Evening star., 1936-05-02
FURNITURE SHOW
. FORECASTS STYLE
Eighteenth Century Designs
to Get Special Stress at
! New York Opening.

Modern and eighteenth century fur
niture, especially the latter, are gain
ing in popularity at the expense OF
borax types That's the consensus
Of a review of the market plans 0f
the 600 exhibitors at the American
Furniture Mart, preparing for the
Spring market opening on Monday.
About 1000 buyers are expected to
attend the one-week midSeaSon show
this season, according to the predic-
tions of Lawrence H. Whiting, mart
president.
Therell be a host of new samples,
the manufacturers report, with mod
ern still the dominant style note, al
though the contemporary designs may
not quite duplicate the sweep they
scored in January. Most of the fac
tories will feature both eighteenth
century and modern, but the number
reporting an increased number of
eighteenth century suites and fewer
moderns is impressive.
Maple has taken on a two-faced
appearance-the early American spe-
cies and its step-sister, modern maple.
Both types will be present in May,
with some of the new suites mixing
the two versions so thoroughly that
1t will be difficult to classify them
under either heading.
Georgian, with Chippendale lead
ing, promises to hold attention of
May buyers. At least the May show
uyil
this style. And, of course, Sheraton
and Hepplewhite patterns will vie for
a share Of the honors. There'n be
Queen Anne, too, thanks to the work
of Eastern decorators who are giving
1t more play. For these latter styles,
of course, traditional fabrics will be
used, as the tendency to use modern
coverings on period pieces seems to
have diminished.
More Mahogany Favored.
The revival of eighteenth century
means more mahogany. There will
other wood, due partly to modern
holding out so strong, but there's also
tendency toward bleached woods
like bleached mahogany, bleached
cherry and bleached holly, especially
for occasional pieces. This trend may
be a reaction from the array of black
or dark walnut occasional pieces.
There seems to be more massiveness
in occasional pieces, too not that
they're much larger, just little more
substantial-that is the greater thick
ness of the wood is noticeable. Mirror
tops-especially blue mirrors-are very
good, and they're still combining oc-
casional pieces-making them COM
bine space for liquor accessories, mag
azines, books. coffee serving acces-
sories, fish bowls. and what not
In upholstery fabrics. combinations
OF colors, or combinations of plains and
plaids, or leather and fabric. are hold
overs from the January market. Curly
mohairs will be used for this market
perhaps more than at any market for
the last three years. Novelty weaves
with slight tendency toward mohair
velvet (the old pile mohair which was
once kingpin of fabrics) will be
stressed. White leather and dark wood
Is another new note Of high style.
Getting back to woods, natural fin
ishes will be widely used; natural birch,
ash, cherry, all giving the lighter
effect. In cflildren's bed room furni-
ture natural birch finish is coming in
strong.
Desks are still knee-hole, though the
versions of this are multiple. There
are the new oval ones in old-world
mahogany - the rectangular shape
with typewriter compartment - and
now they're making them in light
woods (natural ash, etc. too, making
them real show pieces
Couches Are Bed High.
Studio couches are all joining the
bed-high movement. No more sleeping
so near the floor. And there are gad-
gets which have removed all the back
pending work for the operator-and by
the mere turning of a crank the studio
couch becomes a bed. There's a new
studio couch or day-bed type, lately
come into the field, which allows all
the bedding to be kept right on the
bed. And the piece is a very decorative
one in addition.
Springs: Throw away your bed Stats
for here comes new spring which
holds up the mattress without them.
aluminium finish is still tops, in pref
erence to colors, such as orchid, green,
etc, as Of recent markets.
Baby carriages: English coaches still
rule metropolitan markets, while beach
carts and strollers are pretty strong for
this market. Folding or collapsible
carts in fabrics to match the mothers
Spring costume are good, too. Stream.
line design-buggies with windows in
the sides and fronts-and steering de.
vices are becoming more common.
Refrigerators: Mechanical improve
ments are furnishing manufacturers
with 1886 ammunition, since styling is
pretty well standardized. Makers of
boxes using ice have come to life in
big way, due to their 1886 radio adver-
rising campaign. White enamel (both
for electric and ice boxes) and stream.
lined styles with rounded corners are
the coming thing.
Bridge sets: More manufacturers
will show permanent bridge groups In
May, mostly modern in design. Leather
tops are the thing, although some of
the new models are of polished wood
tops.