DOI issue:
Nr. 341 (October 1925)
DOI article:Baxter, Leonora R.: Art in everyday live
DOI Page / Citation link:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.19986#0082
mceRnAcioriAL
stroa©
practice was later continued by the Greeks and Romans,
but modern map making dates from the work of Claudius
Ptolemy, the astronomer and geographer of Alexandria.
His manuscript Geography (circa 150 A.D.) was the
authority for over a thousand years, and was the first to
indicate latitude and longitude. The age of discovery and
exploration was greatly stimulated by map making. The
Catalan world map, made in 1450, now in the Royal
Estense Library of Modena, Italy, and the world map of
Genoa by an unknown author, were both supposed to have
influenced Columbus, as well as the French and English
map of gallia narbonens
Courtesy oj the Gotham Book Mart
navigators, and the Dutch and Portuguese, who sought to
penetrate the Far East. And so on, down through the
centuries, men of distinguished ability, scientists and
artists, have made maps, and we of the present day are
privileged to use and enjoy these colorful fragments of
history, in many novel and interesting ways. Their deco-
rative value is almost unlimited, and enlightened moderns
eagerly seek and absorb them. At a very unusual book
shop, by name, The Gotham Book Mart, I have recently
run across the most complete and fascinating collection of
old maps, silhouettes, samplers, and fashion and flower
prints, of all countries and periods. Here also one finds the
original atlases (by such masters as Blaeu and the famous
Ptolemy) from which the maps are taken. And in another
corner are the old fashion and botanical magazines, most
of which run from the seventeenth century to the nine-
teenth. The maps show little figures of sea monsters and
sailing boats and other characteristic designs of the early
periods, done in beautiful color, and one of them is illus-
trated here, but lacking the color, much of its charm is lost.
I haven't space to speak of the comprehensive assortment
of books in this shop, but to visit The Gotham Book Mart
means that you will spend hours rummaging among rare
and varied treasures, and come away with something that
will be a joy forever. As I write, the hard lines of my
typewriter are softened by rays from my lamp. A very
modern electric bulb surmounts an old Italian vase, and
shines softly through an ancient map of the Adriatic. Go
to the Gotham Book Mart, to choose the century and the
color that gives the glow you want, and to select a book
that can't be found just anywhere.
n unusual phase of needlework, from a remote corner
of the world, is represented by the Kashmir rug
known as Numdahs. They are made entirely by
hand from Tibetan goat hair, and the designs are done in
oriental colors of unusual beauty and brilliancy. Only
vegetable dyes are used, insuring a durability that defies
washing, cleaning and rough treatment. This industry
flourishes in the villages of Stringar and Gulmarg, in
Kashmir. Kashmir lies north of India, in the Himalayas,
and is an independent country, although under British
protection. The natives ignore the encroachments of occi-
dental civilization, and abide serenely by their ancient
traditions, pursuing the occupations of their forefathers.
The making of rugs seems to be a family affair. The family
goat, being truly the goat, gives his hair to produce the
felt, which is turned over to the head men of the village,
and each member of each family is held responsible for a
certain share of the embroidery. The task completed, the
rugs are packed on the backs of bullocks and then follows
a tortuous journey of a hundred miles or so to the nearest
port of embarkation. And we absorb them casually, for
little money, not dreaming of what has gone before.
Britishers in India began to import these rugs to England
centuries ago, and it is interesting to know that some of
the best designs of the Jacobean period are taken from
them. It is only recently that they have been brought to
numdah rug with tree of life
Courtesy of the Reed Shop
this country for commercial purposes, and they can be seen
in all colors and sizes at the Reed Shop. The one illus-
trated is from there, and pictures the oldest and most
favored design, the Tree of Life.
The department, "Art in Everyday Life," was begun
last October, and has successfully rendered a definite
service to readers of International Studio by establish-
ing a practical point of contact between art dealers and
those who seek the rare and beautiful, yet have no time or
opportunity to keep in touch with offerings of the studios
and shops. International Studio knows all the highways
and byways of the art world, and will answer any inquiry,
or put you in direct communication with any studio, shop
or decorator mentioned in "Art in Everyday Life." Let
us serve you.
Address International Studio Service, 119 West 40th
Street, New York City.
eighty-two
october I925
stroa©
practice was later continued by the Greeks and Romans,
but modern map making dates from the work of Claudius
Ptolemy, the astronomer and geographer of Alexandria.
His manuscript Geography (circa 150 A.D.) was the
authority for over a thousand years, and was the first to
indicate latitude and longitude. The age of discovery and
exploration was greatly stimulated by map making. The
Catalan world map, made in 1450, now in the Royal
Estense Library of Modena, Italy, and the world map of
Genoa by an unknown author, were both supposed to have
influenced Columbus, as well as the French and English
map of gallia narbonens
Courtesy oj the Gotham Book Mart
navigators, and the Dutch and Portuguese, who sought to
penetrate the Far East. And so on, down through the
centuries, men of distinguished ability, scientists and
artists, have made maps, and we of the present day are
privileged to use and enjoy these colorful fragments of
history, in many novel and interesting ways. Their deco-
rative value is almost unlimited, and enlightened moderns
eagerly seek and absorb them. At a very unusual book
shop, by name, The Gotham Book Mart, I have recently
run across the most complete and fascinating collection of
old maps, silhouettes, samplers, and fashion and flower
prints, of all countries and periods. Here also one finds the
original atlases (by such masters as Blaeu and the famous
Ptolemy) from which the maps are taken. And in another
corner are the old fashion and botanical magazines, most
of which run from the seventeenth century to the nine-
teenth. The maps show little figures of sea monsters and
sailing boats and other characteristic designs of the early
periods, done in beautiful color, and one of them is illus-
trated here, but lacking the color, much of its charm is lost.
I haven't space to speak of the comprehensive assortment
of books in this shop, but to visit The Gotham Book Mart
means that you will spend hours rummaging among rare
and varied treasures, and come away with something that
will be a joy forever. As I write, the hard lines of my
typewriter are softened by rays from my lamp. A very
modern electric bulb surmounts an old Italian vase, and
shines softly through an ancient map of the Adriatic. Go
to the Gotham Book Mart, to choose the century and the
color that gives the glow you want, and to select a book
that can't be found just anywhere.
n unusual phase of needlework, from a remote corner
of the world, is represented by the Kashmir rug
known as Numdahs. They are made entirely by
hand from Tibetan goat hair, and the designs are done in
oriental colors of unusual beauty and brilliancy. Only
vegetable dyes are used, insuring a durability that defies
washing, cleaning and rough treatment. This industry
flourishes in the villages of Stringar and Gulmarg, in
Kashmir. Kashmir lies north of India, in the Himalayas,
and is an independent country, although under British
protection. The natives ignore the encroachments of occi-
dental civilization, and abide serenely by their ancient
traditions, pursuing the occupations of their forefathers.
The making of rugs seems to be a family affair. The family
goat, being truly the goat, gives his hair to produce the
felt, which is turned over to the head men of the village,
and each member of each family is held responsible for a
certain share of the embroidery. The task completed, the
rugs are packed on the backs of bullocks and then follows
a tortuous journey of a hundred miles or so to the nearest
port of embarkation. And we absorb them casually, for
little money, not dreaming of what has gone before.
Britishers in India began to import these rugs to England
centuries ago, and it is interesting to know that some of
the best designs of the Jacobean period are taken from
them. It is only recently that they have been brought to
numdah rug with tree of life
Courtesy of the Reed Shop
this country for commercial purposes, and they can be seen
in all colors and sizes at the Reed Shop. The one illus-
trated is from there, and pictures the oldest and most
favored design, the Tree of Life.
The department, "Art in Everyday Life," was begun
last October, and has successfully rendered a definite
service to readers of International Studio by establish-
ing a practical point of contact between art dealers and
those who seek the rare and beautiful, yet have no time or
opportunity to keep in touch with offerings of the studios
and shops. International Studio knows all the highways
and byways of the art world, and will answer any inquiry,
or put you in direct communication with any studio, shop
or decorator mentioned in "Art in Everyday Life." Let
us serve you.
Address International Studio Service, 119 West 40th
Street, New York City.
eighty-two
october I925