Newport daily independent., 1906-04-09
Bedroom Golfers of the Mrc -..., Are in Use Among tha x
 EashiorablaS.

The feminine world is again taking to tho 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 fnery, were dependent upon the coffer Some of these historic chests are marveIs of delicate carving. inlay work ahd painting. The greatest artists Of Italy cid not disdaio to decorate thaSs reGepta Gles.
 So valuable were some of the coffers that a great lady was co. 'dered we'll doWertG if she received one her mar riage day, It was placed in her cha1- Der, With the great bedstsad and stop. or two. hich were the soSs furnishings, Toward the close of tho eighteenth ce1- tury coffers were all but discarded. Un- til recently specimens were to bs found onjy in the museums or old castles and manor houses of Europe
 Now the taste for antique rurniturs is bringing the coffers again into fav9c. Two seen recently were made for tns state rooms of yachts, They are both carved and tinted.
 One chest is butt oe weathecad oak, deeply carved and then stained in green and ,ed. The design represents mer- maids sporting i q the midst of an ocean fores+. tSeaWeeds and sh els are the ID aa: conspicuous features in the picture.
 The other coffer Is of oak, having a gray finish. It is decorated with a burnt design. Green and mauvs stains ars used to touch ID the figures. The sub- !ect of these decorations is | scena as the court of King Neptune
 Bedroom coTers are usually adorned with flowers. birds, butterflies or soma aliegorical or physiological scene. Ona small boUdoir caest has representations of Pen$l >oe among her maideus up0a tts panels. Through open windows tds sprays of the climbing roses are blown into tue room and the flowers with ths garments Of the women are brilliantly colored.
 ScriptursI subjects were paInted oa some of the antique chests. and these have been welt initiated b9 modern workmen. The painted panel Is set deep ta the wood and framed by wide band of nloldlng. Carved figures, supporting the coyners. and eLaborate1y designed lids are features of the painted chests
 The most ancient designs are tds heavily carved ones, Those who are versei in the history of furuitura ca2 tell to a nicety the age of 8 chest by ths style of carving and quality of the wool. The earlier Renaissance specimens ara almost priceless, and even copies os them are expensive. Tn appearance they are not unlike coffin. There is usually q richly carved base, the long shallow body above it being slightly curved. Th4 lid projects over the body, and is Lass deeply cut than the sides
 more modern Renaissance chest and a style which is more frequently copied, $ embeilisted with small panels. on which appear conventionalized foIi- age designs in line work. The shading Is burnt into the wood.
 Giided and enameled coffers are a;ss to be seen, but they are eighteenth sen- tury work aud represent the period 1. decadence.
 The modern househo[1 coffGr is us'ta.- ay Nned with silk or n art fabric. Plenty Of tiny pockets are scattered oyer ths lining, and in these are placed sachets fer pertaining thA contents of the box. The chests ace convenient receptacles for linen. bedcIoth9s, draperies or gac- nants not in use.
 Those who can afford a cedar chest reed have no fear of moths, Although tAasA ornam ental boxes cost more than trunks, they wifi 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 styla Of decoration and wood. Some are com- paratively inexpensive, while others. good limitations of the carved antiqus chest or the gilded and enameled eight eesitn century masterpieces, are valued