House & Garden 
In the library is 
found quite a ming¬ 
ling of eras — 16th 
Century tapestries, 
17th Century 
French mirror, 16th 
Century Italian 
bronzes, Louis XV 
needlework chairs 
and various other 
pieces of French and 
1 talian fur nit u r e 
The small lit de 
repos and the 
etagere or stand be¬ 
side it are both 
characteristic Louis 
XVI pieces. The 
china on the etagere 
is old Swiss of in¬ 
teresting and un¬ 
usual design. In the 
background are orig¬ 
inals of the period 
American charmers from Rochambeau’s 
officers in Paris, caused its revival. 
Before me rests a little carved gilt foot¬ 
stool of the Second Louis. Its covering is 
a bit of blue brocade—the blue of Nattier. 
Tradition has it that it was sent to a Living- 
ston belle by no less a personage than the 
Due de Lauzun. Time has not been very 
cruel to its covering, for probably few little 
feet in high heeled slippers have rested on 
it since it became a cherished treasure of 
its first owner. One can imagine it on the 
hardwood floor of some stately New York 
room—a vivid spot of envy for the fair 
ladies who made the Early Republican 
court. Probably it aroused a longing for 
French furniture in many a beholder. 
It is said in New York today among the 
dealers in antique furniture, and the inte¬ 
rior decorators, that the three Louis have not 
been very marketable this season. If a pa¬ 
tron does ask for French furniture it is 
usually Directoire. All the hue and cry in 
furnishing has been for American things, or 
the English pieces that are their fine rela¬ 
tions. For those who psychologize about the 
decoration of the American home for the 
American there arises the question: Can any 
of the three Louis or their bastard progeny 
enter the average mediocre New York 
