The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-01-11
ARTISTIC AND USEFUL
Bellows Tempt the Modern Con-
noisseur In Ancient Furnishings.
SPECIMENS IN RARE DESIGNS.
Tyre Shape Of the Louis XVI. Period
Said to 30 Work of French Ebenists
Jean Observation-Disclosures italian
Ranaissanee Pattern.

Jean Observation-Disclosures Italian
Renaissance Pattern.
Bellows are details of old time fur
nishing which, somewhat curiously,
seem to have escaped the attention OF
many writer's on the furniture Of the
past and to meet with comparatively
slight esteem among the generality Of
modern connoisseurs, and yet il one
begins to take up the subject it is
by no means lacking in interest.
One reason for its being apparently
neglected may possibly be found in the
fact that bellows of the olden time
were such indispensable and constant
~ used members of the family house
hold goods that very few have sur
vived to tell their mute tale of bygone
usefulness. In medieval kitchens Of
the great the bellows blower was
recognized functionary, whose duties,
according to Joinville, probably in
in their revolving wheel cage. And 1t
was not only in the kitchen that the
services Of the bellows were called into
requisition, for the log fires OF the ban
quoting hall and the guest chamber
equally demanded their ministrations,
and the honor in which they were held
before the days Of coal fires Is sufh-
GENTLY indicated by the lavish decora-
ton that was frequently bestowed
upon them. A finely finished pair OF
decorated bellows of the middle ages
will often be found to be worthily rep
resentative Of the furniture style Of its
period. Prominently was this the
case In Italy when, in the exuberant
art of the renaissance, the great mas
tiers themselves did not begrudge their
labors even on the adornment Of such
a comparatively humble detail Of do
nestle plenishing. Some Of the most
exquisite pieces of carved walnut
wood furniture belonging to the Ital-
ian quatero cento and cinque cento
periods are the bellows, a pair Of
which, with wondrously elaborate
Venetian carving, fetched at the IA
nous sale Of the Magniac collection in
1892 no less a sum than $1,000.
Experts abroad often make rare
finds, few of which are here repro
duced. Distinctively renaissance In
character, the Italian type pictured is
Of walnut wood. carved and gilt, with
nozzle Of copper, richly chiseled. The
front is surmounted by a mascheron,
s4k h.
handle. Following the curve at each
side Is a grotesque male torso, termi-
mating in scrolls. and in the center a
winged amorino beneath a garland of
fruit The handle on the reverse side
is formed by a beautiful female head.
crowned and draped, and the central
ornament consists Of a grotesque mas
cheron. its open mouth forming the
wind hole. Scallop shells, scrolls and
draperies surround it. after the style
Of the period, which Incorporated Gu
pids and grotesques, scrolls and flow
ers, draperies and masks, In a wealth
Of decoration. Those of Venetian or
igin are charmingly interesting.
French bellows of the seventeenth
and eighteenth centuries were often of
great beauty. A lovely little pair is
purely Louis Seize In character, with
its severely simple ornament In tulip
wood inla1d on carved mahogany.
Claiming to be the work Of the maitre
ebeniste Jean Demontreuil, 1t Is a de-
parture from the traditional form, sug.
costing Tyre shape. which is empha.
sized by the lines of the inlay taking
the direction of the strings. To bear
ont the resemblance the nozzle Is well
subordinated, being made as short ~
IS possible consistently with its pur-
pose. These are only few examples
Ct the antique bellows.