DOI Heft:
No. 189 (November, 1912)
DOI Artikel:P., C. M.: The house beautiful of Japan
DOI Seite / Zitierlink: https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.43451#0379
The House Beautiful of Japan
HE HOUSE BEAUTIFUL OF
JAPAN
There are certain ideals in Japanese
art which are no less apparent in
Japanese architecture and gardening, yet the art
of Japan only as embodied in prints, paintings,
porcelain, cloisonne and ivory has found a wide
popular acceptance in this country. Why this
should be so is very difficult to imagine, and can
only be ascribed to the fact that, in the west,
the houses and gardens of Japan are virtually
unknown.
We turned with relief from over-decorated in-
teriors to the simplicity of the “Mission” scheme
of decoration, yet, oddly enough, overlooked
a type more esthetically satisfying, and more
intrinsically interesting.
Perhaps there has been a too general indul-
gence in the idea that Oriental art is “ complex”—•
that a Japanese interior is too exotic, too alien for
successful adaptation in this country. As a
popular idea this is no more founded on fact than
most popular ideas, nor is it less erroneous. The
complexity of oriental art is that baffling quality
which results from carefully studied simplicity.
The interior decoration of a Japanese house is the
result of an elimination of the useless—an elimina-
tion lasting over many centuries. There is noth-
ing experimental about it. Upon first seeing a
marvellously executed Japanese interior, rich in
dull gold and oiled teak-wood, yet wonderfully
subdued, an appreciative lady was heard to re-
mark: “The Japanese are so clever to do such a
beautifully novel hall-way!” to which the quiet
Japanese host replied that he regretted its lack
of any strictly up-to-date qualities, in that the
houses of Japan were decorated in no wise
differently four thousand years ago!
In the western life of varied and wearying
activities the restfulness of the Japanese idea of
an interior should come as a balm to over-wrought
nerves and tired eyes. There are broad, cool
spaces, dull and subdued, yet interesting colors.
Little furniture is wanted, and ornaments are few
but carefully selected. One rare porcelain or
DESIGNED BY S. MORI
Courtesy of Yamanaka & Company
A JAPANESE GARDEN WITH TEA-HOUSE AT TUXEDO PARK, N. Y.
XV
HE HOUSE BEAUTIFUL OF
JAPAN
There are certain ideals in Japanese
art which are no less apparent in
Japanese architecture and gardening, yet the art
of Japan only as embodied in prints, paintings,
porcelain, cloisonne and ivory has found a wide
popular acceptance in this country. Why this
should be so is very difficult to imagine, and can
only be ascribed to the fact that, in the west,
the houses and gardens of Japan are virtually
unknown.
We turned with relief from over-decorated in-
teriors to the simplicity of the “Mission” scheme
of decoration, yet, oddly enough, overlooked
a type more esthetically satisfying, and more
intrinsically interesting.
Perhaps there has been a too general indul-
gence in the idea that Oriental art is “ complex”—•
that a Japanese interior is too exotic, too alien for
successful adaptation in this country. As a
popular idea this is no more founded on fact than
most popular ideas, nor is it less erroneous. The
complexity of oriental art is that baffling quality
which results from carefully studied simplicity.
The interior decoration of a Japanese house is the
result of an elimination of the useless—an elimina-
tion lasting over many centuries. There is noth-
ing experimental about it. Upon first seeing a
marvellously executed Japanese interior, rich in
dull gold and oiled teak-wood, yet wonderfully
subdued, an appreciative lady was heard to re-
mark: “The Japanese are so clever to do such a
beautifully novel hall-way!” to which the quiet
Japanese host replied that he regretted its lack
of any strictly up-to-date qualities, in that the
houses of Japan were decorated in no wise
differently four thousand years ago!
In the western life of varied and wearying
activities the restfulness of the Japanese idea of
an interior should come as a balm to over-wrought
nerves and tired eyes. There are broad, cool
spaces, dull and subdued, yet interesting colors.
Little furniture is wanted, and ornaments are few
but carefully selected. One rare porcelain or
DESIGNED BY S. MORI
Courtesy of Yamanaka & Company
A JAPANESE GARDEN WITH TEA-HOUSE AT TUXEDO PARK, N. Y.
XV