.
 So valuable were some of the coffers that great lady was considered well lowered if she received one on her mar riage day. It was placed in her cham Der, with the great bedstead and stool or two, which were the sole furnishings. Toward the close of the eighteenth cen- tury coffers were all but discarded. Un- til 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 coffers 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, deeply carved and then stained in green and red. The design represents mer- maids sporting in the midst of an ocean forest Seaweeds and shells are the most conspicuous features in the picture.
 The other coffer is of oak, having Q gray finish. It is decorated with burnt design. Green and mauve stains arc used to touch up the figures. The sub. 1ect of these decorations Is . scene at the court of King Neptune
 Bedroom coffers are usually adorned with flowers. birds, butterflies or some allegorical or mythologicaI scene. One small boudoir chest has representations of Penelope among her maidens upon its panels. Through open windows tho sprays of the climbing roses are blown into the room and the flowers with tho garments of the women are brilliantly colored.
 Scriptural subjects wore painted on some of the antique chests and these have been well initiated by modern workmen The painted panel is set deep in the wood and framed by a wide band of molding. Carved figures, supporting the corners, and elaborately designed lids are features of the painted chests.
 The most ancient designs are ths heavily carved ones. Those who are versed in the history of furniture can tell to . nicety the age of a chest by ths style of carving and quality of the wood. The earlier Renaissance specimens are almost priceless. and even copies of them are expensive. In appearance they are not unlike coffin. There Is usually . r1chly 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.
 A more modern Renaissance chest, and 3 style which Is more frequently copied. is embellished with small panels. on which appear conventionalized foIi- age designs in line work. The shading Is burnt into the wood.
 Gilded and enameled coffers are also to be seen, but they are eighteenth cen- tury work and represent the period of dscadence.
 The modern household coffer Is usual- ly lined with silk or an art fabric. Plenty of tiny pockets are scattered over the lining. and in these are placed sachets for pertaining the contents of the box. The chests are convenient receptacles for linen. bedclothes, draperIes or gar- ments not tn use.
 Those who can afford cedar chest need have no fear of moths Although these ornamental boxes cost more than trunks. they will last a lifetime. They are distinctly decorative, and may be made to fit any vacant niche in a small room. The price varies with the style of decoration and wood. Some are com- paratively inexpensive, while others, good limitations of the carved antique chest or the gilded and enameled eight eenth century masterpieces, are valued as are most works of art