Embellishments 121 



pedestal in reality serves to preserve the vase in a perpen- 

 dicular position, as well as to expose it fairly to the eye, 

 which could not be the case were it put down, without any 

 preparation, on the bare turf or gravel. 



Large vases are sometimes filled with earth and planted 

 with choice flowering plants, and the effect of the blossoms 

 and green leaves growing out of these handsome receptacles, 

 is at least unique and striking. London objects to it in the 

 case of an elegant sculptured vase, "because it is reducing a 

 work of art to the level of a mere garden flower-pot, and 

 dividing the attention between the beauty of the form of 

 the vase and of its sculptured ornaments, and that of the 

 plant which it contains." This criticism is a just one in 

 its general application, especially when vases are consid- 

 ered as architectural decorations. Oc- 

 casional deviations, however, may be 

 permitted, for the sake of producing 

 variety, especially in the case of vases 

 used as decorations in the flower-garden. 



A very pretty and fanciful substitute 

 for the sculptured vase, and which may 

 take its place in the picturesque land- 

 scape, may be found in vases or baskets 



of rustic work, constructed of the branches 



..,., FIG. 20. RUSTIC 



and sections ot trees with the bark at- VASE 



tached.* Figure 20 is a representation of 

 a pleasing rustic vase which we have constructed without 

 difficulty. A tripod of branches of trees forms the pedestal. 

 An octagonal box serves as the body or frame of the vase; 

 on this, pieces of birch and hazel (small split limbs covered 

 with the bark) are nailed closely, so as to form a sort of 

 mosaic covering to the whole exterior. Ornaments of this 

 kind, which may be made by the amateur with the assistance 

 of a common carpenter, are very suitable for the decoration 

 of the grounds and flower-gardens of cottages or pictur- 



' Reference has already been made to the vogue of this "rustic" 

 work in Mr. Downing's time and to its happy disappearance from the 

 gardens of our own days. -- F. A. \V. 



