Evening star., 1936-07-25
FURNITURE MART
BREAKS RECORDS
One of Most Successful in
Chicago History Drew
9,237 Buyers.

What Is described as one OF the
most successful markets in furniture
history was closed by the American
Furniture Mart in Chicago last week.
A total of 9,237 buyers registered our
ing the two weeks the mart was open,
breaking by more than 1000 the all
time market attendance record estab-
lshed last January.
Other records also fell by the way
side almost daily as the throngS ig-
noring a heat wave that prevailed IN
Chicago practically throughout the
market, poured into the Mart. Among
them:
l. An opening day attendance OF
S,254-almost 800 more buyers than
had ever before registered at the Mart
on single day.
2. An attendance figure Of 6,595 at
the end of the first week-the largest
single week in furniture history.
8. And while the Mart itself was
setting the fastest pace in the 13-
year history of the building, many
exhibitors were following suit. Most
of them reported increases in the
number Of buyers who saw the lines.
number of buyers who bought, aver
age size of orders written, total dollar
volume of orders taken, and number
OF new accounts opened.
Prosperity Returns.
A general air Of satisfaction pre-
vailed as the market closed-a taste
of prosperity missing for almost 10
years has been experienced again by
the home furnishings industry.
Reviewing new styles in the ever
lengthening ranks Of lines shown at
the Furniture Mart, marked change
as compared to year ago was ap-
parent-a much less radical change
as compared with the January show.
Modern definitely retained its COM
manding lead in the lower and me-
dium priced brackets in the bed room
field. In the higher brackets French
and eighteenth century English pat
terms were more prominent.
According to dealers, modern seems
to be taking" more strongly than
ever in bed room furniture for several
reasons: women, still a little skepti-
cal, try it in the most-isolated room
first; in the lower price bracket mod
ern Is gaining recognition as a def
mite improvement over borax and the
good styling practiced even on the
low-priced units has made it gener-
ally acceptable Too, the greater util-
ity built into modern furniture-such
as special compartments and gadgets
providing extra conveniences-has a
special appeal.
In the higher-price brackets French
Is popular because it lends itself to
careful styling, fine details and spe-
cial workmanship which cannot be
matched by cheap competition. Early
American, both traditional and mod
ernized, Is making considerable head
way and the samples shown produced
good sales.
Wood hardware was shown extern
sively on modern furniture and some
of the higher priced modern suites
featured built-in lighting and COM
bination units composed Of movable
parts convertible into occasional pieces.
Walnut continued to lead in the case
good lines, followed by mahogany.
maple and oak, and many new woods
made their appearance, such as hare
wood, avodire, holly, brazilian, rose
wood and paldao.
Trend Toward Modern.
In dining room furniture, modern
shared hcnors with eighteenth century
models, including Duncan Phyfe,
Chippendale, Sheraton, etc. In dining
room, as in bed room, modern sold
most extensively in the lower and
medium price brackets. Since modern
Is simple in line and detail and easy
10 build, greater value can be built
into the cheaper suites than in the
period styles, where greater attention
must be paid to details and finishing.
There was a noticeable trend toward
modern developed from definite
eighteenth century designs, an out
standing example being a suite trade
named king Edward VIII" Sheraton
In origin, but styled in the modern
manner and executed in blond wood
as well as walnut and mahogany.
Many of the dining room suites were
offered in 80 to 40 piece units, per-
mitting a range of buffets, tables,
chairs, cabinets, ETC., from which to
choose. Side boards convertible into
bars offered a novel touch. Most
suites were well designed, scaled to
apartment and modern room size,