South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-05-02
OldF ashionedSofa
Makes New Debut

Have you al old-faShioned sofa
In your home? If so. get 1t out. for
this piece OF furniture has come in
TO its own through the fashion or
Incorporating bits OF old architec-
ture and furniture into our ZOth
century homes. Some Of these old
fashioned sofas were designed by
the old masters. Fortunately, many
Of these stood the test Of years and
stand today a representative or the
periods TO which we are constantly
turning for correct copy.
When the interior decorator Is
called in 70 restore or create a ne"
room. he at once begins TO select
the old furniture. which will give
the room a homelike atmosphere.
The rapid stride that has been
made in interior decoration within
the last few years has proved with
out a doubt that Il IS essential to
| have few well-selected pieces OF
| furniture, instead of, as in olden
times. conglomerate mass OF un-
related bits which give to the home
| a restless appearance.
OF course. one must first consld-
/ er the ceilings and walls. and that
every feature should harmonic.
one decorator experimental with
a Louis Seize sofa. He placed II
against the wall OF a room which
/ had a tapestry background. He
covered ii with light blue brocade.
piled il high with soft, dOwny cush-
1 ions of the same hue. and il imme-
/ diately added a note of interest and
/ color TO the room which otherwise
/ would have been lost
Another old sofa, which was
I painted, was covered with bright
/ chintz cushions This adds a note
| of color TO the living room.
/ In some of our older homes. in
/ the hallway, are those American
! Empire sofas Of dignifed lines. They
/ are seen TO their best advantage
when used against a background OF
/ white paneling.
For some time the public has
/ been demanding better and moro
/ appropriate furniture for their
! homes. and much of the present
/ day furniture has been copied from
| museum pieces or adopted from
them TO conform to the period ex-
| plotted.
Classic Era.
Let us take for instance the
! classic era, where the dignity and
! simplicity of the furniture were
we'll worthy Of imitation. In the
! Renaissance. many motifs had their
\ origin in the classic designs, with
] possibly a more COlorful treatment
also applied with freer hand.
! he borrowed some ideas from the
/ Chinese and some from the Louis
! XVI periods. His designs had a
| dignity and subtle elegance shown
by no other artist in the furniture
/ world Many Of his pieces were
made Of mahogany, others of wal
! nut or rosewood, each one finished
! Of detail that make them particul-
| arly effective against the white
wainscOt of the modified colonial
/ house today.
If YOU are fortunate enough to
own a Duncan Phyle sofa it is in
/ deed a treasure. They are distin-
! guished for their sweeping curves,
wonderful proportions and charm
! ing details The legs of his sofas,
delicate in design, sweep outward
with infinite grace and show a con-
! cave curve which makes them with
out duplication at the present time,
as he never copied from his pre-
deceSsOrs.
He kept to his delicate treatment
in his use of brass ornamentation,
which was his special craft, in spite
/ OF the demand for Empire during
his day.
ShOddy Pieces Go.
Today we are eliminating the
! cheap and shoddy pieces which
were 50 prevalent several years ago,
replacing them with practical, we'll
designed furniture, thus creating
more home-like rooms.
Sofas are less cumbersome than