Page:An Encyclopædia of Cottage, Farm, and Villa Architecture and Furniture.djvu/824

 800 COTTAGE, FARM, AND VILLA ARCHITECTURE. handsome. I would have it reaching to the ceiling, and somewhat resembling that in the drawing-room ; but of coloured stone or marble : above the large low arch for the fire])lace, a panel containing the representation of a feast, sculptured in white marble in relief; the ornaments, chiefly fruit, and emblems of hospitality. Here I would always burn wood in large logs. The dogs for this purpose should be massive dead steel, the back plate particularly handsome. The curtains in this room should be of crimson velvet, trimmed with gold lace and fringe, the cornices carved and gilt. The furniture would consist of a handsome carved mahogany sideboard on each side of the door, supported by piers, in which are plate-warmers, and a hot closet lined with tin ; also another closet, which would be of use for some purpose; and under each a sarcophagus, one of them lined with lead to contain ice to cool liquors ; the other would be of the same sort, to contain the beer jugs, or it might be a cellaret. A lamp over each sideboard might hang from a supporter in the wainscot. On the sideboards would be placed, at dinner time, the useful and ornamental plate and glass ; and near the sideboards, against the walls, might be, perhaps, two side tables, one on each side of the room. One might be a hot table, on which to put the vegetables, &c., during dinner ; the other for cold meat, and the things usually kept upon the side table. A handsome wide dining-table would stand in the centre of the floor ; and a table to place before the fire when the ladies have left the room after ilinnur, would stand against tlic wall at the end of the room. This table is usually in the form of a horseshoe, and is furnished with a sort of box, to protect the bottles from the heat of the fire, which moves by a brass apparatus, or in a groove, from one person to another. A brass rod supported on the side of the table next the fire is hung with silk curtains, to be drawn occasionally as a screen. Some of these horseshoe tables can have the centre of the horseshoe filled up, and will thus form fireside dining-tables for very cold weather. Against the pier, between the windows, a marble slab might be supported on a carved frame : it would be useful at dinner-time, and help to furnish the room. The side tables are also frequently of marble, on frames carved with the family arms, &c. The chairs should be very handsome, massive, and without arms; the seats crimson leather, with silk tufts, and gymp edging. A crimson leather easy chair would be well placed on each side of the fire. Dumb waiters, with a japanned frame for clean and dirty plates, and knives and forks, besides the usual shelves, might be wanted occasionally, and would furnish two corners of the room. The floor might be covered with a Turkey carpet, showing round it some of the polished oak floor, with a rug of the same pattern as the carpet. A footstool or two might be usefid after dinner. I do not remember any other necessary article of furniture for the dining-room ; but, there is a certain convenience rather indispensable, viz. a closet to hold utensils sometimes required l)y gentlemen after dinner. This closet might be made in the thick outer wall, large enough for a person to stand in, with shelves in the corners for the utensils. A part of the wainscot might open as the door, contrived so as not to be observed. Near the sideboard a similar door in the wainscot might be formed, through which the servants might pass at dinner time, without opening the principal door at the bottom of the room. In the plan we have in view, there would be another wainscot door leading to the master's private or business room. Unless in very large houses, it is usual to take every meal in the dining- room, except tea. A regular breakfast-room is not, therefore, generally necessary in a house of moderate size ; and it is desirable, on many accounts, to have no more sitting- rooms than those which are in constant use. I shall, therefore, omit a description of the breakfast-room, and proceed to the gentleman's private sitting-room, without which the country residence of a person of propei-ty would be very incomplete. 1687. Gentlemari's Study, or Business Boom. A gentleman of studious habits would use his private room as a study ; and here, also, he will see persons on business, and administer justice, if he happens to be in the commission of the peace. The private room should, therefore, be apart from the family sitting-rooms, and near to the back entrance and the servants' oflices, for the convenience of admitting people who come on business, without interruption to the fainily. It should be a comfortable apartment, of good size, but not a handsome one. The furniture should be neat and simple. The curtains might be of moreen ; and the chairs, and tables, and carpet, of any unexpensive kinds. The walls might be papered with any cheap paper ; and the woodwork would probably be painted oak colour, to hide dirt. Against the wall might be hung portraits of favourite horses, cattle, or dogs ; and any glazed prints. There should be, of course, a bookcase, with a good collection of books of a general kind, including law books ; the best publications upon farming, building, planting, gardening, and other subjects of rural economy. Some of these might be lent out to persons living on the estate. Under the cases shonld be a range of presses, in which to keep papers and accounts; and an iron closet for deeds of value, &c., built into the wall. A large map of the estate upon a spring roller, and a map of the county, would be often useful. There should also be a bureau with drawers under it, a large library table also having drawers, and one or two