Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-02-04

WASil1NtiTON. H. G.. February a.
nc AMERICAN rrnzc for historic an
'hIuc furniture is rapidly dying out
according; TO recent reports from Euro
pcan antique dealers. Not tina, wc nr,
becoming modcrnsts in the matter of
furniture. The antique is Still in great
demand: but IL doca not have to be HIS
toric. II does not have to he !, black
cnch and dccrcpit relic of the cour, OF
Marie hnt"incttc or Mary Tudor to
make il acceptable in the eyes of tho
American HOUSEHOLDER who has learned
by sad experience" tho doubtful nature
OF such representations At last our
suspicious aa we'll as our common sens.
have bccn aroused. and now when we
pay high prices for antiques they are
often either made To order by modern
cabinctnakc,S OF imported from in
Stituti"ns no more ancient than our
own furniture factories in chicago OF
Grand Rapids or Rock yford
OF course. there viii always be Amor
tr"n collectors who take an unmiti-
gated JOY III collecting ancient and bat
ilc-Scarrch furnitur" merely as curi-
"s'tics FOR public or private museums.
hut the laNmau is beginning To realize
that such pieces usually do no, add :,
great deal To the decorative scheme Of
ms house. For many years Americans
nave exhibited n inalia for possessing
old historical relics that has made them
tn" delightful prey Of alleged antique
mirrors beds leads. sidcDoards and
chests have been dug mp from the soil
"f Europe. belonging to anybody from
.\l"Xand1r the Great t. the Duke Of
buckingham. according 20 the crcduli!y
ot the purchaser. Made out OF Old ma
h"eany walnut doors ana treated
with acids and large portions Of black
oaItrl we'll rubbed in these specimens
We're certainly Anticipated enough In
appearance. aud rarely failed 10 inspire
TIA" admiration OF the American tourist.
NaripuS women with fortunes. dc sir
oUs OF SOCIAL fame. s;r0vc. by diligcnt
Efforts abroad. 10 furnish their mouse,
with historic pieces collected from dif-
i"r"ut periods and sources. thereby
gaiun. much publicity. The Suuda Y
supplements gave long illustrated &C.
counts % the extraordinary history or
the accumulated pieces. which were
reprinted in the papers back home
and To value Of the historic antique
grew out Of all proportion. Farmers
with anci.ut walnut Dcdstcads OF mar
h."-toppcd mahogany tables bc"tirrcG
their rus;i" !inacinat!ous 70. suitable
histories 10 accompany them. ana made
enough from tho sale of such furni-
tuIo 10 II, 'hc mortgage off The farm.
{ The fact that such antiques were in
convenient for modern use ana Otter.
incrcdibly clumSy and uely seemed q,
have l!tt!" or no cffcc, upon he on.
IhhSsh0ii ~ inc owner.
'hnnred With Generation
With Ia" rise Of the rising genera.
ton. however. cam"--it might 20 sale.
relief III" vcncration OF ancient
tradition aud The blind workshop o,
hiSto!"a. association have but n srunI,
p!ac" !u Tho III. or the Younger 60,
The Younger 50; is critical beyond IT.
years nnd mas q diSconc.rtin2 habit
OF requiring :" hc shown. The fis,
d =
c"up." 81 years ago. whc, tho chill
dr"n. returning from college. g,ar,c,I
gain: WtElnSly ~ tho family Italian
Renaissance collection and saying
Gee whiz, Why don, YOU put thnt
! junk up ia til. attic-i; MAY b.. .n.
c.cnt but u ism. art
-" from tn" artistic. rs well 49, from
the rt,li'ariau. standpoint q Erou; d.a,
OF historic antique furniture is = fai,-
| ni" some old pieces. L, IS true. arc
magnificent. hut the same designs
( copied 10y modern abinetinakcrs look
! Just rs vel. and will doubtless last
/ !"hScr II is often asserted tEa; no
! modern furniture IL made "a car.rr,li,.
ana cNpcrtlN as that OF the early Jn,s-
I contention that is emphntjcaih de
h'"d by modern cabinctmakcrs Wuil.
u IS Yea Sonable {" suppose tina, fac
t"rN-nad" furniture might f.i, 10
pieces quicker than that made by haur
II seems quite likely that tho modern
CA bin"t!nakcrs arc often as ylile.
workmen az their great
especially since 50 many mistakes o.,
TINS point are made
Even tonnoIsscurs Fooled
Not long ago. "a Young woman IN ru,.
,iSh'n" her house thought She would
iik" I" have an antique divan for no,
lINins-roon. so She selected the design
Sh" wanted ana gave ii to a local a.; hi :
hctmtlt"r for construction. The sides
we're I" he deliberately carved ON. d,y
wien the scat had been finished and
was Standin: il the living room /.
friend Of tbs family. who was also a
furniture connoiSSeul'. came 10 call. and
was Immediately fascinated by the new
seat Where did YOU get this I'm. old
piece he asiicd tho yo,mg woman
"nthuSiastical!y. =" see II she could
fool him. the owner said She had found
II IN Virginia. NY. MY. they don,
make any furnitur. like this now
! adays,' dcplorcd the cunnoiss-ur. strok
! ing its carved sides rcvercn;ly
Hence, gradually. il has dawned upon
! The American householder that TO So.
: lc"t III" antique patterns that he like
( and have his furniture made 10 order
! is better than paying several hundred
! dollars fo' historical association. which
I half Of the time turns out To be a fake