Studio: international art (10.1897)

The Choice of Simple Furniture

CLOTHES-PRESS DESIGNED BY M. IT. BAILLIE SCOTT

extended to the front line of the keyboard. The
removal of the candles to a position where they
will light the music without dazzling the eyes of
the player, and the substitution of a long shelf
with sloping back for the usual inadequate music
rack, are both practical improvements on the
ordinary type of piano, while the projecting sides
and top act as sounding boards, and so immensely
improve the acoustic properties of the instrument.
This case has been carried out in oak, stained
a dark rich green, with hinges in white metal.

The essential novelty is, however, the form of
the case, which would lend itself readily to many
kinds of decorative treatment.

Some few other examples of drawing-room
furniture are here illustrated also. The small
secretaire (page 157) may be carried out in oak,
with metal work of reponssce copper. The
cabinet on page 154 may be finished in the
green and silver scheme which has been men-
tioned for the piano.

Although we may occasionally find a dining-
room or even a drawing-room furnished in an
artistic way, it is rarely that art penetrates so
far as the bedrooms. At this stage the wearied
and jaded householder accepts with a passive
despair the suites of the upholsterer. They
are generally in birch, and the wardrobe has
a broken pediment secured with glued blocks,
while on each side of the mirror are carved
panels finished with mechanical precision. Were
it not for disfiguring the pages of a magazine set
apart for artistic work, it might be instructive to
reproduce here some of this furniture in order to
illustrate the above remarks by actual examples.

A few simple designs for bedroom furniture are
illustrated. The wardrobe on page 157 may be
carried out in oak, with wrought iron hinges.
The washing-stand on the same page may be
finished in white enamel, with tiles and jug in
blue and white; while on this page is shown a
clothes-press, which perhaps makes a more satis-
factory piece of furniture than the ordinary chest of
drawers.

The bed itself is generally either in badly de-
signed cast iron or in coarsely moulded brasswork.
If it is to .be in metal, it seems a pity that so little
has been done towards arriving at a good design;
and there certainly seems here a field for the use
of simple wrought iron work or delicately moulded
brass. It should, if possible, be placed in a recess,
or at least in some position where it appears as a
part of the room. In carrying out the furnishing
and decoration of the bedroom it may be suggested
that each should be named after and decorated
with some particular flower.

Thus the poppy bedroom might have these
flowers symbolical of sleep introduced in the wall-
paper and furniture, and if suitable motives were
added, such a scheme would have a very unique
effect. Other flowers such as the rose and lily may
also be suggested.

One of the main faults in modern furnishing is
overcrowding; and just as it is thought artistic to

SIDEBOARD IN TLAIN OAK

DESIGNED BY M. H. BAILLIE SCOTT

cover every square yard of our walls with ornament,
so we do not consider our houses furnished till the
floors are covered and cumbered with useless
furniture.

Most of this exists apparently but for one object,

J55