54 
House & Garden 
The Finest Wtllow Furniture in America 
WHIP-O-WILL-O for porch and home, is constantly 
growing in favor. Made of genuine imported French 
Willow in graceful, comfortable designs. 
Fayette Chair, with cushion.$16.50 
Kenilworth Chaise Longue, complete.$29.50 
Nundorf Bird Cage.$12.25 
Lambert Plant Bowl, with liner. $3.50 
Beautifully illustrated booklet ( 52 pages ) free on request. 
Ask for Booklet £>. 
WJ*IP-O-will-0 
** * FURNITURE* COL v 
Scranton Pa. 
Antique 
wooden 
painted 
Italian tray 
(Continued from page 41) 
England, japanned and decorated iron Another, equally interesting, shows a 
trays were substituted for the earlier festival; this was worked out by a Bos- 
wooden and pulp ones. The evolution ton artist, on one of the old iron trays, 
shows us the progress that was made, such as our grand dames used when 
not only in the material used, but in giving tea parties in the early 19th 
the decoration. This industry flour- Century. 
ished in Pontypool, England, but gradu- There is a modern adaptation of the 
ally drifted to the large hardware cen- tray which renders it more useful, and 
ter of Birmingham. The trays turned that is fitting it to ornamental legs and 
out in these places were not decorated a frame from which it can be lifted 
to any great extent, although we find off when used for serving. These are 
many beautiful ones that were designed generally iron trays that have been re- 
tow'ard the close of the 18th Century, lacquered and painted, although some 
at which time they were imported in of them are the originals that came 
large quantities into our country. These over from the Orient, 
were probably decorated as a pastime The old silver tray leads in value, 
by amateurs. It is certainly the handsomest, whether 
Picture what a large, heavily lac- plain or decorated, and is usually an 
quered, gold and black tray, such as heirloom that has been handed down 
you would hardly dare to use commonly through many generations. There is a 
today, can tell us of tete-a-tete, a cen- diversity of opinion as to whether silver 
tury ago in an English rose garden! or Sheffield plate are the more valuable. 
Or a highly polished, elaborately orna- It is generally considered a mistake to 
mented silver tray that once held sylla- have these trays re-silvered, 
bus and mint julep in an old Southern The wooden tray has also come back 
home! If many of these inanimate into favor, but it is different in shape 
pieces could speak, what romantic and and finished in white enamel, often very 
amazing confessions they would relate! beautifully painted. These are made 
For where were important events and of rare woods, such as oak and walnut, 
love affairs discussed more freely than supplemented by mahogany, which af- 
over the tea table? fords a variety of interest sufficient to 
Within the last few years, some of kindle the inspiration of any artist who 
these trays have been repainted in bright decorates them. 
colors, designed to meet modern deco- Of woods, mahogany holds the fore- 
rative schemes. One of them, a fine most rank, having a decorative value 
specimen, represents a hunting scene, exclusively its own. 
Trays of Yesterday and Today 
One of a nest of three trays deco¬ 
rated in the typical curious Oriental 
fashion 
The tray table can be made with col¬ 
lapsible legs and the tray used for a 
decoration 
