Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE
KWIW
fflJJIC TIRADE
VOL. XLVI. No, 5
PnKished Every Saturday by Edward LTman Bill at 1 Madison Ave., New York, January 18,1908.
A KNOWLEDGE OF PIANO DECORATION ESSENTIAL
To the Modern and Progressive Piano Salesman But • Particularly to Those Associated With
Leading Houses Where There Is a Demand for Instruments to Match the Furnishings of
Rooms Which Are Equipped Along Certain Decorative Periods—Should Know the Origin of
Styles in Orcer to Distinguish the Relation of the Various Details Represented.
In any of the larger piano warerooms of the characteristics of the Louis XV. are the broad
present day are to be found one or several art use of white and gold in producing decorative
pianos decorated in the Period styles. There effects, the idea of lightness and extravagant
has been found to be a large demand for these delicacy being also quite evident in structural
"pianos de luxe" from the wealthier classes, forms. From the frivolous and almost criminal
who have begun to realize what home decoration reign of Louis V. it is but a step to that of
really means. These people have given particu- Louis XVI. and Marie Antoinette, who were
lar attention to the fitting out of their homes, crowned 1774. As the financial conditions of
have consulted the decorators of recognized France were at lowest ebb, owing to the extrava-
standing, and in that manner have become more gances of the preceding reign, it was not
or less familiar with what constitutes good only a matter of policy but of necessity for
decoration, and what Period styles really mean. Louis XVI. to advocate simplicity and modera-
Naturally enough these homes of the rich con- tion. But it was a false simplicity, the aris-
tocracy turning to the natural life, but those
tain a music room, to the ornamentation of
which much attention has been given, largely who had bathed in luxury for half a century
in view of the fact that it is one of the rooms could not be natural, for a shepherdess in laces,
where many critical visitors will be enter- silks, tight stays and high-heeled shoes was
tained. When the time comes to select an in- surely not according to nature. However, in
strument, therefore, only one with a case that decoration the reform was slightly more suc-
will harmonize perfectly with the other fur- cessful, and took a decided turn toward the
classical straight lines and geometrical curves.
nishings of the music room wiU be chosen.
As has been mentioned, by the time the home Everything tended to exemplify that whiqh was
is ready to receive the piano, the heads of the pure, and while in the beginning there were
family have an excellent idea of decoration in still traces of the rococo, toward the end the
general, and certain details in particular, and classical had full sway. So strong was this
are not to be trifled with. It therefore takes a trend toward the classical that its influence lived
through the troublous days of the Directoire
salesman with more than a mere knowledge of
what constitutes good tone quality, ?nd how it and Reign of Terror, and became a powerful
is produced, to put up an effective argument in style in the days of the Empire, the warlike
this event. He must, in addition to his knowl- features, such as wreaths, flaming torches, hel-
edge of piano tone and construction, have an mets of Minerva, thunderbolts of Jupiter, taken
excellent idea of the decorative treatment of the the place of the peaceful details of the Louis
case and with what sort of furnishings it will XVI.
In this short sketch it is endeavored to
best harmonize. In other words, salesmen who
,desire to be successful in selling Period pianos point out the fact that there is something to
must study decoration and find out the why decoration, especially the Period styles, beyond
and the wherefore of the various styles. And what appears on the surface in the mass of de-
it will prove an interesting study, for Period tails, and to study decoration means to study
decoration means history. For instance, Louis history. Though the styles of France are taken
XIV. of France was one of the most brilliant as affording the best illustration of the manner
in which decoration is interwoven with history,
monarchs of that country, winning the title of
the same rule applies to the decoration of all
Louis Le Grand. He promoted the industry of
the country and thereby gained revenue to carry countries, as is shown in the English styles, the
on his great work in the field of art. As a Jacobean being contemporary to the Louis XIII.,
result he succeeded in removing the Italian in- the late Jacobean (Charles I.), Cromwellian
fluence of the Renaissance, which gained foot- (1653-1659), and the Queen Anne and Stuart
hold during the reign of Louis XIII., and cre- (1660-1714, being in vogue at the time of Louis
ated a pure French style rich in every detail, XIV., the Georgian (George I.) corresponding to
but not flamboyant. Inlaid and appliqued de- the Regency, and Louis XV., giving place to the
signs in metal and wood are a predominating Adam style during the times of Empire period.
A salesman, in order to talk upon the Period
feature of the Louis XIV. style.
When Louis XIV. died in 1715, his great- styles, as applied to piano decoration, should
grandson, Louis V., was direct successor to the know the origin of the styles in order to distin-
throne, but being only five years of age, his guish the relation of the various details in the
uncle Philip, Duke of Oi leans, acted as regent case itself and to judge correctly just what
until 1723. Even during the eight years of the sort of environment it would best harmonize
regency the effect of the senseless and pleasure- with. While to obtain this knowledge of deco-
loving life of the aristocracy became evident, ration means study, a fairly comprehensive
and the decoration tended toward the often understanding of at least the leading Periods may
beautiful but nevertheless grotesque rococo. be gained without a great deal of effort. The
The dignity of the Louis XIV. is in great con- various public libraries have hundreds of vol-
trast to sensuous rococo of his successor, a style umes on decoration, and it is a subject that
proves so intensely interesting, as it is under-
of beauty without real meaning. The chief
SINGLE COPIES, 10 CENTS.
$S.O0 PER YEAR.
stood, that when once begun the student will
not halt until the subject is completely mastered.
As piano decoration has been largely con-
fined to the more prominent Periods, an under-
standing of these leading periods is very simple
to acquire, though when piano decoration reaches
the point where the intricacies of the Renaissance
periods with their intermingled and crossed
styles are adopted to case work, then the sales-
man must needs be an earnest student of deco-
ration to talk intelligently to the prospect. It
is a knowledge that once acquired will prove
useful during a lifetime, and will mean in-
creased sales on the part of salesman whose
value to his house will appreciate in equal
ratio.
EXPORT HOUSES ORGANIZE.
Leading
Firms
Form Association to
Trade.
Promote
About twenty-five of the leading export houses
of this city have organized the American Ex-
porters and Importers' Association for the pur-
pose of promoting trade and commercial inter-
ests generally. Among the members are: Markt
& Co., Hammacher, Delius & Co., Arkell & Doug-
las, William E. Peck & Co., Henry W. Peabody &
Co.. R. W. Cameron & Co., and the Strong &
Trowbridge Co.
Gustave Vintschger, of Markt & Co., has been
elected President, William H. Douglas, of Arkell
& Douglas, Vice-President, and William E. Peck,
of Peck & Co., Treasurer.
SIXTY PIANOS FOR SCHOOLS
Of Rochester to be Supplied by E. J. Chapman
the Well Known Dealer.
E. J. Chapman, the well-known piano dealer of
Rochester, N. Y., was recently the successful bid-
der for supplying sixty-nine pianos for the pub-
lic schools of that city, and was later in New
York placing orders for four carloads to fill
his contracts. Two pianos are to be placed in
each of the high schools and twenty-eight of the
public schools, while one piano each is to be
placed in the office of the Superintendent of
Music and eight of the schools. It was an order
well worth working for and Mr. Chapman is to
be congratulated on obtaining it.
BAD PIANO MAN WORKING VIRGINIANS.
1 Special to The Review.)
Richmond, Va., Jan. 13, 1908.
A smooth talking gentleman has been causing
considerable trouble for The Cable Company in
Virginia and neighboring states by selling "re-
possessed" pianos, collecting a first instalment
and neglecting to deliver the instrument. He
has at different times receipted for money under
the names of Morrison, Rus=ell and Harrison,
and J. G. Corley, manager in Virginia for the
Cable Company, has offered a reward of $25 for
his arrest and conviction.
Robert F. Marburger will shortly open a music
store in Denver, Pa.