The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1908-03-29
PAINTED FURNITURE AGAIN
A REVIVAL FOLLOWING THE
VOGUE OF TIE ADAM PERIOD.

mOny Of FittlngS IN Bedroom or BOudOlF
Three Points About Adam Furniture,
The demand for furniture OF the style
designed by the Adam brothers continues
a great - il was twelve months ago and
preposterous prices are still paid for fur
niture Of that period imported from Eng
land. That little Of this furnituss IL really
the work Of Gther Of tho two bsvter known
Adams or Of their disciples 10 we'll known
apparently TO all but the purchasers.
Three facts about the Adam period in
English decoration should be tolerably
familiar TO all by this time, One IL that the
name OF these decorators does not end In
an 81 Yet half the purchasers Of this high
priced furniture refer 10 the style as
Adams Fact No. 2 IL that the period
was a very debased one In interior deoors-
ton, although In architecture II achieved
better results. Fact No. 8 Ia the absolute
falSity Of nearly all the 9o-called Adam
pieces, Most self-respeoting dealers who
offer q piece az Of Adam will on arepetition
Of the question as 10 its sourcs say Period
Of Adam II they are not anxious to mislead
the purchaser.
It seems, however, that very few collec-
tors with money enough 10 buy furniture
Of this fashionable period care whether or
not II 10 genuine. 50 soon as they SEQ birds
eye maple painted with figures or con-
ventionai decorative designs they muir
mur 'Adaml' ecstaically and let II 60 at
that. Thus the dealer is able TO save his
conscience and be merely passively a party
10 the great Adam invasion.
The great majority Of the STUFF that passes
nov for furniture done under the direction
Of the two great brothers ia indeed In their
manner. II follows in detail many Of their
own deslgns IL is not Of course painted by
such artists as Angelica Kaufman and
others who gave TO this furniture most Of
the artistic dignity that it possessed.
Is decoration came from the painters
employed by the English furniture manu-
faeturers that have continued without
interruption 10 turn out so-called Adam
furniture as a standard pattern. Some Of
this output Is naturally older than other
specimens. That produced half a century
ago has claims to antiquity in comparison
with a piece finished last week. But 1t Is
said TO he doubtful II there is in the market
a single specimen that came under the
eye Of either OF the two decorators who
have suddenly acquired a vogue.
'0noe a fashion not founded on the high
est ideals Of taste said a salesman in one
Of the shops on Fifth avenue. gets a hold
on people who are able TO indulge II there
is no telling what It may lead TO.
'0f course my business is merely TO sell
our customers what they want. I'm not
here to try to educate taste. Already ]
note the bad effects Of this Adam craze
on the taste Of our customers.
DO you observe how fashionable painted
furniture IL again becoming? And do you
remember how short a time ago II was
that people arose in their wrath and threw
out all they had Of the old cottage furni-
ture7
until twenty years ago cottage furniture
was accounted one Of the most artistic
blossoms Of mid-victorisn household art.
You must have cen it in the spare room
Of some country house TO which it has been
relocated.
1T was usually in some damp and rather
musty shade Of gray, with flowers or small
landscapes as a decorative scheme at the
top Of the bed, on the doors Of the wash
stand and wardrobe, and on the top rung
Of the chair backs. IL was made OF mex
pensive wood, and the cost OF cottage furni-
ture was not great.
That made il popular with young mar
i'd nnttrlaa Ooi1n 10 hATQAEAaninn Thay I
gradually moved IL along until II passed
from their own to me guests rooms, If they
had any, or TO the nursery.
1T wasn't bad. OF course the highest
standards OF art we're not met by II, but 1t
had some beauty and IL was more APP
propriate 10 It's use than any kind OF Adam
In nine cases out OF ten. But what hap
"The aesthetic craze brought in the taste
for antiques, and then came the rebellion
against black walnut by persons who talked
4 great deal about IL without knowing
thar some Of the most beautiful furniture
In the world was made in that wood. So
furniture was declared hopelessly
Against good taste and il went. So decided
the revulsion against IL that some OF
i even went to the fireplace.
HNow painted furniture il rapidly be-
the rage. II Ia more costly than II
Used to be, largely because everything
more. Perhaps IL il more carefully
ione than the old painted furniture, and I
lave no doubt il is made up in more grace
shapes in some cases
But IL is not in lis general character very
Inherent from the cottage furniture that
vas put out Of sight with the expressed
wonder that one could have stood any
hing 30 tasteless for such a long time
The painted furniture, which 10 likely 20
/, much In demand before many months
AVE assed. comes in various forms.
Of the sete have ornaments Of flow
~ on a white ground Others have porce-
ain patterns, and a favorite style copies
he colors and designs Of the Delft porce-
aims.
Other manufactures Of chlnas are not
Dresden in its Powered patterns I
nd the reddish brown OF the royal Berlin {
actory with It's accompanying landscapes !
z cupids are TO be had, and there are ex- {
Japanese effects. I
This painted furniture need not be made
I the finest woods, but the enamel Is so {
hiok and firm and the painting OF 30 much I
lore elaborate character than that on the
cottage furniture that IL Is not {
as that style used 70 be, for the
IKE OF economy
'0ne charm Of the painted furniture TO a
lany women said the Fifth venue Au- a
lority, lis that II may be had to match g
ractly the color Of the other decorations il
the bedroom or boddoir, and you must '
Understand painted furniture has not as a
OF travelled 10 any other apartments. /
II there 10 a pink wall, for instance, v
nd II 10 intended 10 have hanRings Of the '