Function,
The usefulness of a piece of furniture is paramount to every
other consideration. For example* a chair of whatever materials
constructed, Is made to sit in. If it does not answer this use
comfortably, it is utterly unworthy a« a seat. In it^ simplest
form a chair has a seat, legs, and back, but it is often developed
into forms with arms, rungs, rockers, and upholstery as well
d
Fio. 24.— A group of typical side chairs of Bubstantial and plraning form* and
of varied finiab. From thciiG, fleiectionis might \w umde for dining-room,
UvinR-room, or hall.
80 A MANUAL OF HOME-MAKING
H
FtCi. 25.— Four good tabic forms for uBts la dmiug-ruom or Ubraiy.
Eveti tlu* most elementary t^^ie should afTon! a seat wide enough
to aeconimoclate the lx»dy comfortably, should have legs of a
height that allow the feet of the occupant to rest easily upon the
floor, and a back that accords with the curve of the spine. These
requirements wotild seem so obvious as not to netnl mention,
were it not so rare to find them all combint»<l in one chair. Since
the adult members of a mkgle family may vary greatly in height,
Plate VI, — Good typ&* of desks and sideboards.
HOME FimmSBING
81
size, and proporlion, no exact rule as to the measoremeiits of
chairs can be formulated. In general, however, the seat of an
ordinary straight chair should measure from 15 to 20 inches
across the front and may be usually 2 or 3 inches narrower at
the back. In heis^ht the seat may be from lo fo 20 inches from
the floor, inclining slightly backwards. The lower the seat, the
greater should be its deptli; and conversely, the higher the
seat, the more shallow its deptlu The height of tlie I tack
from the seat may vary from 12 to 30 inches. Arms should be
of a hei^id to support the arm of the occupant comfortably —
alx>ut 10 inches usuall^^ from the seat. Rails or slats or ban-
uisters in the chair-back should iie tested with reference to the
ribs and shoulder-bkitles of the user. Rungs are usually added
for strengtli, but a well-made chair may Ije quite adequate to
its purpose without them.
The varying purposes for wliicli chairs are used are another
element in the decision, A sewing chair, a slipper chair, and
a nursery rocker are preferably low. A short-backeil chair is
convenient for a dressing-table or for the kitchen, A chair for
lounging may i>e as deep and higli-!)aeke<l and as luxuriously
upholstered as the user fancies . No chair is good that is not
comfortable in service.
With a table also, the first thought of the buyer should be
its use, A dining-table, a tatile for the lilirary, a sewing-tal>le,
a table for bedroom, hall, or kitchen, each has a special service
to render and shoultl be chosen with that service in mind. Every
table, however, should be stable.
A bureau, a chest, a sideboard, or any container should be
thought of in terms of the storage space afforded anti facility of
access to that space; doors should open and shut easily; drawers
should run smoothly.
ConMr^uction and demgn.
The first requirements in construction are strength and du-
rability* These are essential elements also for efficient service.
Good furniture must be sincerely l>yi!t from honest material,
should be designed for a definite purpose, and should avoid
A
82
A MANUAL OF HOME-MAKING
Page 47
Presented as published in 1919. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
AI-modernized reading of the original text
A modernized reading is not available for this page yet. You are seeing the original text.
Function,
The usefulness of a piece of furniture is paramount to every
other consideration. For example* a chair of whatever materials
constructed, Is made to sit in. If it does not answer this use
comfortably, it is utterly unworthy a« a seat. In it^ simplest
form a chair has a seat, legs, and back, but it is often developed
into forms with arms, rungs, rockers, and upholstery as well
d
Fio. 24.— A group of typical side chairs of Bubstantial and plraning form* and
of varied finiab. From thciiG, fleiectionis might \w umde for dining-room,
UvinR-room, or hall.
80 A MANUAL OF HOME-MAKING
H
FtCi. 25.— Four good tabic forms for uBts la dmiug-ruom or Ubraiy.
Eveti tlu* most elementary t^^ie should afTon! a seat wide enough
to aeconimoclate the lx»dy comfortably, should have legs of a
height that allow the feet of the occupant to rest easily upon the
floor, and a back that accords with the curve of the spine. These
requirements wotild seem so obvious as not to netnl mention,
were it not so rare to find them all combint»<l in one chair. Since
the adult members of a mkgle family may vary greatly in height,
Plate VI, — Good typ&* of desks and sideboards.
HOME FimmSBING
81
size, and proporlion, no exact rule as to the measoremeiits of
chairs can be formulated. In general, however, the seat of an
ordinary straight chair should measure from 15 to 20 inches
across the front and may be usually 2 or 3 inches narrower at
the back. In heis^ht the seat may be from lo fo 20 inches from
the floor, inclining slightly backwards. The lower the seat, the
greater should be its deptli; and conversely, the higher the
seat, the more shallow its deptlu The height of tlie I tack
from the seat may vary from 12 to 30 inches. Arms should be
of a hei^id to support the arm of the occupant comfortably —
alx>ut 10 inches usuall^^ from the seat. Rails or slats or ban-
uisters in the chair-back should iie tested with reference to the
ribs and shoulder-bkitles of the user. Rungs are usually added
for strengtli, but a well-made chair may Ije quite adequate to
its purpose without them.
The varying purposes for wliicli chairs are used are another
element in the decision, A sewing chair, a slipper chair, and
a nursery rocker are preferably low. A short-backeil chair is
convenient for a dressing-table or for the kitchen, A chair for
lounging may i>e as deep and higli-!)aeke<l and as luxuriously
upholstered as the user fancies . No chair is good that is not
comfortable in service.
With a table also, the first thought of the buyer should be
its use, A dining-table, a tatile for the lilirary, a sewing-tal>le,
a table for bedroom, hall, or kitchen, each has a special service
to render and shoultl be chosen with that service in mind. Every
table, however, should be stable.
A bureau, a chest, a sideboard, or any container should be
thought of in terms of the storage space afforded anti facility of
access to that space; doors should open and shut easily; drawers
should run smoothly.
ConMr^uction and demgn.
The first requirements in construction are strength and du-
rability* These are essential elements also for efficient service.
Good furniture must be sincerely l>yi!t from honest material,
should be designed for a definite purpose, and should avoid
A
82
A MANUAL OF HOME-MAKING