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HOUSE AND GARDEN 
February, 1911 
DRESS 
The recognized authority on smart 
fashion—"the most beautiful magazine 
of our times. 
February Number Just Out 
25 Cents a Copy 
$3.00 a Year 
A COMPREHENSIVE symposium of the Spring Tailored 
Modes marks this number. The new fabrics for suits and 
coats, the changes in the cut and line, novelties in trimming, the 
smart little touches which give the cachet to an exclusive costume 
are all carefully noted. Hats for the Spring are extensively 
exploited in this number. 
There is illustrated in colors a Handsome Carriage Wrap and as a special 
feature a full page portrait beautifully colored of Miss Frances Starr, the well 
known actress. The cover of this number printed in four colors, showing a 
handsome reception gown and surrounded with a beautiful gold border 
completes the artistic presentment of fashions for the Spring wardrobe. 
DON’T MISS THIS NUMBER 
The Publishers of Dress 
II West 36th Street 
New York 
Sirs: 
I enclose three dollars for which 
please send “Dress" for one year to 
Name. 
Address. 
On Sale at All News Stands 
The only certain way of receiving Dress regularly 
is by yearly subscription, as very often the news 
stand supply is completely exhausted within two 
or three days of publication. 
Subscriptions may be sent direct to the publishers or 
through your newsdealer. 
DRESS, 11 West 36th St., New York City 
ANTIQUE FURNITURE 
Rare China, Pewter, 
Old Lamps, Andirons, Etc. 
NO REPRODUCTIONS 
HENRY V. WEIL 
698 Lexington Avenue 
Cor. 57th Street 
New York 
Sun Dial Shop 
&ntiqueg 
anterior SDecoration 
MRS. HERBERT NELSON CURTIS 
22 East 34th Street NEW YORK CITY 
TELEPHONE 2970 MADISON 
The Hunt for the Antique 
Russian brass and copper ware, used as 
decoration, have become familiar of late 
years. Long necked brass jugs, of no 
practical use, and two-handled loving cups, 
are seen on mantelpieces almost as fre¬ 
quently as are casts of the famous Barye 
lion. Antique tea trays, tea kettles and 
other useful articles are less often seen. 
As bought in the ordinary shop, this for¬ 
eign metal work is limited in variety and 
expensive. If, however, the explorer of 
curious nooks ventures into a swarming 
East Side district of New York, inhabited 
chiefly by Russians and Poles, a dark, 
narrow street is discovered, lined with tiny 
basement shops devoted to the sale of cop¬ 
per, brass and pewter. Prices are about 
one-half below the ordinary uptown 
prices, and there is a bewildering variety 
of glittering wares from which to choose. 
Below the shops are dark cellars where 
new pieces are turned out by Russian 
craftsmen, and much of the ware is lac¬ 
quered or polished by machinery until old 
and new are nearly alike. In one or two 
of the shops pieces are to be found as they 
came from immigrant homes or from the 
Custom House store of confiscated ar¬ 
ticles. Covered with verdigris and discol¬ 
ored through neglect, they look unpromis- 
ising enough. But if care is taken to se¬ 
lect by weight and to make sure that no 
holes, or cracks mar the metal, interesting 
pieces with who knows what dramatic 
history may be picked up at small cost 
by those who prefer the genuine, old sur¬ 
face of the metal to a newly manufac¬ 
tured one. 
The cleaning of the brass thus acquired 
is, of course, not easy. A brisk rubbing 
with salt and vinegar removes most of 
the verdigris and deposit. A brass cleaner 
must be used to finish the polishing, a 
process rewarded by the discovery of the 
old hand-wrought surface. It is notice¬ 
able in buying trays that the unrestored 
ones are usually without handles. In the 
polished tray the handles are frequently 
modern additions, cast, and of poor de¬ 
sign. 
If one is fortunate enough to find an 
old copper tea kettle, small and of grace¬ 
ful shape, untouched by the restorer, it 
can be made ready for use at afternoon 
teas with little trouble, as washing with 
hot soapsuds cleans the surface without 
impairing the beautiful shadowy bloom 
acquired by years of service. It should 
also be boiled for at least twenty minutes 
in a kettleful of water to destroy probable 
germs. 
A recent find in the metal work street 
was toys of brass. Prancing horses, kneel¬ 
ing camels, and elephants cast in two 
pieces, are covered with hieroglyphics. 
Rings in their noses permit them to be 
dragged around by the infant that pos¬ 
sesses them, and the horse has a rat-like 
tail that can be switched in delightful 
fashion. 
To the few who wish to buy at moder¬ 
ate cost not merely decorations, but useful 
In writing to advertisers flease mention House and Garden. 
