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AMERICAN HOMES AND GARDENS 



December, 1906 



It is scarcely possible to enumerate the varied uses for this 

 art leather work after leaving the field of extensive and mas- 

 sive mural decorations. Characteristic draperies, emblematic 

 mantel panels, tabourettes, waste-paper baskets, book shelves, 

 and screens of every description, and for every possible form 

 of usefulness, are found in a variety of decorative forms dis- 

 playing the popular finish in sculptured or embossed leather 



mmmmmmmm 



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A Conventional Design for Wall Pockets 

 in Sculptured Leather 



in modern palace homes throughout the land. In the unpre- 

 tentious homes where all that is newest and best in art is 

 thoroughly appreciated without the means of gratifying all 

 desires in this direction, perhaps only one or two designs in 

 sculptured leather will be found. Quaint chairs in sculptured 

 leather that show unusual merit in artistic finish are usually 

 the choice in selecting these limited household treasures. 



Designs executed in the popular pyrography, quaintly 

 drawn tracings of tooled leather, and rare bits of sculptured 

 and embossed and stamped leather, are found among the 

 leather-covered cushions of the modern cozy corner. Even 

 the wall pockets for papers and documents in library or den 

 are finished in clever imitation of the old-time stamped 

 leather, and occasionally a rare piece of genuine antique 

 stamped leather is discovered among these curious antique 

 wall pockets. 



A stately country seat in course of erection was recently 

 visited in which the artists were putting on the finishing 

 touches in a leather decorated den. The leather for a small 

 panel was selected to illustrate the method of working out 

 the intricate designs. On a part of the firm skin there was 

 merely a delicate tracery showing the outline. Where the 

 work was a little further advanced this outline had been 

 picked and loosened with a small sharp instrument so that 

 the raised effect could be easily secured when ready for the 

 process of sculpturing. After the design has been entirely 

 finished by the picking process and the outline cutting, the 

 leather is thoroughly dampened and softened by wetting on 

 the under side. Then, with a tool prepared for this purpose, 

 the sculpture design is pushed up and out into relief; the 

 previous cutting of the outline making this possible without 



drawing or twisting the background of the figures. The true 

 artistic instinct must 'be displayed in the firm touch and the 

 individuality expressed in this process of pushing out into 

 relief the intricate design. It is this process that distinguishes 

 the sculptured leather from that which is "tooled" or em- 

 bossed. The filling in of the background with the usual com- 

 position of glue, sawdust, etc., is a mere incidental ; any one 

 with true mechanical instincts may accomplish this after the 

 work of the artist is finished. 



The entire process seems to offer very few complications 

 as explained and illustrated by the leather worker; but like 

 many other artistic accomplishments, the apparent ease with 

 which the design grows into beauty in the hands of the ex- 

 perienced worker, quickly changes to a discouraging mass of 

 hopelessly intricate and meaningless lines and crude projec- 

 tions in the hands of the novice. 



Beyond the mechanical treatment of the experienced 

 leather worker, and the artistic finish of experienced sculptur- 

 ing, a very high grade of art is required in forming the de- 

 signs for sculptured leather. A fairly successful artist, with 

 a thorough knowledge of perspective, a stickler for individ- 

 uality, and one who thoroughly appreciates, and grasps with- 

 out effort, character studies and emblematic designs, will find 

 these requisites indispensable; but something more will be re- 

 quired of him. He must possess a thorough knowledge of 

 armorial bearings, and a comprehensive understanding of 

 heraldry. In fact he must have all the natural instincts and 

 the cultivated talents of the artist in other lines, and in addi- 

 tions to these requirements a fund of knowledge seldom de- 

 manded by the profession of art work with brush or chisel. 



It is a matter of frequent surprise to the leather decorator 

 — accustomed though 

 he may be to strange 

 requests from his pa- 

 trons — to note the 

 quaint ideas as well as 

 the inspirations that 

 will occur to one in 

 search of novelty, or 

 of something decidedly 

 out of the common in 

 the decoration of his 

 home. For instance, 

 just the other day, 

 from one of the most 

 aristocratic suburbs of 

 a conservative city, 

 came the request from 

 a patron of wealth and 

 true artistic instincts, 

 to have his massive bil- 

 liard room entirely fin- 

 ished in sculptured 

 leather represen ting 

 scenes from his favor- 

 ite hunting club. One 

 huge panel of the mas- 

 sive wall surface dis- 

 plays a ravishing view 

 of the fine old club 

 house fitted out with 

 all the paraphernalia 

 of the huntsman. Trea- 

 sured hounds, photographed from life, are most charmingly 

 executed in sculptured leather to form another great panel. 

 A famous charger, with nostrils extended and thrilling action 

 expressed in every line and curve of the body, fills another 

 panel, and so on throughout the great room — panel after 

 panel is expressive of the delights of favorite hunting fields 

 and all beautifully executed. 



An Intricate Design in Sculptured 

 Leather 



