The Washington herald., 1921-04-03
Greece Gives Us Our Styles
Bu William A. McGarru

has found out that his own imarinstiou ana
technical knowledge take FIRE more rspidly
when kindled BY museum opportunities.
European designers, knowinr perh,p.
more certainly than we, that all art In re-
lated with that which has preceded il
have never hesitsted to make full use Of
their great museum collections. Each an,
and time has laid its particular stone upon
the foundation we know a. besnty and each
stone has bad its value in the structure:
absurd 1t Is to Try to sweep aside this dow
builded creation, and yet there have beer
many recent attempts to do %. Tbese ar.
responsible for the bad art which from
time to time has descended upon US Such
departures will not be made when rueh
a cultural campaign as is now being vsred
by museum, designer and manufacture.
reaches the full climsI Of its capacity.
"A particular instance may be citsd In .
group OF young girls, all students Of the
Philadelphia s hool Of Design for Women
in the class Of costume desisn and fIlus-
tration, and their unique work done at the
University Museum. These students came
to the museum with q definite problem; their
instructor had told them to design a rcvn.
the inspiration for color and line for th.
garment to be obtained from sonethins ip
the museums varied collections. Thoush
this was the FIRST experience Of the cl.ss-
the results in many instances were charm.
ing aod their inspiration in several cs,e,
was drawn from sources supposedly rsouir-l
ing sophisticated attention. II Ia hiehly
gratifying to a teacher when a frst-yes,
student produces as creditable q desirn n,
that OF the young woman who found in
the Chinese stone statue Of Bodhisstty.
lines that were admirably suited 10 tb.
design OF tea gown and who adapted the
same for her design, using as q color scben.
the color notes found in q particularly
lovely bit of Roman rlass
A T LATER visits, Greek vases furnished
L ideas both in line and color for snoci,
and tunics, and Chinese porcelain, ana
enamels gave rich suggestion for color scherp.
and ornament for many q fown. A treat
scource of delight and q veritable mine al
suggestions were found in the rroun ~
Peruvian textiles in which the museum 4,
particularly rich. The Coptic textjle,
proved to be a source Of pleasure to m.py
who were interested In creating deerns
that involved the use Of embroidery. A
fashionable flet crochet sweater was drrir.S
from the pattern and weave Of one Peyuvi.,
textile and the museum became q nav th;n.
to many OF the girls, because of this sinn,s
Investigation which showed how the AFT,
and crafts Of yesterday might be Hnhed vit,
the dress and occupations Of today.
The better known class Of de,,r,., a..
designers Of silks, wall paper, russ. t,.t,I..
tor decorative purposes such a cre.onn..
orocades, ehintzes, lace curtains. az ma
Unitarian products ss linoleuu, ana =,
eiOtn' Is much more in the public eye bec,u.
ms result is ever with rs In its nspy
euises. 10 him the museum ofers n y,r,
fertile held, as almost every pisc, Of t..t;l.
or ceramic offers . suggestion. surr,,tion,
OF designs for printed foulards were d.r,,.d
from some Of the blue and whit, ch,n...
porcelains- The design 10 not copied ~
ciseiy as seen upon the porcelain. hrt
adapted % as better 10 suit its uss NM.
the surface Of silk a. q piece Of fem,n,,.
apparel. The taste Of the DESIGNER ,nS
his power Of selection must alv.y, -.
into play In such sdaptations, for he nust
preserve the distinctive character of a.
motif and At the same time maks IL sppr.-
pirate for the new use.
"Rhodian ware oners 30 manufsef,r.
OF household china q stimulstips col,r
scheme for use In breakfast sets, ma tAs
horal motifs Of the same, especially tAs
Rhodian lily. lend an sir Of srscs tAss
IL very plssx.-s.'