XI), was not of the finest workmanship, compared with carvings
of the same time in Belgium, France, Germany and Austria.

To-day Victorian cross-stitch and bead work in chairs, screens,
footstools and bell-pulls, artificial flowers of wax and linen, and
stuffed birds, as well as Bristol glass in blue, green and violet, are
brought out from their hiding places and serve as touches of colour to
give some of the notes of variety which good interior decoration
demands.

To be fascinating, a person must not be too rigidly one type. There
must be moments of relaxation, of light and shade in mood, or one is
not charmed even by great beauty. So your perfect room must not be
kept too rigidly in one style. To have attraction it must have variety
in both line and colour, and reflect the taste of generations of home
lovers. The contents of dusty garrets may add piquancy to modern
decorations, giving a touch of the unusual which is very charming.

CHAPTER XXV

PAINTED FURNITURE

Painted furniture is, at present, the vogue, so if you own a piece
made by the Adam brothers of England, decorated by the hand of
Angelica Kauffman, or Pergolesi, from Greek designs, now is the moment
to "star" it.

Different in decoration, but equal in charm, is the seventeenth and
eighteenth century painted lacquers of Italy, France, China and Japan.
In those days great masters laboured at cabinetmaking and decorating,
while distinguished artists carved the woodwork of rooms, and painted
the ceilings and walls of even private dwellings.

To-day we have reproductions (good and bad) of the veteran types, and
some commendable inventions, more or less classic in line, and
original in colouring and style of decoration. At times, one wishes
there was less evident effort to be original. We long for the repose
of classic colour schemes and classic line. In art, the line and the
combination of colours which have continued most popular throughout
the ages, are very apt to be those with which one can live longest and
not tire. For this reason, a frank copy of an antique piece of painted
furniture is generally more satisfactory than a modern original.

If you are using dull coloured carpets and hangings, have your modern
reproductions antiqued. If you prefer gay, cheering tones, let the
painted furniture be bright. These schemes are equally interesting in
different ways. It is stupid to decry new things, since every grey
antique had its frivolous, vi