THE LADIES’ FLORAL CABINET. 
83 
superior to it, as it is considered by experienced workers 
to be made of a much better quality of silk, and being 
composed of six strands is easily split; it is also desirable 
because of the durability of the colors, the palest tints re¬ 
maining unchanged when exposed to a strong light. The 
leaves should be worked with fine chenille. 
A Chapter on Plaques. 
T HERE is nothing in the decorative line more quickly 
and easily prepared for gifts, by those who paint, 
than plaques; and the immense variety in the sizes and 
styles of these popular articles renders it comparatively 
easy to avoid monotony in one’s gift collection. 
Commencing with the much maligned pie-plates, the 
money expenditure in them may be increased to an indefi¬ 
nite amount. Apropos of pie-plates, I have lately seen 
some that were lovely. One pair representing snow scenes 
was especially charming. Diamond powder was scattered 
over them while wet with the last painting, imitating won¬ 
derfully the sparkle and glitter of real snow and frost. 
Other plaques representing summer landscapes were 
bordered with pale blue, black and gold. Still others 
were of tin cut into an oblong, oval-shape, which, 
after painting, could not be distinguished from the com¬ 
position plaques which they so cleverly imitated. Some 
economical students keep a number of these inexpensive 
plates all prepared, with shaded or plain backgrounds, in 
readiness for immediate and unexpected use ; for often a 
very desirable study is seen, which, if transferred at once 
to one of these plates, is permanently secured, but if left 
until better material could be procured for use, might be 
lost or forgotten. 
The plain wooden plaques are desirable for some sub¬ 
jects, but are often treated in different ways before paint¬ 
ing to give the study the best effect. Ebonized and por¬ 
celain plaques are lovely for flower subjects, as are also the 
brass ones. 
The beveled French-plate mirror plaques are a novelty, 
being extremely useful as well as ornamental on a lady’s 
or gentleman’s toilet table. In a small parlor I have lately 
seen hangs a very elegant-looking plaque whose plebeian 
origin was in a grocery store, and had once been the top 
of a candy bucket. It was covered with a dark moss- 
green velvet, on which was painted an exquisite design of 
water-lily buds, flowers and leaves. Hanging against a 
background of dead-gold wall-paper, the effect was very 
rich and pleasing. 
A pasteboard plaque (an advertisement) was covered 
with white velvet, having a graceful spray of wild-roses 
painted on it. Its companion-piece was similar, having a 
half wreath of pansies trailed over one side. 
A handsome and useful object is a plaque match-holder. 
A pasteboard or light wooden plaque is covered smoothly 
with either velvet or plush, and supported at the back in 
easel fashion. Two small receptacles about the size and 
shape of common plain napkin rings are also covered and 
fastened to the front, after which the whole is painted or 
decorated in any way desired. 
Bronze designs in relief are mounted against plush, and 
are very attractive. Fragile as a breath are the semi¬ 
transparent plaques of thin ground French glass. So 
transparent is this material that the designs upon them 
have the appearance of being in the air. 
The creamy, stippled, octogon-shaped plaques are very 
pretty, and having a plush background or edging, require 
no further mounting. 
The new terraline plaques with their designs in bold 
relief are a novelty to some, and are quite elegant when 
skillfully painted. 
The photographic statuary in plaque-shape has an 
extremely pretty effect in over-door decoration. One 
ingenious little lady, upon being presented with a pair of 
these lovely groups, delved down among the treasures of 
her attic, and brought up some old family portraits, in de¬ 
faced rosewood and walnut oval frames. The “ family 
groups ” were promptly consigned to oblivion again, but 
the frames were cleaned, rubbed, stained and gilded, and 
proved exactly the thing for the dainty statuary groups. A 
lovely Christmas card was one designed by Mrs. Whitney; 
a satin plaque, with a rich plush star-shaped mounting, 
all supported easel fashion, and on the satin was painted 
an elaborate design of pansies, wild-roses, narcissi, and 
apple-blossoms. L. M. Harvey. 
A Plaque Wall-Pocket. 
V ERY pretty wall-pockets are made in the shape of a 
large circle, the foundation of which is very stiff 
pasteboard. A variety of materials may be used for 
covering it, but something quite odd is to crochet of coarse 
tidy cotton a plain circle, which is slightly larger than the 
pasteboard, the surplus edge to be turned over the back 
of the foundation and held firmly and smoothly in place 
by catching it across the back with strong thread. 
Cut two circles of stiff pasteboard exactly the same 
size—fifteen inches in diameter is a pretty and convenient 
size—and cover them with silver-gray or gold-colored 
silesia. The two pieces are then overhanded together 
with cotton or sewing-silk the color of the material, and 
the second covering, which is the crochet work, is put 
over the silesia. Coat the entire surface and edge which 
turns over on the back with either gold, silver or bronze 
paint. This may be purchased from any paint shop, in 
powder, with varnish for mixing and a broad, stiff brush 
with which to apply it; but great care should be used 
when preparing the powder, and even in putting it on the 
material, for, should any of it be inhaled, it proves some¬ 
times injurious. It is perhaps safer, therefore, to purchase 
the gold or silver paints already prepared, but the first 
method described is rather less expensive. The circle 
must then be put away to dry. 
The pocket is of stiff pasteboard, one-third as high as 
the back, and cut large enough to allow a space at the top 
of two inches between it and the back; the bottom 
should fit closely to the edge of the circle. 
This piece must be coated on both sides with the gold, 
silver or bronze paint, whichever, may have been used for 
the back. 
When both pieces are perfectly dry they should be 
fastened together. This is done by carefully piercing holes 
