Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-08-12

When the American tourists who
bring home souvenirs of their trips
abroad discovered that there was one
class Of commodity on which there was
no duty. there was rush Of customers
However there were others who were
ahead of them. perhaps not III greater
numbers, but with greater purchasing
powers, and there was also another
reason that this class Of goods was in
demand
Antiques are the imports to this
country that can come in duty free,
If they are hundred years old Since
buying antiques was already a craze,
this added only more venerable chairs
and bureaus to steam heated tiled
bathcd. electric refrigerator apartments.
The others who are cutbuying the
tourists are the antique dealers and
decorators who have flocked to England
and even Holland and Germany. The
reason Of the exodus is based upon an
even more sound, If not more straight
forward, system Of finance. The fact
is that Americans are demanding
Am 3ricana. and more particularly they
are demanding Duncan Phyfe Natu-
rally pieces after his designs are limited
ard are commanding fabulous prices
Consequently. when ii was found
that In England there was a quantity
Of furniture which looked similar to
and was more valuable under the name
OF Duncan Phyfc, brisk trade was
drummed up. The general architecture
Of the furniture designed by the
Scotchnan who became the American
master followed Sheraton so closely
that 1t is possible to put over the work
inspired by the Englishman as Duncan
Phyfe. Although ne originated certain
details which identify his things dis
tinctly, there is sufficient similarity for
the confusion
When piece Of furniture Is called
Duncan Phyfe or Sheraton ii must be
understood that 1t was not necessarily
made in their factories. or that either
of these artists superintendent the max
ing Of the products which are classed
as theirs No more than Queen Anne
| had the bureaus. chairs and tables
| bearing her name made in shops be-
longing 10 her. These craftsmen pub.
lished books Of design and other cabi-
net makers created much Of the fine
furniture called by their names
What is happening is this: American
dealers some in ignorance and all sin
certify, buy old pieces that have thC
halo of the sacred, to antique fans
| name of Duncan Phyfe. Made in Eng
| land by English artisans. they most GER
tainly are not, but they display many
of the characteristics. 1t is economical
to crate the stuff ship it to the United
| States, pay duty, as it so often does not
pretend or cannot be proved TO be 100
/ years old, repair it and sell.
Increasing the Supply.
The customs figures for last year show
that more than 81 100000 was collected
! in duty on furniture which was not
| sufficiently old to escape Nearly $780,
600 900 worth of antiques. including OBJ.
/ jects of artistic and educational value
among which was furniture, were
brought in duty free Much Of tn
antiquity will be sold for what it IS
but some of it will find a new name
n is the case of the pot calling tbs
kettle black when the public accuses
/ the American dealers and they in turn
! accuse the English dealers Of turning
trick. for after all the buyers are
demanding something which is not
large quantities of early American fur
niture-in order to have fine pieces
TO display
Although the English prize Sheraton
furniture more highly than that made
by Duncan Phyfe they arc willing K
market it to canny Yankee dealers or
/ Wide-eyed tourists as American. because
IL cannot command corrcspondingly
high prices in that country.
Any one who thinks that he. for