Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1922-08-30

ago a customer happened TO step into
4 picture frame store in this city and
ask the young son OF the proprietor
II ne could make a pair OF those new
tangled plaster book-ends which were
In some Of the novelty shops then be-
ginning TO spring up In washington.
The young clerk scratched his head
ana said he "reckoned" he could.
From that accepted commission has
grown up in half dozen years ono Of
the largest businesses in tho world
which has for it's purpose tho bringing
Of really nne art within reach OF the
people.
The clerk ala not realize then, when
the customer made his unusual re-
quest, that destiny had stepped In
through the door OF the dusky little
shop; yet today. six years later. Frank
NiepoId, tho former clerk, has wide
! recognition M an artist with genu-
| Inc talent. Wealth is coming 10 him
Such critics as John Sargent. tho IA
NOUS portrait painter, have placed
their approval on his work. And Frank
Niepold IL only 30 years old.
The business which he and bis
| father and two brothers now con-
duct is called the manufacture OF
Borghese reproductions II consists Of
taking the Ioveliest designs and art
objects of the Italian renaissance
period and adopting them, through
reproduction, 10 household use and
ornamentation today.
A few years ago in this country oh.
jecfs of such beauty could be seen
only In museums or in the private col
lections Of wealthy men. Today any
one for the expenditure OF a few dol
lars can own one Of these ornaments
an art object authentic in everythin:
except age-and even that is clever
ly initiated. SO successful are tn
Niepold reproductions that retailer
selling them sometimes advertise then
J as imported goods, unaware that th'
modern craftsmen OF italy and Franc
are not producing anything as fine al
J these.
When the original customer wh
wanted the booker had left tn
: shop, young Niepold began castini
: around in his mind for something tha
J would do. He was even then from hi
J own study capable Of designing a suit
able piece, but there was not need a
the time for original work. In tn
stores there happened TO be a piec
of rather heavy picture framing OF
design which Niepold admired Eror
this he simply sawed out two lik
, sections, painted and finished then
covered the contact sides with Eel
, and placed them in n show case {
await the return OF the customer.
Immediate Demand Discovered.
While they were there, anothe
= customer noticed them and asked 70
'. a pair just like them. II was obviot
o that hero was an object for whic
a there was demand. Meanwhile, hov
9 ever, the original orser had used U
= the entire piece OF picture frame; an
f to carve another pair from wood wa
8 out OF tho question because OF III
: expense.
s. The young artist knew OF the e1
a istence OF a casting material calle
carton pierre. which Is . sort OF papis
d mache Initiating stone or bronze ar
a out o6 which statues are sometfml
! made He used this mAksg4AL took Il
"a original book ends for modal. al
P cast several pairs OF them. The
= the store sold almost az fast az 4
embryo factory could finish them
90 About this time Niepold went TO n,
:. York, where he visited the Metropo
>, ton Museum OF Art, a favorite hau
"A of his in the metropolis. There
= saw the magnificent Italian art c.
lection of the late Mr.. J. P. Morgs
o. That view gave him tho definite ID
OF reproducing Italian renaissaT
= decoration in articles designed
modern use. The Italian artists
the sixteenth century did not ma
- cigarette boxes, for instance; but III
- did make small ornamental boxes. I
a. designs Of which could be adapted
''e boxes shaped to hold cigarettes.
LII His first step was 10 design anott
pair OF book-ends. this time an Origin
design in the renaissance manner.
followed this with other book-en
They all sold well. first IN the n
polds' own store, then IN various &
novelty. and china STOKES IN Was
II ington. Convinced that this might
m the nucleus Of a prosperous indust
III the NiepoldS tried the experiment
sending salesman out with the 81
OF line OF products; and. although
rs solicited only IN the eastern cities,
a took orders 30 rapidly that the me
l., ufacturers gave up their pictu.
OF frame store and moved into quart.
ng where there was space for pour.
m rooms. baking, storage, and Anishl
rooms, and the Hike Since then ii
have attended 70 this manufacture
es clusively
n Frank Niepold began stepping hi
10, self in the art OF the italian rena
he sance period. He took in exhibition
: studied books and catalogues. and {
Quired rare pictures. Eventually
D." visited Italy and there not only s.
the grea. museum and private C
uo lections, but acquired for hinls
numerous genuine pieces. And as
ty knowledge broadened, he increas
the number OF designs in manufactl
IN his plant. until now they numl
of several hundred, the objects incl,
od ing fruit bowls, wall sconces, a
s." brackets. lamps. mirror fran
t's book-ends. decorative panels and al
mt pieces. candle sticks, jewel box
IS, plaques, and medieval busss. The a
book-end designed continues 20 De
steady favorite.
Even as the Niepolds increased tn
range Of pieces. they improved
composition in which the objects
cast. This question OF material wa.
problem from the outset. The
Italian artists used wood. which '
carved and then covered with plas
before being finished But even "
the marvels which modern wo,
turning machinery is able 10 acco
plish. wood itself was out of the qu
ton for this work. II is impossi
nowadays to obtain In CONNER,