August, I9II 
AMERICAN HOMES AND GARDENS 303 
Wheeled tray 
In the modern wickerware stores the willow furniture 
goods exhibited make a favorable impression by the wide 
range and number of styles. But a close inspection reveals 
the fact that the cheaper grades lack the finish and fineness 
that are needed to stand the hardest usage 
of house service. This should lead a pur- 
chaser to practice real economy by selecting 
articles that are guaranteed to have the 
brand of the French willow. These very 
suddenly leap in price, but their material 
and workmanship are of so fine a class that 
the pieces are bound to hold their shape. 
color and durability for a satisfactory num- 
ber of years. French willow stands to com- 
pete in all these essential qualities with much 
of the strongest leathers and upholstered 
materials in vogue, and is able to surpass the . 
mass of furniture output of the day. 
A surprising feature of this industry is 
the skill attained in designing the forms of 
willow frames. All articles that are fash- 
ioned in wood in the current forms of the 
art can be successfully, if not perfectly, re- 
produced by the weaving of osiers. A view 
of the accompanying engravings will show 
a result which makes it possible to claim that 
there is no size, shape or type of furniture 
incapable of being duplicated or invented in 
wickerwork. Whether the weaving is plain 
or intricate, the patterns are marvels of 
adroit workmanship. The most difficult 
turns, angles and combinations are nego- 
tiated in ways that make the contours and 
elaborations of all styles of willow furniture beautiful in 
their general appearance. The two massive armchairs, 
one at each end of the large settee, are different in the 
298% EE 
Sewing-room table 
Beach chair 
Reading table and book rack 
mesh of the weave, the forms of the back, and other de- 
tails, and this variety shows the versatility of design and 
the skill of the weaver. The settee exhibits the refinement 
reached in compactness of weaving, and in the other articles 
representing a desk, a table, a shade chair, a 
bookcase, a sideboard and a luncheon outfit of 
table and chairs, are seen average examples 
of the advance of willow pieces of porch 
and indoor furniture into their present popu- 
larity. Willow furniture of the types shown 
in the illustrations present many features 
that suggest articles appropriate to the utili- 
ties as well as the luxuries of a well-ordered 
home. ‘Their appearance indicates that the 
pieces are capable of combining the means of 
carrying out one’s ideas in making a corner 
cosy, a porch a place of repose, a bedroom 
or dining-room as well furnished as if the 
articles were fashioned of the more sturdy 
woods, and with the added advantage that 
all the pieces are easy to handle, refreshing 
in appearance, cool in use in warm weather, 
and when amply cushioned, perfectly com- 
fortable for service and pleasing to the eye, 
in the colder seasons. ‘These designs in 
numerous cases yield examples that are 
adapted to beautify a pretentious room sufh- 
ciently to aid those other contributions of 
objects and ornaments that inform it with 
artistic life. Just as significantly do some 
answer the practical needs of the working 
side of furniture, as shown in the wheeled 
tray, or on the side of luxuries when the 
summer porch comforts are made very inviting in the 
hanging settee; points in all these cases obtained without any 
claim of purity of line or perfect scroll work. 
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Small bookcase Sideboard for wicker-furnished dining-room Writing desk 
