A manual of home-making

Fio. 2(1. — Types of Colonial chairs, usually developed ia mahogany or cherry, which may be found iu gorxl rrproduoUoDA. 1, 4 and 0» Chippendale; 2 and 3» Sheraton; 5, Hepplewhite, superfluous ornament and shiny varnished finishes. The con- struction of fumityre should l>e evident; that is, the necessary upright and horizontal elements should not l>e distorted by cun^es and ornament that impair the function of the members. Variations in contour, such as low flowing curves, should accord with the main outlines. Of all the necessary pieces of furniture, chairs and seats are the freest in form and may deviate farthest HOME FURXISHING 8S froin straight-line dasign. Curved lines and rolling contours adjust tlienLselvcs easily to the human form and are usually more comfortable than the ri^id lines of straight chairs. This does not imply, however, that fantastic shapes are justifiable. Since no piece of furniture is stronger than its weakest joint, it is important to observe that a!l joints be .strong and genuine evTii though hidden. The legitimate use of screws, wedges, antt glue has brought aliout such sound and inconspicuous join- er}^ that tliere is no longer any excuse for wobbly, insecure furni- ture. In general, the tendency of modern furniture design is toward easily movable forms such as metal beds, closets instead of wardrobes, and varioiis types of reeil and willow furniture* The parts of whicii furniture is composed should seem reason- able for the function which they are to perform. The legs of chairs and tables shouki not !je heavy enough for porch posts like those in some piece:^ of mission furniture, nor should they be frail and ** ladylike" as in the case of the little gilt parlor chair. The w^oods most used in modern furniture are ash, oak, ma- hogany, walnut, and other woods finisheil to imitate these, also pine and whitewooil for painted pieces. Bird's-eye maple and curly birch, being sport growths, shouki not be used as a structural furniture wood, t)f these woofts, oak is heavy, durable, susceptible to color modifications, easily kept in good condition, of a sturdy character, appropriate to everyday conditions, and not too expensi%^e. Maliogany is tlurable, but needs much care, is too '^dressy*' in appearance for the stress of modern daily life, and is not so adaptable, except in its browner tones, to usual color schemes. Contrary to the usual belief t there is oo intrin- sic merit in the fact that a piece of modern furniture is called mahogany. Many of the best looking pieces are only birch stained red, or if made of the genuine wood are often less at- tractive than their birch substitutes. Only in antique pieces, valuable because they are good and not because they are old, and in modern copies or adaptations of Ene design and finish, is the real sentiment anri beauty of mahogany pres^i^rvcnl. In general, oak is the most representative wood for modern furni- 84 A MANUAL OF IIOME-MAKIMG ■V Fig. 27. —Com for table arm-chairs for i?cncnil use. ture, just as black walnut was the typical woofi in our mothers* day and mahopany in the day of our grandmothers. The finish of all woods should Im soft and ihlll, ruhlied, not varnished, A shiny polish is often u^ed to hide blemishes in the wood and is of a nature pertaining more to metals and to glass than fo wood.