Democratic Sentinel, Volume 3, Number 33, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 September 1879 — FASHIONS IN FURNITURE. [ARTICLE]

FASHIONS IN FURNITURE.

Tables with the meandering, outspreading legs are extremely fashionable. A beautiful design for a screen is of black velvet embroidered with scarlet honeysuckles. Covers for library tables are in the natural colors of sea-island cotton, enlivened by embroidery of gay colors. Byzantine point is a new, showy cotton imitation, for curtains, that washes well and imitates antique lace to perfection. Chairs with arched back and matching cross-pieces carved, are being polished up and covered with citron or crimson-embossed velvet. The English dressing tables are especially liked in ebony or in ash wood, with square swinging glass very simply framed, small-sized drawers for laces or linen, and a place to rest the feet while the lady sits at her toilet. Piano covers barely cover the top and are made of yellow bronze or else cit-ron-colored silk and bordered with yellow, olive, Sevres blue and crimson worked into a flower pattern of roses, or perhaps tulips and Easter lilies. A lady’s parlor, devised for a brunette, has its walls hung with buttercup yellow, covered with clear white muslin fluted fromftop to bottom; the chimney-piece of black velvet, and the furniture of black velvet with yellow fringe and buttons. Happy are the people who have odd furniture with elephant’s trunks or lion’s heads, for Hindoo models are now coveted. Old families are mounting their lumbering side-boards and sofas with brass and trimming up their bedroom-sets with ash. The low furniture, of walnut, is universal for chambers. The bed is low, with straight head and foot-board, and the bureau has low drawers, with large, square mirror. There is sometimes a dressing-table to match the suite, and often is an odd piece. . Dark-green silk curtains are used in place of white shades to darken the rooms in summer, where inside blinds are used. Two long, flowing curtains of tapestry, plush or rich fabric, bordered across the top and bottom to match tho furniture, are chosen for drawing-rooms or parlors. For small parlors the upholstering is done in plain plush, bordered with wide cross bands of contrasting colors, or else figured stuffs are used of mixed silk and cotton; these are recommended because moths will not eat them, and reps are abandoned because they are alt wool and are soon devoured by the moths. The newest designs for dressingstands have no drawers at the sides. The mirror reaches to the floor. Two marble slabs adorn the sides, and on them ire figures of brass holding “Psyche” glasses. Below and out of sight are sockets, intended for the enormous tapers of ware, which, when lit, give a softened yet dazzling effect. In furnishing a sitting-room nothing is set or regular. All the pieces are odd, with the same color running through all for harmony, but with each piece different shape and color. The sofa and chairs have low, wide seats, straight backs and square corners. With these should be low chairs and rockers, willow, ebony, gilt or lacquer. Batiste curtains are very pretty for the sitting room or chamber. This is a soft muslin fabric in square meshes, like grenadine, and with wide, lace-like stripes; they are trimmed with antique lace, or are bound with colored velours borders. Batiste draperies are inexpensive, and far preferable to Nottingham cr other cheap laces. Mantelpieces are very high, and the effect is good if China, crackle or Japanese ware, especially the grotesque, are placed upon them. The brilliancy of color given in these wares and their originality are very attractive against a somber background. If you line with plaques on the lower shelf there must not be placed any ornaments in front. The “old-time” closet mantelpieces arc being revived. This style consists of a double door introduced into a mantelpiece which extends to the ceiling. The mirror is thus done away with. In the closet thus formed are porcelain plaques, which are fully displayed by opening the silver-hinged walnut doors. These are richly carved and of graceful form.