Page:Architectural Review and American Builders' Journal, Volume 1, 1869.djvu/735

 1869.] Ornamentation for Looking-Glass and Picture-Frames. 593 utility with luxury; gives grace and harmony to the household, opens a broad channel of enterprise, and adds largely to the industrial interests of the countiy. The architect, the builder, the cabinet-maker, the upholsterer, and every housekeeper in the land, will agree with us, that it is also an evidence of the progress of civilization ; for it shows the rapid advance we have made in all that adorns and beautifies. It is to be regretted, that these orna- ments, which give such a splendid finish to the exterior aud interior of buildings, are used too sparingly, and that such as are used, are not always properly ad- justed, or tastefully applied. To the critical eye, the present mode of furnish- ing costly dwellings is much at fault. But little or no attention is paid to the appearance or style of the furniture. Particularly is this the case with par- lors containing large and costly mirrors, portraits, or choice pictures. The frames , are seldom proportioned to the size, and too often lack the necessary ornaments to harmonize with the furniture or the finish of the room. A certain degree of consistency in the apportionment of or- naments on frames is necessary to pro- duce a proper effect, and present an im- posing appearance. All this can be attained, without excess of display, or detracting from the S3 r mmetrical rich- ness and gorgeousness of the whole. In regard to looking-glass frames, especially, there seems to be a defect of judgment, if not a want of information, as to their importance in giving a finish to the homestead. How often in dwell- ings with a neat and beautiful exterior, aud surroundings to correspond, all denoting taste and elegance, is the whole effect almost destroyed, certainly made any thing but attractive, by the want of judgment in interior decoration. It is often the case that apartments are richly furnished, but the glass frames, cornices, &o, are entirely at variance with the style observed in other por- tions of the furniture, and unsuited to the size of the room, or the space the glass is to occupy. The result is, that however handsome the style of each, neither can look well, because they do not match, and this mars the harmony of all. It is, in point of comparison, like driving a pair of horses, one a heavy draught animal, and the other a slender, wiry, race-horse. The contrast is equally marked in both cases. The consequence of failing to give this subject proper consideration is, that after investing a large amount of moneA* for the purpose of having handsomely- furnished apartments, you are disap- pointed, and an unsatisfactory combina- tion becomes more apparent every day Now, it is an easy matter to avoid all this trouble and vexation. After furnishing the apartment to suit the taste, with the exception of looking-glasses, cornices, &o, it would be well to visit an estab- lishment where the manufacture of the last-named articles is made a distinct business, and select, from their many designs, such as are suitable for, and in harmony with, the furniture already pur- chased. This is the most certain plan of securing ornaments that will please the most critical eye, and be in keeping with both the exterior and interior of the mansion. In reviewing the rise and progress of ornamentation, it is interesting to com- pare the past with the present. When we go back to 1850, we find one small shop in Canterbury, Orange county, New York, running, by water-power, the first machine ever used for this work, and emplojung some five or six hands. This was the only source, at that time, f.om which the trade of the countiy drew its supplies There are now about fifty large establishments, employing from fifty to one hundred hands each, with perhaps as many more of lesser capacity. Among the former, we will mention the Looking-Glass and Picture-Frame Manufactory of Messrs. Hall & Garrison, 928, 930, and 931 and 932 North Third