Page:An Encyclopædia of Cottage, Farm, and Villa Architecture and Furniture.djvu/1110

 108 COTTAGE, FARM, AND VILLA ARCHITECTURE. kind of uiarble for wash-hand stands is the variety of French marble known in London as St. Anne's : it is not so light as some blue- veined marbles, but it is considered much more durable than any other, from the lime being cheniically fixed, by combination with iron, in such a manner as to prevent the latter from being easily acted upon by the alkali of the soap. The price of marble being now greatly reduced, in con- sequence of the appli- cation of steam ma- chinery to its sawing and polishing, the tops of wash-hand stands, and other articles of bed-room furniture, are very frequently made of it. Fig. 1996 is a vase, which may be of marble or of cast iron bronzed, or of various other materials, supported on a cast-iron bronzed column, with project- ing handles to serve as soap-holders. If this article were made a fixture, two small tubes could be conducted up the supporting co- lumn, the one to supply clear water, and the other to carry oflT the dirty water. This elegant Design is by Mr. Mallet. 2142. A small Ebmiy Waiter or Tray is frequently used for holding jugs, &c., of hot water, for the washing-table : they are eight or nine inches in diameter, turned, with the edges projecting over, so as to serve as a substitute for handles. This, however, is not the only article of fiirnitiire and furnishing that we have omitted to figure and describe in this work. The truth is, that there are hundreds of small articles required in furnishing a house, which might have been introduced in a work professing to describe and figure all the utensils, implements, and instruments used in private houses : but our principal object is, to communicate our ideas on the taste or no taste of the more conspicuous articles of furniture at present generally fabricated. 1996 SUBSECT. Furniture for the Nicrsery. 2143. Bassinet (barcina, Sp., a rush basket). The first piece of ftirniture which an infant can be said to use is a bassinet, or portable bed. Fig. 1 997 is a bassinet two feet and a half long, the frame of which is made of wicker- work, with a hood which falls backwards or forwards as required. It is generally lined with printed furniture, or sometimes with dimity, to keep out the draught. The hood is covered with furniture, and two little curtains drop down from its front, which are looped up with tapes or ribands in the same manner as tent-bed furniture (see fig. 698J. A hair mattress stuflTed very soft, and a small down pillow, complete the bed. " The advantage of this l)cd," Mi. Dalziel observes, " is great ; as the child, when asleep in it, is protected Com ciu-rents of air from whatever direction they may come. The child may also be removed in it