inUGRHAOOnAL
indignantly thought because we
were not invited or not because
as Ambassador Herrick face-
tiously said at a dinner given to
the American Delegates, be-
cause we had no decorative art
worthy to be seen in the com-
pany of French production, but
because we procrastinated, did
not get together and appoint
committees, get appropriations
from Congress in order to build
a pavilion and collect the ma-
terial to go in it. To make
amends for what can only be
called a national blunder sixty
delegates representing the lux-
ury industries of the United
States and, known as the Hoover
Commission, visited the Expo-
sition. The Commission did
much to allay the bad feeling
which existed in France as a re-
sult of our not participating in
this great international event.
The French government enter-
tained the commission with two
weeks of banquets, receptions
and official attentions.
The delegates have made a
study of the Exposition as re-
gards its relation to American
industry and their opinions
have been published from time
to time in the American papers.
The official report is, however,
being prepared by Professor
Richards.
From the point of view of
the writer of this article, the
value of the Exposition lies not
in copying or adapting indi-
vidual exhibits—certainly not
in imposing French ideals upon
American ways of living, grant- table designed by edgar brandt
ing that these exhibits are stim-
ulating and from them germinate ideas. The of any other people, past or present. It is proof
vital message to the American designer is in help- of the enormous interest created by this exposition
ing to rid him of his inhibitions, and to stimulate that many of the objects shown there are to be
the timid creative spirit which persists in this brought to the United States this winter and made
country in the domain of the decorative arts, the occasion of special exhibitions in such of our
The Exposition proves that the designer can dare art museums as the Metropolitan and that in
to be himself, that he need not always remain a Newark, New Jersey. Thus our students of the
copyist, and that forms created in harmony with arts of design in particular will have an oppor-
his time and the peculiar needs and ideals of his tunity to see at first hand some of the manifesta-
own people can be as aesthetically sound as those tions of this new decorative spirit in the arts.
DECEMBER i 92 j
one sixty-jive
indignantly thought because we
were not invited or not because
as Ambassador Herrick face-
tiously said at a dinner given to
the American Delegates, be-
cause we had no decorative art
worthy to be seen in the com-
pany of French production, but
because we procrastinated, did
not get together and appoint
committees, get appropriations
from Congress in order to build
a pavilion and collect the ma-
terial to go in it. To make
amends for what can only be
called a national blunder sixty
delegates representing the lux-
ury industries of the United
States and, known as the Hoover
Commission, visited the Expo-
sition. The Commission did
much to allay the bad feeling
which existed in France as a re-
sult of our not participating in
this great international event.
The French government enter-
tained the commission with two
weeks of banquets, receptions
and official attentions.
The delegates have made a
study of the Exposition as re-
gards its relation to American
industry and their opinions
have been published from time
to time in the American papers.
The official report is, however,
being prepared by Professor
Richards.
From the point of view of
the writer of this article, the
value of the Exposition lies not
in copying or adapting indi-
vidual exhibits—certainly not
in imposing French ideals upon
American ways of living, grant- table designed by edgar brandt
ing that these exhibits are stim-
ulating and from them germinate ideas. The of any other people, past or present. It is proof
vital message to the American designer is in help- of the enormous interest created by this exposition
ing to rid him of his inhibitions, and to stimulate that many of the objects shown there are to be
the timid creative spirit which persists in this brought to the United States this winter and made
country in the domain of the decorative arts, the occasion of special exhibitions in such of our
The Exposition proves that the designer can dare art museums as the Metropolitan and that in
to be himself, that he need not always remain a Newark, New Jersey. Thus our students of the
copyist, and that forms created in harmony with arts of design in particular will have an oppor-
his time and the peculiar needs and ideals of his tunity to see at first hand some of the manifesta-
own people can be as aesthetically sound as those tions of this new decorative spirit in the arts.
DECEMBER i 92 j
one sixty-jive