June, 
1917 
45 
the decorator as author 
Eight New Books Presenting Eight Viewpoints 
On the Art of Interior Decoration and Architecture 
T is only fair that those who work the 
miracle of good taste preach its gospel. 
Decorators, like good wine, need no bush, 
but they deserve explanation. The touch¬ 
stone of good taste that they employ has 
made both them and their work not a little 
mysterious to those who have never chanced 
to fall into the merciful hands of a deco¬ 
rator. And they are merciful hands, for 
with rare diplomacy they guide a client’s 
choice into the right path. 
But is there only one path? Scarcely. 
Here are eight books by as many deco¬ 
rators, and while all claim allegiance to the 
same fundamental rules of decoration, each 
interprets them in a different fashion. 
T here is “The Art of Interior Decora¬ 
tion” by Grace Wood and Emily Bur¬ 
bank (Dodd, Mead, $3). In a crisp, direct, 
readable style the authors have set down the 
facts of decoration as their varied experi¬ 
ences have proven them. Every phase of 
the house is considered, including some that 
decorators usually neglect—rooms such as 
the bathroom and the servants’ quarters. 
There are short chapters on the periods, on 
collecting, on table decoration and pictures, 
to name but a few. The why and where¬ 
fore of each principle is clearly explained. 
You hear an old message in new words. 
And the new concept these decorators pre¬ 
sent is the idea of considering the room as 
a picture—a rounded, complete setting for 
life. Excellently illustrated, admirably pre¬ 
sented, “The Art of Interior Decoration” 
is one of the few really good books which 
have appeared on this subject. 
ANOTHER approach to the house in 
l\. good taste is made by Amy L. Rolfe in 
“Interior Decoration For the Small House” 
(Macmillan, $1.25). It is written with the 
wholly laudable purpose of making people 
with moderate means apply those means to 
the best advantage in the decoration of 
their homes. And to that 
end it lays down the fun¬ 
damental principles of 
convenience and comfort 
that we all demand. Cur¬ 
rent prices also give 
some idea of what the 
improvements in the 
home will cost. A con¬ 
cluding chapter on how 
to go about studying in¬ 
terior decoration is a 
valuable feature. 
T 
'HE HEALTH¬ 
FUL HOUSE,” 
by Lionel Robertson and 
T. C. O’Donnell (The 
Good Health Publishing 
Co., $2), approaches the 
decoration of the home 
from the angle of its 
effect on the health. 
“What we have attempt¬ 
ed,” the authors say, “is 
to insist upon the health 
importance of beautiful 
colors and beautiful lines 
and masses, beautiful wall and floor cover¬ 
ings, equally with fresh air and light—to 
present to the reader, in short, a house that 
is healthful because it satisfies the demands 
of hygienic and esthetic sense alike.” 
A FOURTH interpretation of the deco¬ 
rative principle is found in Hazel H. 
Adler’s “The New Interior” (The Century 
Co., $3). The sub-title reads, “Modern 
Decoration for the Modern Home.” To 
show how the modern movement has devel¬ 
oped, the author surveys its various expres¬ 
sions in the different fields of art, and then 
goes on to explain how decorators are doing 
their share in the work. This subject was 
explained at length in “What Is Modern 
Decoration ?” in the April House & Gar¬ 
den. It is mainly a liberal use of strong 
color, the employing of craftsmen in the 
work, and an attempt to find color schemes 
and lines other than those of the accepted 
periods and their current adaptations. How 
much of the movement is passing fad would 
be difficult to say. A close student of deco¬ 
ration is apt to criticise this book, however, 
for including much material that is far from 
modern. Surely Ralph ikdarns Cram would 
not consider his private chapels—ffishioned 
along the lines of those in the Pyrenees—as 
being modern. They are distinctly medi¬ 
eval. That craftsmen are employed in 
the work seems to be about the only rea¬ 
son for their being called modern. The 
value of this book lies in its survey of 
the recent art movements, in its chapter on 
new groupings of color and its excellent 
illustrations. 
A LITTLE handbook by Helen C. Can- 
dee, “Jacobean Furniture” (Stokes, 
$1.25), is a detailed study of a period for 
which Mrs. Candee is well known. Those 
who have used her “Decorative Styles and 
Periods”—and who has not?—will find this 
monograph of equal interest and help. 
In ‘^The Art of Interior Decoration” by Grace Wood and Emily Burbanlc. is shown 
a Direetoire dining-room of rare distinction that is indicative of a style which 
will be in favor in the near future 
I N the “Practical Book of Early American 
Arts and Crafts,” by H. D. Eberlein 
and Abbot McClure (Lippincott, $6), the 
authors have set forth the fascinating re¬ 
sults of the various forms of craftsmanship 
practised by our forebears of the Colonial 
and post-Colonial periods. The record can¬ 
not fail, in the first place, to promote greatly 
an intelligent appreciation of the sundry 
decorative art manifestations discussed, 
whether on the part of the habitual collector 
or of the chance admirer and occasional 
purchaser. In the second place, it cannot 
fail to spur modern crafts-workers to emula¬ 
tion of their predecessors’ performances 
either by reproduction or adaptation. In¬ 
deed, one important item of the book’s ap¬ 
peal is found in the stimulus and inspiration 
it affords the present-day craftsman and 
craftswoman. 
The subjects covered include early Ameri¬ 
can silver; glass; decorative metal work in 
iron, brass, copper, lead and tin; pewter; 
pottery, both within the present bounds of 
the United States and the majolica of early 
Mexico: decorative painting on household 
gear in its many ramifications; early por¬ 
traiture and allegorical painting; weaving; 
handblock printing on fabrics and paper; 
carving in wood and stone ; and, finally, lace¬ 
making, this latter chapter being contributed 
by Mabel Foster Bainbridge, who has done 
more than anyone else to revive this ancient 
craft. 
The book, as its title implies, is thorough¬ 
ly practical, in that it supplies exact data 
for the collector—witness, for example, the 
silver chapter with its list of silversmiths 
and their marks—and also an exceptionally 
readable and comprehensive volume of ref¬ 
erence for the average person interested in 
one or another of the early decorative art 
manifestations. Furthermore, the presen¬ 
tation of subject matter has great suggestive 
value pointing to the ready possibility of a 
revival and adaptation of the old crafts for 
the enrichment of our 
architectural and interi¬ 
or decorative resources. 
T O this list of books 
on decoration we 
add two on architecture. 
“ Domestic Architec¬ 
ture,” by L. Eugene Rob¬ 
inson (Macmillan, 
$1.50), is a handbook de¬ 
signed for the layman 
and beginning student of 
architecture who would 
understand the princi¬ 
ples that must be ob- 
served in building a 
house. It fits its purpose 
well. In addition to the 
ordinary facts of history 
and building are well 
written chapters on 
costs, on the practice of 
architecture and the re¬ 
lation between architect 
and client that will be 
found of value. .. 
{Continued on page 72) 
