DOI Artikel:
Notes on the illustrations
DOI Seite / Zitierlink:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.19430#0067
NOTES ON THE ILLUSTRATIONS
o’ pearl for their enrichment. An interesting specimen of his furniture
may be seen in the writing table illustrated on page 71. It is painted a
lemon yellow, and decorated with blue and purple flowers. The in-
teriors of the cupboards and drawers are painted emerald green, and
the same colour is used on the exterior edges and panels. The Donegal
carpet shewn with this group was designed by Mr. Noel Simmons. The
second colour plate (p. 77) represents a suite of painted and decorated
bedroom furniture. On pages 74 and 76 is illustrated some colour-
combed furniture, a process Messrs. Heal have developed with notable
success. Instead of the pseudo oak-graining of our forefathers, insepar-
ably connected with cheap furniture, one colour is applied all over and
left to dry. Then another colour is applied, entirely covering the first,
and combed off, leaving some of the under colour showing through. The
effects acquired by this method are amazing, and the brilliance to be ob-
tained by putting, say, blue over red is quite extraordinary. Soft misty
effects can be achieved without their usual attendant dullness. A par-
ticularly successful walnut group is illustrated on page 75. The inlaid
sideboard, with its black latticed back, is pleasing in proportion and har-
monious in colour. The table has a top of narrow walnut boards, striped
with ebony. The small mahogany and black sideboard (p. 74) has the
same feeling of efficiency of purpose and restraint in ornament. The
edges are dyed black and a small inlay is introduced in the panels. The
walnut bureau, on the same page, has no inlay. The folding-top dresser
of unpolished oak (p. 70) is coloured with blue and black mouldings. It
is particularly suitable for a week-end cottage, for the folding doors of
the cupboard, when closed, keep all the crockery clean and ready for
use. The chestnut dresser, illustrated on the same page, also possesses
some unusual and ingenious features. By a small bowed plinth at the
base of the back a sense of security is given to the crockery which stands
upon it; while a useful acquisition will be found in the slide, which can
be pulled out to enlarge the top of the dresser during the serving of a
meal. Other simple furniture by Messrs. Heal, especially suitable for
country houses and cottages, will be found on pages 73 and 79.
Very different in character to the furniture just mentioned is the walnut
dining-room suite by Messrs. Liberty & Company shewn on pages 80
and 81. Here the severe simplicity of the forms is relieved by the beau-
tiful grain of the wood upon which the pieces rely for any decorative
quality they possess. The plain glass panel, supported by small pillars,
introduced at the back of the sideboard to protect the wall and to pre-
vent anything falling behind, is a distinct advance on the heavy, ugly
mirror and mouldings one associates with the conventional sideboard.
The simple painted furniture designed by Mr. Percy A. Wells for Messrs.
Oetzmann and Company (p. 82) forms part of a complete set carried out
57
o’ pearl for their enrichment. An interesting specimen of his furniture
may be seen in the writing table illustrated on page 71. It is painted a
lemon yellow, and decorated with blue and purple flowers. The in-
teriors of the cupboards and drawers are painted emerald green, and
the same colour is used on the exterior edges and panels. The Donegal
carpet shewn with this group was designed by Mr. Noel Simmons. The
second colour plate (p. 77) represents a suite of painted and decorated
bedroom furniture. On pages 74 and 76 is illustrated some colour-
combed furniture, a process Messrs. Heal have developed with notable
success. Instead of the pseudo oak-graining of our forefathers, insepar-
ably connected with cheap furniture, one colour is applied all over and
left to dry. Then another colour is applied, entirely covering the first,
and combed off, leaving some of the under colour showing through. The
effects acquired by this method are amazing, and the brilliance to be ob-
tained by putting, say, blue over red is quite extraordinary. Soft misty
effects can be achieved without their usual attendant dullness. A par-
ticularly successful walnut group is illustrated on page 75. The inlaid
sideboard, with its black latticed back, is pleasing in proportion and har-
monious in colour. The table has a top of narrow walnut boards, striped
with ebony. The small mahogany and black sideboard (p. 74) has the
same feeling of efficiency of purpose and restraint in ornament. The
edges are dyed black and a small inlay is introduced in the panels. The
walnut bureau, on the same page, has no inlay. The folding-top dresser
of unpolished oak (p. 70) is coloured with blue and black mouldings. It
is particularly suitable for a week-end cottage, for the folding doors of
the cupboard, when closed, keep all the crockery clean and ready for
use. The chestnut dresser, illustrated on the same page, also possesses
some unusual and ingenious features. By a small bowed plinth at the
base of the back a sense of security is given to the crockery which stands
upon it; while a useful acquisition will be found in the slide, which can
be pulled out to enlarge the top of the dresser during the serving of a
meal. Other simple furniture by Messrs. Heal, especially suitable for
country houses and cottages, will be found on pages 73 and 79.
Very different in character to the furniture just mentioned is the walnut
dining-room suite by Messrs. Liberty & Company shewn on pages 80
and 81. Here the severe simplicity of the forms is relieved by the beau-
tiful grain of the wood upon which the pieces rely for any decorative
quality they possess. The plain glass panel, supported by small pillars,
introduced at the back of the sideboard to protect the wall and to pre-
vent anything falling behind, is a distinct advance on the heavy, ugly
mirror and mouldings one associates with the conventional sideboard.
The simple painted furniture designed by Mr. Percy A. Wells for Messrs.
Oetzmann and Company (p. 82) forms part of a complete set carried out
57