The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1915-06-04

living rooms Of our houses had bios
somed forth after the black walnut
monstrosities Of an earlier day, home
makers at last woke up 10 the worth
and dignity and beauty of family
heirlooms that had been, alas. given
away or sold for a pittance I'm mo-
ments Of folly, or perhaps more fortu-
nately slowed away In attic or cellar
or barn to make place for some fash
ionable novelty" from furniture fac
tory. One by one these pieces were
brought out from their burial places
tp be refnished and once more accord
ed a place OF honor In the home, and
from the more cultured to the less cul-
tured homes the new interest In all
things colonial spread until when
the 'craze" was at its height small
towns and outlying farmhouses from
way down east to Dixie were pretty
nearly swept clean Of their treasures
by dealers and collectors. And still
the search goes merrily on! The "co-
lonial craze" has come and gone, but
among American people Of fine and
sincere tastes the quest Of the coloni-
ar" must ever prove an inspiration.
Then to have an appropriate setting
for the resurrected heirlooms houses
have been built which have conserved
within them all that was finest and
best Of the colonial period.
The Illustration shown here is OF
colonial seat and staircase In beau
ttfui house, in which both within and
without the quaint charm, the straight
forward sincerity, the rugged yet re-
fined character and unassuming sim
plicity Of that very romantic period
have been preserved.
Colonial furniture and decorations
are not merely part OF our own his
tory, but were derived directly from
the best period Of English art-the
eighteenth century. The sentiment
which clings around the old resurrect-
ed pieces makes an appeal irresistible
to the homemaker who dates her own
ancestry back to colonial days. Fortu-
nately there are faithful reproductions
of authentic colonial furniture TO he
had today, worthy In all respects and
at prices within reach OF the modest
home. Not all that Is labeled colonial
q worthy by any manner or means,
but between the many good reproduc.
lions that can be had. the bargains still
TO be had In antique shops and at auc-
ton sales for those who look long and
hard enough and the "fnds" that even
now reward the dlligent 'fn quest OF
the colonial" there seems to be small
excuse for accepting crude substitutes,
especially in view OF the wonderful
opportunity for studying the best OF
colonial styles which the collections
I'm public museums AFFORD.
What Is colonial furniture2 Every
one has some sort OF ide0 Of what
h meant by this very broad term CO.
lonial, but how many have any def
mite conception OF the word as applied
to q period In the decorative arts In
this country7 Truth Is that In its
ecnerally accepted meaning the coloni-
nj period has come TO include much
NOM than could be brought under Its
literal definition. Strictly speaking.
thIs characterization belongs only to
such furnishings as were imported
into or made In the colonies before
1T76 In our more liberal use Of the
term we class under the broad head
Of colonial furniture all that was used
In this country from the days Of the
early settlers to the end OF the eight
ssnth century, even sometimes step
I'm Svvf fnto tln early pAf OF tbs
1mnh sontnxy.