Newport daily independent., 1906-04-17
: ',aoE +uRNIrus- .4 ""rs of the aEiddl. Az Arc in Use Among th.
 Eashionables.

ths use of stately aud artistic coffers or chests. reports the Washington Star.
 The danes of the middle ages, who had no convenient bureaus in which to store their 4uery. were dependent upon tue c0ner. Some of these historic chasts ara marvels of Geljcats carving. inlay work and painting. Tho sreatest artists Of Italy did not disGasu to decoaata these receptaCleS.
 So valuable were some ot the coTara that 3 great lady vas considered we!i doweCed T. she resolved one on he. mar rtAge day. IL waa placed in her cham ber, with the great bsdsSsad aud stool or two. which vera the soxa DtahiCgs, Toward the close Of ths eighteenth cen. tury cofers were ali hut disesrdsd Un- til recently 5De5imeaS were Co ba found only ju tue }aG54a;us or old cAat,ss and nanor horses Of Europe.
 Now the taste for antiuus fuCr{t.ra !s bringing the ecfers Aesin into favor. Two seen recently were mad8 fn9 ths state rooms of yacats. To3y a-. both carved and tinted.
 One chest is br;tt ot waatharef oak. deeplY carved and ttlan stained in srasa and red. Tie des1eu represents mer, maids sporting n cha midst R an ocAa3 forest oesweads and sb els are he Fl Hss conspicuous features io ths pjctura.
 The other sGfec IJ of oak, having \ gray finiso. IL ts decorated with d. bucut design Green and tuauvs gtatns arg used to toucb up the figures The suo~ iect of these decorations is | sceas as the court of King Neptuns.
 Bedroom coffers ace usually ador1e1 with flowers. birds, butterflies or sons aiaegorical O. nythoiogicsl scene. Ons srnaH boUdojc cast aas repc 9seutattoos oi Penelope among bar naldens qp1n it's panels. Tar04ga oCen windows the sprays of .he climbing roses ara blown into ths r lotu au1 +ae flowers wjtd tds garments ot cha w1usu ara Brilliantly cotorad4
 ScriptHra. a.oiA;ss wara painted on soue ot tde auts.t1;A hasts. aod taAss nave bseC we, :mi at9d by med arn woekmeu. The 2ain .ed pane( ;s set deep in the wood ard t~a med by wide band ot moidjrs Ca,ve3 figures. supporting the corners au4 ., tborafaly designed lids are telttISas 1f tia patnteG chests
 Ths most ancient designs ara tas heavily carved ones Thosa wd3 a-s versed in ths history Of eQruituCa caa tall to niGety cha ga 2t l ada3s by tas style d carving aud quality Of .le Nood The cartier Renaissance specineC4 ara almost pr,cetess, aa; eveo copies os them arg expensive '; appearance ther are not unLllle 3 coffin Thers ts ISGaiiy q richly carved base. he long shallow body aboye t being ;. ,sbtiy curved. Ehs lid projects over tda body. ant $ Ie; [ deeply cut than thA s;des-
 A more modern Ren aissanae c1asc- and a style which is more frequently copied is emhetljshed with small panels, on which appear couveutjouatized fott- age designs ia line work. The shading Is burnt into tae wood
 Gilded and enam aiet coEArs .re asa to be seen. but tdey are eighteenth can- sury work and represent the period ot decadeuce.
 The modern househotd cofrar ts usIai- iy Nned with silk or au art fabric Plenty ef tiny pockets are scattered over ths lining, and in these are placed sacheta for pertaining the contents of the box, The chests are convenient receptacles for linen, bedcIothes, dcaperies or gar- ments not in use.
 Those who can afford a cedar chest need have no fear of moths Although these ornamental boxes cost more than trunks, they will last 8 lifetime. They are distinctly decorative, and may be made to fit any vacant niche in 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 eaameled eight~ eenth century masterpieces are valued as are most works of art.