Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-11-19
What Is Fit

- w udL lS EiI-
Is fine," is a problem which needs to be
kept In mind in admitting ornaments to
the house, and especially to the room which
does duty for both parlor and living room
Ornaments are of two kinds, objects of art,
as a picture a vase, or a bit or sculpture;
and the useful things, as clocks. lamps.
desk furnishings and book bindings and
holders The last generally are the best
ornaments the room contains, because they
are selected from motives Of need and fit
into certain uses and places.
1t Is not necessary that an ornament
should be costly TO be worthy of the name.
On the contrary, many comparatively mex
pensive trifes may be artistic. but 1t is nee
essary to remember that each one should
not only be beautiful in itself but must
also be of value to the scheme of decora-
ton
Any color need may be met in artistic pot
teries where there are many selections at
small cost, especially in the beautiful and
inexpensive American kinds. In a room
which is kept to one or two harmonious col
ors one good piece of pottery may be made
to raise the whole room from the level of
the ordinary of that of distinct beauty sim
ply by intensifying the color tone.
The relation to the whole must be main
ly effected in the color, and a general fit
ness, as keeping to one period and country,
is only possible to the continuous art stu
dent
But IT, when buying with definite ideas Of
color and effect, one follows the rule of in
sisting upon obtaining a bit Of china or
pottery which is of the distinctive style Of
the factory by which 1t was made, there is
great step gained. For instance. If the
green's and grays of a bit of Wedgwood
should fit into niche of your room you
will find just now particularly a greater Sc
lection in a snowy pottery which initiates 1t
In colors and treatment, but which runs to
fantastic shapes and to a ford Italian
" IN, ne rlyY ynrlr no onht 81
sociating each piece ever so slightly with
its make and history soon brings the dis
elimination which makes this piece a bor-
ror, while the other Is an endless satisfac-
ton.
There always is a meaning and express
sion to a piece as made by its originat tor
which Is absent from the imitation For
instance, the high glazed Copenhagen and
faience of other northern countries have
the grays and cold blues and whites of
their atmosphere. 1t also has the conyen-
tionalized patterns of the sparse animal
and vegetable life OF northern lands The
clever limitations which the Austrian net
teries have worked out on similar lines
fail to suggest this, although its work NAV
satlate the eye with attractiveness and
color :
The observer who trusts to the feeling
that he has for thing when he looks at tx
is IN fair way to become a connoisselIr
without knowing why the eye fingers and
the mind focuses upon the good while 1t
- confused Dy the oVerornate.
One
Presiding over the pincushion table of a
church bazaar had happy thought for the
securing of novelties. She sent out cards
announcing their selection to those she
wanted for her table, and requested their
presence at an at home for an earlier date.
This was to be competition party. the
conditions of which were set forth clearly
on the cards. Each was requested to bring
one or more pincushions the most novel
they could either make or buy. For the
most original and unique cushion there was
to be a prize. The contest brought out a
collection with features OF menagerie, a
circus and market. Hanging lobster
claws heavy elephants standing or sit
ting and gayly caparisoned hunters In
company with crowd of animals dressed
UP. pineushions In the new and popular
Red Riding Hood coats, and in fact all the