February, 1908 



AMERICAN HOMES AND GARDENS 



Vll 



Flemish Renaissance Furniture 



FEW styles of furniture have suffered more at 

 the hands of modern designers than the 

 Flemish Renaissance ; therefore, when fine 

 reproductions are placed upon the market it is 

 a pleasure to call attention to their good qualities. 



There is great dignity in the Flemish Renais- 

 sance and when properly interpreted it is not 

 incongruous in a modern house. It possesses those 

 sturdy, substantial characteristics which make it 

 eminently fitting for library, hall, and dining 

 room. 



Flemish Renaissance was an outgrowth of the 

 Italian Renaissance mingled with Spanish in- 

 fluence and infused with qualities of its own, 

 which give to it distinctive character. Its origin 

 came at the time when Charles, King of Spain, 

 was Emperor of Germany and also Count of 

 Flanders and Duke of Burgundy. 



Holland and Flanders reversed the usual order 

 of Rennaissance development. The early and 

 middle periods were less creditable than the later 

 phases. 



The Dutch and Flemish brought their work 

 to perfection after the year 1600. 



If the English were the great furniture makers 

 of the eighteenth century, the inhabitants of the 

 low countries were the great furniture makers of 

 the seventeenth century. 



During the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries 

 Flemish and Dutch designs were so closely allied 

 that the two adjectives are often used interchange- 

 ably. Previous to this date there was a great 

 difference in the arts of the two countries; 

 Flanders was more closely in touch with France 

 and Holland with Germany. In the hands of the 

 Flemish furniture makers the grotesque heads 

 and masks of the late Italian Renaissance were 

 adapted to a simpler, sturdier form of ornament. 



The Arabesque, the Cartouche, and the various 

 forms of animal and floral details which both 

 French and Italian carvers had used until they 

 were little more than grotesque flourishes, took 

 on a new meaning. Columns, pediments, and 

 mouldings were introduced in a constructive 

 way, thus becoming a part of the actual furniture. 



The illustration produced shows the fine con- 

 structive qualities which mark the earlier designs. 



"A Flemish Sideboard," model from Berkey & Gay 

 Furniture Co., Grand Rapids, Mich. 



Such work compares favorably with seventeenth 

 century pieces, and is made at a price which is 

 very reasonable, considering the grade of the 

 sideboard. 



Prior to the sixteenth century there was no 

 real dining-room furniture. The great halls of 

 the day were used as dining places, and were 

 fitted with furniture which served several pur- 

 poses. When the hall lost its medieval signifi- 

 cance the modes of living changed. Dining in 

 public went out of fashion, and the dining-room, 

 pure and simple, came into existence. It was at 

 this period that the sideboard, the round or square 

 dining table, and chairs which were used solely 

 at meals, first made their appearance. 



In selecting reproductions or adaptations of 

 old designs the wise householder will seek those 

 pieces which perpetuate the seventeenth century 

 spirit. 



Flemish oak furniture in an appropriate setting 

 has an exceedingly rich and substantial effect. 



Note. Xo furniture manufacturer in this country has 

 brought out more reproductions of the Flemish Renais- 

 sance than the Berkey & Gay Furniture Co., Grand Rap- 

 ids, Mich. The furniture of this period is entertainingly 

 described in their handsome brochure "Furniture of 

 Character," which will be mailed to all desiring it, if they 

 will send 15 cents in postage to Dept. M. their office, 

 Grand Rapids, Mich. 



Beautiful, Well-Made Doors 



more than any other one thing, give a dignified, refined and substantial effect 

 to your building. 



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Morgan Company, Dept. A, Oshkosh, Wisconsin 



Distributors: — Morgan Sash and Door Co., Chicago, III.; Morgan Co., Oshkosh, Wis.; Morgan Company, Baltimore. Md. 



RAISING PANELS 



Raising panels is an easy matter when you 

 are equipped with our No. 1 Hand 

 Feed Double Head Panel Raiser. 



Because it is simple in construction, not liable 

 to get out of order, and doesn't require an 

 expert to operate it. The table and all other 

 working parts are planed true, have all 

 necessary adjustments, and permit the 

 operator to work close to the cutterheads. 

 The fences remain always in proper position 

 relative to the cutters, and are adjustable for 

 different thicknesses of panels, and will hold 

 them perfectly rigid while passing between 

 the heads. The mandrel has three bearings, 

 with mandrel pulled between bearings, and 

 these are movable together horizontally 

 across the tables. 



Descriptive circular sent on request. Write for it. 



J. A. FAY 6c EGAN CO., w. P^i^et, CINCINNATI, O. 



