Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-03-11
M ATCH FURNISHINGS
PERIOD DECORATIONS ARE RE-
PRODUCED ON PIANO CASES.
Louis XIV Styles in Delicately Tinted
Woods-Mother-o Pearl in
.Inlaid Keys.

Written for The Evening Star
New pianos are welcomed with so much
genuine pleasure that the plainness and I'M
gGir illness of their huge cases have long
passed unnoticed. With the tremendous
strides in grace and symmetry which furni-
ture has taken, miladi of artistic tenden-
cies has begun to realize the need of less
straight and uncompromising lines in her
piano. But this bulky instrument Is most
difficult of ornamentation because of the
danger of impairing its acoustic qualities.
The piano case is today much in har-
mcny with the decorative scheme of a room
are any of it's other furnishings. If a
music room is appointed in Louis XIV style
the wood of the piano case is gilded or deli
cately tinted to match the soft colorings of
the walls and eXquisiteiy painted with flow
er garlandS. Or if the more severe decora-
tons of the English Sheraton employed
the case is inlaid in most minute designs
of lighter or darker woods. Where no par
ticular period style is used, the piano case
closely resembles the castings and holdings
of the side walls. $40
A striking example of these beautiful
wood cases shows the curving grain SO per-
fectly Joined as to give the effect of an
enormous tiger skin extending over the
long back of a grand piano In a room fur
nished with mahogany the piano has the
sides of its mahogany case outlined with
veneer of lighter wood carved to show
small roses. The edges of the wide cover
are also veneered with a narrow band of
blossoms. Mahogany cases in dull finish
are heavily ornamented with bronze in most
artistic castings, showing cupidS or various
musical instruments.
In Harmony.
The deep red hangings of a music room
belonging in the home of a well-known
millionaire set off a mahogany piano case
which has its highly polished cover almost
hidden beneath chrysanthemum blooms of
variegated but harmonious colors. The
blossoms are painted in natural size and
stand out If ready to be plucked. The
music rack is also decorated with chrysan-
themums, and the candlestick on either side
is topped with shade of opaque glass SIM
ulating these glorious autumn blossoms.
Another case designed for a room pam
eled in blue was finished in a delicate
shade of blue. highly lacquered. paint
ing by Mozart playing duets with his sis
ter decorated the center of the broad cover,
it's white background gradually blending
into the blue of the outer edge. The work
on such case as this runs into the ten
thousand figures, and the painting itself is
often a rare piece of art.
Upright pianos are transformed by hav-
ing the panels inset with paintings or in
laid designs, and the keys are sometimes
Candles lighted by electric lights make a
useful ornament and throw splendid light
on dancing black notes
All sorts of devices are employed to
break the severe and awkward lines of both
the upright and grand piano. The famous
concert grand of leading American firm
has its long expanscs so skillfully curved
as to give the appearance of being no
larger than an infant grand, and it's size
would deceive the most accurate eye.