December, 1907 



A M E R I 



CAN HOMES AND GARDENS 



vu 



AMERICAN EMPIRE 



STRICTLY speaking, only the furniture 

 made prior to the war of the Revolution 

 can be called "Colonial." 

 "Late Georgian" describes the furniture of 

 the latter portion of the eighteenth century 

 and "American" Empire is the correct term 

 for furniture made in the early part of the 

 nineteenth century. Thus all pieces having 

 carved columns, claw feet, pineapple finials, 

 etc., long called Colonial, should be classed 

 as American Empire. 



Furniture of this type represented the high- 

 est skill of our cabinetmakers. It was a 



Model from Berkey & Gay Furniture Co., 

 Grand Rapids, Mich, 



movement founded on the French Empire, but 

 interpreted in an original way. 



American Empire is marked by a greater 

 simplicity than is found in the regal historic 

 pieces which are usually accepted as examples 

 of this style. First, living was simpler ; sec- 

 ond, elaborate furniture was beyond the purse 

 of the majority of people, and the third, while 

 many of our furniture-makers equaled French 

 craftsmen so far as the treatment of wood was 

 concerned, they were incapable of either de- 

 signing or executing the elaborate mounts in 

 chiseled brass which French furniture makers 

 had excelled in for more than a century. 



Occasionally on a more elaborate piece of 

 American Empire may be seen both carving 

 and brass ornaments — for instance, a sofa or 

 divan with claw feet, carved cornucopias, and 

 brass rosettes. Sometimes a simple version of 

 the Greek honeysuckle is used, but furniture 

 thus ornamented is too uncommon to be classed 

 as typical. But the pineapple, the favorite 

 finial from the time that English furniture- 

 makers discarded the urn until the black wal- 

 nut period set in, was made a beautiful fea- 

 ture of American designing. That and the 

 cornucopia are two very characteristic features 

 of the furniture of this period. 



The highest class furniture-makers have 

 realized this and make a specialty of reproduc- 

 ing pieces of this period. For every-day use, 

 as we have already pointed out, well made re- 

 productions are more desirable. A careful 

 inspection of the fine reproductions of the 

 American Empire is strongly advised whether 

 the room in question be dining-room, bedroom 

 or living-room. 



Note : Striking examples of this style are made by 

 Berkey & Gay Furniture Co., (Jrand Rapids, Mich., a few 

 illustrations of which are used in this article. Their 

 brochure, "Furniture of Character," contains descriptions 

 not only of this style but also of other periods and classic 

 styles. It will be mailed to you if you send 15 cents in 

 p. S. stamps to Dept. M. 



Beauty and Usefulness 



The real artistic worth of any article is greatly enhanced by its useful- 

 ness. These two attributes ought to go hand in hand, the one reflecting 

 the other. <- 



Morgan Doors 



are perfect examples of real artistic worth. They are beautiful from every 

 standpoint, they are useful to the limit of usefulness — durability and 

 strength. 



Morgan Doors are made in a large variety of beautiful designs to 

 harmonize with any style of architecture. Empire, Colonial, Mission, 

 Chateau, etc. The name "Morgan" stamped on each door guarantees 

 absolute satisfaction. 



Write today for our handsome illustrated book, "The Door Beautiful, " showing some 

 of the details of the honest construction and beauty of design of the Morgan Doors. 



Morgan Company, Dept* Aj Oshkosh, Wisconsin 



Distributed by : — Morgan Sash and Door Company, Chicago, 111.; Morgan 

 Company, Oshkosh, Wisconsin ; Morgan Company, Baltimore, Maryland. 



IT ISN'T NECESSARY 



to waste your valuable time in retabbitting your journal bearings, wben you can get 

 a planer tKat is equipped witb Patent Sectional Clamp Bearings tbat prevent tbis 

 unnecessary worK.. Tbis device consists or two sets of tbin babbitt metal plates, of 

 five plates to tbe set, for eacb bearing. Tbese plates rest diagonally upon tbe upper 

 surface of tbe journals. If tbe journals sbould become loosened from wear, all tbe 

 operator bas to do is to loosen tbe clamp bolts and press down tbe plates w itb tbe 



band. Tbese plates exert no pressure 

 downward, except tbat of tbe ir own 

 weigbt, tbereby preventing tbe journals 

 from getting too tigbt a fit and over- 

 beating. It IS on tbe above principle 

 tbat we bave constructed tbe journals on 

 our No. 156 Cabinet Smootbing Planer. 



Shall We send you a descriptive 

 circular? 



1. A. FAY & EGAN CO. 



No. 156 Cabinet Smoothing Planer 



209-229 W. FRONT ST. 



CINCINNATI, 0. 



