Page:Architectural Review and American Builders' Journal, Volume 1, 1869.djvu/248

 204 Sloan's Architectural Review and Builders' Journal. [Sept., some of the best medical authorities have recommended them for sanitary reasons. The} r also have the advantage of being as readily cleaned as any piece of furniture, the surface being hard does not dent or mar easily, and may be washed at will. In fact they can be permanently applied, with paste, to the solid surface of wood, either of their own, or a different species ; and thus would do pretty well for some kinds of furniture. They make beauti- ful sign-boards, especially for lettering in gold and finishing with colorless var- nish. In regard to economy, while the mar- gin will vary — with the kind of wood, the different manifestations of that kind, and the manner of putting it on — yet the general cost is very moderate, not exceeding that of good quality paper- hangings. This material, having great tenacity, is applied to walls by those used to put- ting on paper hangings, with even more facility than paper ; especially in elabo- rate panel-work. As its tenuity is such that every little irregularity is percepti- ble through it, the walls should be ren- dered entirely smooth, all holes, cracks, etc., being stopped up with plaster of Paris and leveled. It is hardly needful to observe, that the walls should be per- fectly dry, smooth and clean. Old and foul walls must be cleaned, either by a thin papering of pure white, or, much better, by re-finish plastering. All walls must be properly prepared with hot glue sizing, about the same as for ordinary paper hangings. The adhesion of the Wood-Hangings is secured by flour-paste, as thick as it can be worked, which should also be forced through a fine sieve,to avoid lumps that would show through the wood. If not sufficiently pliable, the wood should be dampened, with a sponge and water, before applying the paste. A roller of sufficient hardness, covered with cloth, or with India-rubber, should be used to press the wood, smoothly and evenly, on the wall; and all excess of paste driven from beneath, by rubbing, or pressing outwards towards the edges, with a wooden tool or scraper. When on the wall, and thoroughly dry, glycerine of medium quality, without acid, one part to every two of water, should be applied. Then finish in shellac, varnish, wax, or oil, according to taste. Prior to finishiug, however, all paste must be removed from the surface, with water and sponge. After the first coat of wax, oil, shellac, or vaimish has thoroughly dried in, all laps, or irregular edges, should be smoothed off, with fine sand- paper. According to the fineness of the work, from one to three finishing coats, of whatever material, will be given. Five years ago, such a radically new thing, in wall decoration, if mentioned, would have been considered physically impossible ; and, indeed, as quite akin to the new pleasure, that Xerxes offered a reward, to have invented for him ; yet here it is. If, in beautifying our walls, expense were no object whatever ; and we longed for grace, sweep and textile richness, we should employ tapestry — could we get it. If we wanted depth and archi- tectural lights and shadows, we should set up wainscot. If we wished breadth and highly artistic effects, we should se- lect fresco. If we desired gorgeous richness, we should take artistic paper- hangings. If polished chasteness were our object, and the place a palace, we should choose paneled slabs of marble, mainly white; though in a modest dwel- ling, light, oil-painted walls and^ white kalsomined wood-work. But if, weigh- ing all these, we sought a never-ending, ever-delighting series of surprises, quiet in mass and brilliant in detail — compar- able only with the other beauties of na- ture herself, as, for example, the per- petual dissimilarity in the colors and markings of agates — without one in- stant's hesitation, we should select ar- tistically panelled, pillared, arched and corniced Hangings of Wood.