Xovember, 19 13 



AMERICAN HOMES AND GARDENS 



in 



the ground merely on which beautiful 

 designs in rich color were applied to a 

 strong, durable substance. 



The craft worker of to-day finds an ex- 

 cellent field for the expression of good 

 taste in design, founded on the old pat- 

 terns for screens, table scarfs, cushions 

 and various small objects useful in house- 

 hold. 



The exact knowledge required for the 

 use of tools, methods and materials neces- 

 sitates long study and experiment. Text 

 books give somewhat vague information 

 and those who have long practised the 

 art are best able to instruct the beginner 

 in the numerous methods of manipulation 

 acquired by experiment. ~\Ye have passed 

 the stage when crude leather work evi- 

 dently "hand-made" could be acceptable 

 to critical eyes. Xow it must be mechan- 

 ically perfect — and absolutely well-fin- 

 ished in every respect. 



More than anything else should the 

 leather worker learn the limitations of his 

 material and keep within them. Designs 

 suitable to wood-carving or metal are not 

 suited to leather. The natural richness 

 of the material, the grain, the texture 

 produced bv different tannings, the colors 

 applied by various mediums, all this 

 purely mechanical part of leather work 

 must be understood by the worker who 

 aims to produce individual excellence. 

 There must be no unfinished edges left 

 untrimmed, lacings not securely fastened, 

 nor colors that rub off. The leather must 

 not be hardened and dulled instead of 

 softened and polished with the natural 

 gloss so rich and attractive of the ma- 

 terial, as such work is not acceptable. 

 Each branch of leather work requires 

 special training to do it perfectly. The 

 various branches such as cut, burned, 

 stained, tooled, embossed or illumined 

 leather call for special and definite train- 

 ing both in methods and design. Designs 

 suited to one branch of the art are quite 

 unsuited to another. The purpose for 

 which the leather is finally to be used 

 must never be lost sight of. Highly em- 

 bossed surfaces, while suited to walls and 

 screens, are quite out of place on chair 

 backs where they form uncomfortable 

 ridges against which one seeks in vain 

 to rest. 



Realistic designs are to be avoided. If 

 one has the knowledge to design seem- 

 ingly realistic patterns as the Japanese 

 do, without making them commonplace, 

 one may certainly do it. But such knowl- 

 edge comes only after long study and 

 training in the art of knowing what to 

 leave out. For leather, it is on the whole 

 much better to choose a fairly conven- 

 tional pattern at the risk of not being 

 original rather than to attempt realism 

 where simple lines are better. It is al- 

 ways profitable to study any good an- 

 tique pieces in museums or text books. 



JAPANESE TOYS IN ENGLAND 



JAPANESE toys, says the London and 

 China Telegraph, art rapidly supplanting 

 those "made in Germany" in many of our 

 departments. Thousands of gross of toy 

 Union Jacks are made in Japan, and also 

 the majority of the small nodding animals, 

 jumping rabbits, and other novelties that 

 are now so common. Japanese baskets 

 and hand bags are now a prominent "line" 

 in England. They are capturing the trade 

 through the combined cheapness and nov- 

 elty of their goods. The consular returns 

 show that since 1909, Japan has more than 

 doubled her export of toys. 



Use Oxide of Zinc Paints 



PHE Strictly Modern Residence is painted inside as 

 well as outside. Sanitary science is responsible for 

 this practice. 



The modern flat wall paints are washable. 

 They are also adaptable to a great range of 

 decorative effects. Oxide of Zinc is an 

 essential ingredient of these modern finishes. 



THE NEW JERSEY ZINC COMPANY 



Lists of manufacturers and 

 brands of Flat Interior Paints 

 and Enamel Finishes free 

 to any address. 



55 Wall Street, New York 



New Edition — Just Published 



The New Building Estimator 



By WILLIAM ARTHUR 



A practical guide to estimating the cost of labor 

 and material in building construction from excavation 

 to finish, with various practical examples of work 

 presented in detail and with labor figured chiefly in 

 hours and quantities. 



A handbook for architects, builders, contractors, 

 appraisers, engineers, superintendents and draftsmen. 



The eleventh revised and enlarged edition, just 

 published, has been reset throughout and gives 

 the latest prices. It contains 50°o more matter than 

 the previous edition. 



Price $3.00 postpaid 



MUNN & CO., Inc. 



Size — 5 x 7 inches 



744 pages. Illustrated. 



Flexible Leather. 



Gilt Edges. 



361 Broadway- 



New York, N. Y. 



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LANE BROS. CO., Wilson Avenue, Poughkeepsie, N. Y. 



