Old English Furniture

Oak (made in Belgium or the Midlands) backed by an art wall-paper, or to see cottage chairs Of the Chippendale period in the drawing-rooms Of the wealthy; but at least these things show a hankering after improvement. It is not every one who has instinctive feeling for what is beautiful in design and correct in form — not every one who is born with a sensitiveness which is outraged when a beautiful piece of furniture is insulted by being placed in unsympathetic surroundings, and I am not at all sure that the vast majority are not much to be con gratulated on the circumstance. The modest collector, who has scraped up a little know ledge and is the easy prey Of the modern manufacturer, Often forgets, if he ever knew, that the furniture Of the great makers was intended for certain styles Of rooms. The oak-panelled rooms and tapestry-hung walls took their dignified solid oak and exquisite walnut-wood work, and the painted rooms Of a later period show up the dainty work of Sheraton, Adams, and Hepplewhite. Divorced from their proper surroundings, you miss half the effect which the designer saw. I do not suggest that there are not a fair number of.