Dining-Room Furniture

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with books bound in cloth, he must needs have
them bound in leather, and the best authors are rep-
resented in ranges of volumes whose bindings are
harmonious in style and color. The amount of tool-
ing and lettering bestowed upon these volumes is
something immense, and having arranged his library
in this luxurious manner, he puts the finishing touch
upon his books by affixing to the inner cover of each
a book plate bearing his name and armorial
blazonry.

It is a pretty device, that ought to be more largely
followed in the United States than it has been.

""TO make paper lamp shades composed of three

distinct colors one above another, the crimped

papers should be obtained in three well assorted

tints. They are to be bought, made expressly for

Pen Drawing for Book Illustration.

lamp shades, in one circular length. They are best
arranged on the wire placed over the lamp. It
minimizes the trouble of stretching upwards to
place the lamp on a milking stool. Slip the paper
over, draw it together at the top, leaving a good
heading, and then tie it loosely with string round
the wire, by which means you can regulate the full-
ness carefully till it is equal all round, and then
tighten the string. In the same way place the two
other papers separately over. The lowest paper is
then bent under about two inches above the edge,
the next is formed into a couple of waves, and the
upper one drawn up in waves above, so that it
makes about five Vandykes all round. The paper
remains as you press it, and the result is a pretty,
most graceful shade.

REPOUSSE WORK.

WE have already given in the pages of The Dec-
orator and Furnisher a detailed descrip-
tion of the actual processes for creating designs in
repousse metal work, so that it is unnecessary for
us at present to enlarge upon the subject. It may
be worth repeating that the modern repousse
worker usually beds his metal in pitch. But if the
worker has preference for any other method of work,
which gives good results, he should be strictly up-
held in using such means. So that whether the
work is done by bedding the metal in pitch, or wood,
or other material, the metal being bedded on one of

Ship in Beaten Copper.

these, the design is wrought, working as we mu6t
from the back. The technique is simplicity itself,
as it can be learned in a few moments, although it
takes years to become a skillful workman. He will
find that certain tools or shaped mallets will give a
pleasing result, or that these points are worked in
copper and that the effect is rich and sumptuous
and takes a high polish. He finds that a small pat-
tern sharply traced on the other side looks insignifi-

A Sconce in Repousse Work. Designed and Executed
bv Nelson Dawson.

cant, and that such waste of labor should be
avoided.

We present a design of a 6hip in beaten copper,
and a sconce also in copper repousse work. These
can be easily executed by an amateur, and will
form most delightful bits of beaten work.

DINING-ROOM FURNITURE.

In the selection of colors, wall and floor cover-
ings, hangings and drapery must tie together and
the whole be adapted to 6et off the furniture and
pictures. Blue should never be used in any quan-
tity ; it is too absorbing; dead white and grays are
cold and cheerless, two things always to be avoided
in color effects. One or two upholstered pieces
may be needed in a parlor, but in a minimum of
space hard woods are not unsatisfactory. Dining-
room furniture should be dark, though not neces-
sarily gloomy. Natural oak is very ugly. If used
it should be stained a trifle. Natural mahogany, on
the contrary, is very beautiful.

The table is a matter of choice; while the round
table is admirable, it is not economical; the seating
capacity is less, hence more room is needed than for
a square one. Dining chairs were never more com-
fortable, and there is no excuse for any other sort.
We dine after the affairs of the day; we are bodily
and mentally tired, and for physical economy tbe
chair should be restful, the table inviting, the room
pleasing. The carver must and should have an arm
chair; he needs definite support after the exertion,
proportional to the size of the family. It is a com-
pliment to the wife's dignity to provide one more
arm chair, although she may or may not use it. In

Bell Pull. Modeled; in Gesso.

an ordinary dining-room arm chairs take up too much
room.

High-bask chairs are objectionable from the
window and the waiter's view; they are hard to get
about, they obstruct daylight and throw gloomy
shadows under gaslight. High-top sideboards are
not used any more for similar reasons. There is a
fancy for the Hepplewhite, that is alow buffet with-
out any top at all, that prevailed a century ago.
Over these table-like sideboards a picture or a col-
lection of plates may be hung with good effect. A
cabinet for china is a delightful adjunct to the din-
ing-room furniture.

FIVE ARTISTIC STENCIL DESIGNS FOR
FRIEZE DECORATION.

By A. Ashmun Kelly.

IT is quite possible for the amateur to do very
creditable work with stencil designs, provided
he is careful and neat, and it is with this thoueht
in mind that we herewith present for his use five
excellent and highly artistic designs for a frieze
decoration, copied from work executed by Mr. W.
D. Aitchison, at the Hoxton House Asylum, in En-
gland. The decoration, which, it will be observed,