HOUSE AND GARDEN 
October, 
1910 
227 
These chairs are reproductions of designs by the Adam Brothers. 
They are of satinwood, covered with damask 
becoming very scarce, and are almost altogether replaced by 
modern tapestries which are clever imitations and wear well. 
In Queen Anne’s day the coverings were of “petit-point'’ needle¬ 
work, in marvelous designs, and this work is now very rare. 
The petit-point was also used for bed-covers, and the beautiful 
stitches and patterns represented many years of eye-tiring work. 
It was a sign of wealth then if one possessed a petit-point bed¬ 
cover. 
An old Colonial stuffed davenport, leather-covered, forms a 
good foundation for the living-room or library. A hundred and 
fifty dollars will buy a beauty, with a low, luxurious, deep-cush¬ 
ioned arm-chair to match at sixty dollars. Small arm-chairs 
with low seats—“lady chairs’’ — are of the same model as the 
large arm-chair, and stuffed with feathers and down. 
The wing chair, that quaint old high-backed Colonial friend, 
with a most luxurious seat, is made this year with over-generous 
five-inch-thick cushions, often with an air-cushion in the center. 
The chaise-lounge is another luxury of the living-room or 
library, and has one advantage over a settle or davenport in that 
the parts can form either a lounge, or two arm-chairs, or a 
large arm-chair and a stool. 
Most attractive sets consisting of mahogany settle and chairs 
are made with wooden rim and cane seats and back. Some of 
these settles have fat cushions and valance or half-curtain over 
the back, while the chairs are supplied with thin cushions tied 
on. The lines follow the old Adam and Sheraton designs. 
In the dining-room the round table is still a favorite, and is 
either quite plain mahogany, walnut or oak; or elaborately carved 
according to the period copied. Queen Anne tables are simple 
with straight legs. More elaborate work is found on the Adam 
and Chippendale tables, but the lion’s claw and the ball-foot now 
are the surest mark of the Chippendale period, and these we find 
in most of the Colonial reproductions. Eighteenth century din¬ 
ing-rooms had table, chairs and sideboard table only; in the 
latter part of the century, however, the pedestal sideboard came 
in, and these are now reproduced to perfection. Hepplewhite 
sideboards are exceptionally graceful, and come in various shapes 
and designs. Many of the original Hepplewhite pieces — bed¬ 
posts, chairs, tables, etc. — were beautifully inlaid and carved, as 
were the Sheraton; and the twentieth century reproductions are 
also marvels of craftsmanship. 
Chinese Chippendale library and dining-room pieces, with 
exquisite inlay and carvings, are among the most elaborate popu¬ 
lar reproductions, while occasionally one sees the very decorative 
and much decorated Dutch marquetry pieces, finely inlaid. 
A Circassian walnut dining-room set, with exquisite soft pol¬ 
ish, which brings out the natural beauty of the wood, made in 
the style of the William and Mary period, is worth close to two 
thousand dollars — beautiful to contemplate, but beyond the 
pocketbook of the average home-builder. 
The daintiest of bedroom sets are those which are hand- 
painted or stenciled. The shapes conform to the eighteenth cen¬ 
tury designs, and the stained wood is in splendid imitation of 
the more expensive woods. Oak is the foundation of the stained 
furniture. The exquisite enameled and hand-painted sets are 
made of birch, a very smooth wood which takes and holds all 
colors of enamel, and makes a smooth and desirable surface for 
(Continued on page 243) 
Original Jacobean settle with tapestry covering. These pieces of 
furniture range in price between $900 and $1,400 
Carved oak settles, fashioned after those of the Elizabethan period, 
are in demand for hall or living-room. The genuine, old settle 
shown above is a good example of the carving of that day 
