International studio (15.1901/1902(1902))

First International “Studio" Exhibition

bundle of “ willow,” sur-
mounted by a handful of
gilt thread, which marked
the height of refinement as
a summer grate-filling thirty
years ago. Among the
most satisfying in its sim-
plicity of design was one
by G. Mariner — a plain
copper disc, very slightly
convex and finely ham-
mered, r hung in a light
frame of black iron. In
contrast with this was a
larger screen by Reginald
Dick, with a more striking
centre - piece — a bold
heraldic figure embroidered
on canvas and framed
in wrought iron with copper
fittings. There were also
some interesting panels in picture frame

wrought metal, for inser-
tion in wood, by John J.

Mackenzie, Annie Beck, J. G. Patrick, and H.
Bloomfield Bare. This last exhibitor sent a very
pleasing decoration for a music cabinet in repousse

BY BESSIE DAWSON

copper of a dull bronze tone, and also a panel in
beaten lead—that much neglected and abused
material, so full of possibilities for architectural
use. To win latent beauty of colour,
mass, and surface, from such unpro-
mising substances is no small part of
the romance of handicraft, and of the
wholesome modern reaction against
mere costliness—so often the cloak
of ignorance and laziness on the part
of the inferior craftsman.

The decoration of small cabinets
with panels of wrought metal was
favourably illustrated by James H.
Rudd and other exhibitors; and the
pierced fittings to a cupboard by
Alex. F. Smith, were admirably de-
signed for mounting on dull red and
green leather, which gave a warm
background to the metal and a
pleasant contrast of colour to the
wood. The same method is often
successful in larger doors which by
their character or position demand
an extra touch of warmth and colour ;
but in the present instance this had
generally been done by enamels set
in the finger-plates, as in the exhibits
of C. E. Thompson, whose designs
were quite brilliant in originality and

PICTURE FRAME BY R. B. DAWSON

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