The Golden State: Where & How to Live, Secure, Visit, Enjoy and Thrive in California

Furniture Finishing

Novelty furniture


NOVELTY furniture is a trade term comprising a class of semi-utilitarian, semi-decorative pieces of which the following are leading examples: End tables, humidors, cellarettes, Priscilla and Martha Washington sewing cabinets, book troughs, magazine carriers, book cases, hanging shelves, gate-leg, coffee, tilt-top and card tables, telephone sets (cabinet or table and chair), tabourets, consoles, corner and smaller secretary desks. The fact that their dimensions are small makes it desirable to introduce color into the finish wherever possible, as decoratively they serve to enliven the general room scheme, standing out in relief against the more sombre tones of walnut and mahogany furniture. However, this is not always the case, since oftentimes this color note is sufficiently carried out in drapes and upholstery so that the finish color in the novelty pieces is intended rather to harmonize with, if not actually to match, the principal walnut and mahogany pieces.

STAIN

If for the latter purpose, the wood is stained, and filled if necessary, as outlined under Radio Cabinets, finished and decorated in the same manner. Gum, poplar and birch are the common woods with some walnut and mahogany veneer on the better grades.

PAINT AND LACQUER ENAMEL

Where the color note is to predominate, any of the systems mentioned under Enameled Wood Furniture, Art Metal Furniture and Breakfast Boom Furniture may be employed, according to the wood or metal used in construction.

It is noteworthy in this connection that an ever increasing amount of novelty furniture is being turned out in aluminum, steel and malleable iron.

Waste baskets are frequently of sheet steel grained as described in Chapter IX.

COLOR SCHEMES

Appropriate colors for novelty furniture include Chinese red, jade green, lettuce green, Chinese yellow, turquoise blue amber, parchment, French pray, pray preen, cardinal red, lavender, champagne and black. All of these that harmonize may be used in combination.

DECORATION

In decoration novelty furniture may riot; in fact, practically every method outlined in Book III may be employed according as the piece may be stained, painted or lacquer enameled.

Stain and paint are frequently combined, as on secretary desks, -which may be of shaded maple, banded and striped in color, the interior finished in a bright glazed color to match banding or striping:. The doors may be done in an oriental lacquered or hand-painted landscape scene.