The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-06-17
AN ADAM DINING o o

Adam mantel was a very marked feature
Of the rooms Observation-Disclosures, urns
and other decorations Of a portable char
acter. There are many Adam mantles in
the New York shops and their number is
likely to increase 80 long as the fashion con-
tinues in favor. They are manufactured
now In great numbers in England.
The Adam houses are certain to be a relief
from the monotony Of French exteriors
which have during recent years grown 80
numerous in New York. The two Adam
houses recently built are very similar in
design, to judge from their facades, but
there must be resemblance in all Of them,
as very few contrasts are possible in Georg-
ian architecture.
The Adam houses are the most character
istic in the London streets. The Adelphi
terrace, which they designed, got its name
from the fact that it was the work of the
two br~other-ddel phoi-architects.
When a certain kind Of furniture becomes
so popular as Adam is and Empire was,
most Of its buyers do not seem to care very
much whether 1t is genuine or not. or
course there was a great deal of Adam
furniture manufactured in London during
the lifetime of the brothers and their habit
Of overseeing every part Of the equipment
of the houses they built has left many speci-
mems of their handiwork.
1t is easily possible that there are many
genuine specimens Of their work in existence;
but not one-third of the stuff which has
been added to the visible supply during the
past two years is regarded as genuine by
the honest dealers.
-. --,. n -xz - L--- III
to THE SUN reporter, that the Adam de-
signs have been for the past century a
standard PATTERN with most of the English
furniture makers. For the past forty years
the big English manufacturers have turned
out so-called Adam furniture in large guam
titles.
$50, of course, there is plenty Of that kind
of furniture to be had. When it gets a few
years old and looks a little worn it can read
lily pass as the work Of the Adam brothers,
particularly with women
Real Adam furniture Of the finest kind
with decorations by the best painters is
almost impossible to get hold Of, and very
expensive when il does come into the mar
ket. The majority of the Adam furniture
offered here now is the product OF factories
that came into existence long after the two
designers had ceased from their labors.
"The Adam mantels sold for two or three
hundred dollars are in very few cases genu-
inc. Adam brought from Italy the method
OF using stucoo in his decorations and that
was the material from which many Of the
mantels we're made.
at is very easy to copy the design and
mould as many of them as there is call for.
These may be limitations, but they are never
theless very graceful and pretty.
Adam upholstery stuffs are practically
impossible to get. The two not only de-
signed a chair but the cover for II as well.
One Adam chair that / know Of with the
original covering for 1t designed by Robert
Adam is in the museum at the Cooper In
stitute. Some Of these stuffs, which always
followed the pattern Of the decoration, have
also been copied by the makers Of the pres
ent day and very fair limitations Of the
genuine Adam goods are TO be had.
Il do not personally believe that the Adam
craze will last very long. Some Of the
effects that were most admired In the time