The Golden State: Where & How to Live, Secure, Visit, Enjoy and Thrive in California
Furniture Finishing
Wrought iron and bronze chairs, ferneries, lamp bases and torcheres, marble-top tables and the like, are apt to be of Roman inspiration. Such furniture is suitable for formal halls, around formal gardens and swimming pools and as occasional pieces in living rooms and enclosed porches of large country residences. It is in no sense cozy or suitable for small homes of the cottage tvne, proceeding as it does from a background of marble patrician homes, cool, spacious and austere.
The rough cast iron or bronze is usually finished natural, without any attempt toward smoothing up the surface. Flat black undercoater, asphaltum or dull black lacquer is varied with a verde effect produced with a ground coat of medium chrome green in japan, followed by a stipple glaze coat of burnt umber in japan. Where the metal is machined smooth, polished black lacquer is relieved here and there by burnished gold leaf or by loops, twists, leaves and flutings high-lighted or lined with gold bronze.
Gothic (The middle acies, 1200-1443)
FROM the decline of the Roman Empire in 500 A. D., to the advent of the Gothic style of architecture, generally placed at about 1200 A. D., the arts and sciences in Europe practically ceased to exist. During this period, Known in history as the Dark Ages, the continent became a vast battleground over which the chieftains of rival tribes contended for supremacy. Many of the successful ones became Christians and, abandoning their roving tent life, sought repositories for their accumulated spoils in strongly fortified castles.
It was in the monasteries, oases in the universal clash of arms, that the dim light of learning was kept from flickering out entirely. As these institutions increased in number, sheltering all who still loved the arts of peace, the Christian church as a whole increased in power and wealth. Great cathedrals begad to rise in the walled cities, equipped with furniture to match their distinctive interior and exterior design. Thus born of architecture and religion, the Gothic style remains down to today the principal influence in our church and lodge furniture design.
In its earlier manifestations, alike in architecture and furniture, the Gothic style was crude and sombre. It spread gradually over Europe, becoming known as French Gothic, English Gothic, Dutch Gothic, etc.. and receiving modifications in proportion 1o its distance from Italy. Scandinavian Gothic, for instance, was a semi-barbaric style consisting of much scroll work twisted about hideous carved monsters, and being subject to Russian influences, was also highly colorful.
According to modern standards the interior of a feudal castle would hardly form a picture of comfort. Floors and walls were of stone the former covered with rushes, straw or sand, the latter hung with shields and tapestries; windows were narrow, barred slits.
