The Daily Alaska empire Newspaper, December 20, 1931, Page 32

THE DAILY ALASKA EMPIRE, SUNDAY, DEC. 20, 1931. Modern “Period” Furniture Now Reflects the Past French Empire, the English Victor- ian and the German Beidermeier types of the Nineteenth century. The famous cabinetmakers whose influence is felt in most of the re- productions of period types today, Chippendale, Adam, Hepplewhite and Sheraton, belong to the Eight- eenth century. Early American Furniture Many of the most homes of the Early American period were furnished in exquisite examples’ of European styles, im- ported from England. The type that we know as true Early Ameri- can is very different from those elegant and sophisticated pieces. The majority of the first settlers in this country wére simple farm people, who brought with them their own furnishings, splendid ex- amples of “household” art, heavy, rude “dower” chests, stout benches and tables. These forms were gradually altered by local cabinet- makers with knowledge of fine workmanship and the more intri- cate period designs into the pieces whose simple beauty we claim as our first truly American art form. Scroll and pedimented tops, cab- riole legs, fiddle backs, and lyre merable fascinating versions of the |secret of an gateleg, with drop leaves that can room, and a lamp is thus an al- be raised and placed against the |ways welcome gift. There are tiny wall if the table is to be ‘used as|little lamps with Dresden figures effective modern console, and slender legs carved |for bases and frilly shades in pas- in spirals or spools. | tel colors to impart a period glow The what-not on which grand- |in the bedroom. Provincial pot- mother placed her cherished bric- |tery lamps with their bold designs a-brac is also adaptable to most and bright colors have the decora- modern homes. Larger what-nots |tive simplicity required by Early luxurious | rest on the floor and boast carved | American rooms. Or there are sides graduated from the wide bot- |those of definite period influence; tom shelf to the narrow top, and' the reconstructed glass kerosene afford convenient shelf space for |lamp that now bears electric light those books, flower bowls or fan- bulbs and a glazed shade printed tastic figures for which space is £0 |in quaint flowers like an old calico often hard to find. Smaller ones |dress. More eleborate period lamps hang on the wall to fill most ef- fectively the bare panel between two windows, and very tiny ones, often in pairs, support twin figur- ines or candlesticks. Mirrors also are gifts in which the period in- fluence may be expressed. There is the very old “skeleton” mirror with a large frame carved in scrolls and bunches of flowers in spenwork so that the wall shows ‘nhrough. There are also Colonial mirrors, with wide beveled frames of polished mahogany, sometimes /swung in one of those little stands to be set atop the chest of draw- OLLY 0ld Saint Nicholas has doubtless spent most of the past year ransacking the antique shops of his far-off fairy realm, bargaining for bits of pineapple glass, searching out true samples of Paul Revere silver, triump tly carrying frail old Colonial candle stands back to the workshop for his splats were not originated in thislers, or made to hang on the wall. country, but the art of combin-/Or look at footstools, squat little ing them with the ruder “house- things mounted in carved wooden hold” form to produce the quiet frames and padded with tapestry beauty of old secretary desks and or striped satin in bright colors. | brass knobbed bureaus is an Amer—‘ Pictures and Ornaments jcan art. Its leading exponent, Since, with the return of period | was the famous New York cabinet- 'influence, wall decorations of all |maker Duncan Phyfe, whose namelsom are again with us, examine |is also used to distinguish period any of the new pictures selected |pieces in demand today. and framed to fit in with antique | Occasional Pieces as Gifts furnishings. With the quaint A gift that will delight any prints taken from Godey’s Ladies housekeeper, be her home a one- Bee we are already familiar; fash- sy elves pai kingly to reproduce. For the venerable o apartment or a large country nt, being as w as he is jolly, knows that the trend in |y use is an occasional table of sehold furnishings, as in clothes, is at present tmvzu‘d‘perxod' inspiration. There are small period styles, and that antique furniture and all the romantic {oak side tables that by dint of accesories in keeping with it P S —————————— thick little legs and heavy carving consequently among the ye; most acceptable Christmas gifts. Modern “Period” Furniture Unlike that of five years ag which boasted always its matche of the other furnishings, the small' massiveness suitable to their Eliza- hich completes the homeli‘ke ““'{muffm stands, four wooden trays, osphere of a room; and this very ! witn slight rims, one above the sembled pieces of different styles, |Sonable price, has made this type|carried around. There are innu- way it reproduces the spirit itself |Of Christmas gifts. of the elegant Eighteenth or Nine- teenth century home, whose fur- | most prized today and which “drum” tables on three legs, or on nishings were assembled, piece by | manufacturers are reproducing|the single “pedestal” popularized each piece carefully selected and |ty for modern homes when origin- crust” tables with their thin tops lovingly cared for, worn by genera- |als are not available, range from edged in a curiously scalloped rim, tions to a homey, well-used look, |the heavy oak pieces of the Six- and made to tilt up and decorate rubbed by a succession of vigorous |teenth century EI bethan mode, | an empty corner. There is the housewives ‘to the glowing patina |through the ornat we always associate with old fur- |Eighteenth century, known as the high pedestal which so many peo- niture. In building up a hom such an interior, one cannot place tyles; the Queen Anne sional piece, the tiny odd table or |century Engla ‘_ rnament, whether useful or not,!pethan origin. There are English engravingsc, most of them dating suite of furniture, the modern in- |fact, making available many ar-|gther like shelves in a frame,|gracious ladies with high piled terior is made up of carefully as- | ticles of attractive design and rea-|with a handle so that it can be and powdered hair and frilled cor- even of different periods. In this [Of thing one of the most popular|myerable coffee tables, the oblong sportive girls with tight waists and “trestle” type so handy next the|voluminous skirts finger dainty The styles in furniture which are | davenport, round French Empireviolas and dally with enamored piece, over a long period of years, |with marvelous accuracy and beau- by Sheraton; Early American “pie inscription in French complete the shions of the tall Colonial candle stand on its ter-color drawings by celebrated 'h Louis XIV, XV, or XVI|ple are using in pairs to hold twin gay-hued birds and field flowers. and night table after Duncan Phyfe, These are most effective when too much importance on the occa- |Georgian periods of Eighteenth|lamps or twin vases. There is & |framed in simple bands of gold or | d; Farly Americankidney shaped, with its bookshelf colored lacquer frames. cabinet that harmonizes with the in this country; and include the underneath. And there are innu-| Artistic lighting is often the \ion illustrations of the 1880's, dig- \nified ladies in bustles and bon- nets who may look stiffly but | (should look kindly out upon a room like that in which they once wore atmosphere though not the pmtcm\mame somehow to retain 'fhe}such costumes. Then there are | French prints, facsimiles of steel from the time of that ‘“grand monarch,” Louis XIV, and showing |sages, or pleasant scenes in which music masters. An intricate bor- ider of birds and flowers and an ;chx.rm of such pictures. For the simpler Early American setting there are colored prints of birds jand flowers, reproductions of wa- naturalists, who present in life size L+ T On Christmas MO[’I\ No greater joy can any man have than the spirit generated by the happiness of others brought about by the thoughtfulness and unselfishness of Christmas Gifts and Happy Greetings—and now as you sit in the peace and the joy of your boast a marble base supporting a brass upright cylinder and, on top of that, a colored glass bowl. All marble bases, like the classic fluted column or the Greek urn in Adam style, or modernized candel- abra dripping drops and spirals and chains of sparkling crystal, are both definite period types. Then there are old “tole” lamps, with ~ decorated japanned iron bases, which are today being re- produced in a very praiseworthy manner to match the period motif. Brasses and Pewter Ware Any home that seriously sets out to reconstruct the romantic at- mosphere of a bygone day must have an open fireplace. And Santa Claus, in his gratitude for this fa- miliar means of entry, will un-| doubtedly leave for it one or more of the old-fashioned brasses tocom- | plete it. Andirons, tongs, poker and shovel in their fireplace rack, a brass coal bucket, the interest-| ing little kerosene pot known as' the Cape Cod lighter, a fire screen, | hinged and oblong, or round and mounted on a pedestal, all arei happy suggestions for gifts for the! proud owner of the open hearth. Brass or pewter, in themselves, | impart a bit of the old England or | early America to the home. Con-| sider candlesticks, ashtrays, old| ink “standishes,” homely little-salt | and pepper sets, serving trays,. either oblong with rounded corners and pierced hand-holds at the sides, or with edges in a series of curves| like ocean creamers: many of these will find a place in your Christmas | list. e TAPED SHIN LUCK TOKEN ‘ DALLAS, Tex., Dec. 19—"“Speedy” | Mason, star quarierback of the; Southern Methodist eleven, has worn a piece of tape on his right shin in every game since he sv.artedl playing football in high school. He| This is just a little greeting but it carries a big “THANK YOU” for your business during the past year. Britt’s Pharmacy SEWARD STREET also insists in sitting in the same| chair and eating at the same place) & traming table throughowt the (] Papers for sale at Empire Offic II_IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIllIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII *} A Merry, Merry Christmas own home on this day of days A MERRY CHRISTMAS AND AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR IS OUR WISH TO YOU gflmmmfl"lflmflmlIIIIIIIlllllllllllllllllfllllllllIIIIIlIIIIIlIIIIIIIIllIIIIIIIlIIIIIIIIIHIII:,IIIIIIHIIIIIIIIIlIIIIII||I||||||IIIIllll|||IIIIIIII||I||llllllllllIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIlllllllllllllll e Juneau Young Hardware Go.- It is a day to celebrate and make merry. So, in the same conscientious way in which we ° serve you we extend the Greetings of the season to You and Yours. i 00000000 A - Company Juneau Cold Storage