Since the decline of the Empire style in the first half of the last century manufacturers have been satisfied to copy the styles of the past, with such modifications as conformed to commercial requirements. The public demand for repro ductions of old furniture increased to such an extent as to leave little room for originality in their production. Within recent years a strong feeling has developed that the old styles are not in keeping with present ideals and new styles should be evolved to emphasize simplicity of construction, grace of style, beauty of propor tion and harmony of color. The Mission style, at first heavy and shapeless, is acquiring more subtle and refined lines, thereby increasing in public favor. The novelty of the last century is a free natural style called Art Noveau. Its introduction to this country from France a few years ago was attended by failure. The market was flooded with goods of inferior make in which the vagaries of this style were mistaken for its distinctive features. The meaningless curves and coarse ornaments of the beginning are being discarded and a refined elegance is now taking their place. The extensive adoption of this style in other art industries warrants the belief that it soon will be a distinctive feature in furniture.
Many of the numerous articles of furniture manufactured are distinctly American. The bureau, the rocking-chair, the folding-bed, the chiffonier, as now made with toilet, and in general most of the combination pieces of furni ture made with a view of economizing space in apartments in large cities, are of this class. The American bureau is a combination of the old chest of drawers and the dressing-table, having the drawer-room of the one and the swinging mirror and table-top of the other. This has been imitated in Europe to a limited extent, in the production of what is known as the English dressing-table. As made in this country, the bureau is one of the most practical pieces of furniture used. The rocking-chair, almost en tirely unknown in Europe, is found in every home in this country, yet it is difficult to ascer tain when it was first put in use. We do not find any mention of it in the descriptions of ar ticles of furniture in the 18th century. The first patent issued for improvements in rocking chairs is dated as far back as 1830. The fold ing-bed, in the shape of a sofa, with a box seat for bedding, has been used in Europe for over a hundred years, but America claims the folding-bed in other forms, such as the ward robe, the cabinet, the mantel, and the combina tion; some of these were made as early as 1847. The demand for folding-beds, which reached its climax a few years ago, is now showing a material decline.
The woods used in the manufacture of furni ture are varied, and subject to frequent changes. Early in the century, mahogany, maple and black walnut were in favor; then cherry and ash became fashionable; toward 1880, oak, so long forgotten, took a prominent place. At
the present time black walnut is almost entirely out of use. Oak has kept its popularity for the hall, the library, and the dining-room. Mahogany, curly birch, and maple are still ex tensively used; all of them for the bedroom, and mahogany for the dining-room and the drawing-room in the better grades of furniture. The changes in furniture covering have been more frequent and radical than those of the woods. Haireloth and other coverings in use 30 years ago have been superseded by materials more varied in texture and coloring. Their variety is almost endless, and they show, per haps as much as anything else; the advance that art as applied to furniture has made in this country. The present centres of the furniture industry are, with one exception (Grand Rapids, Mich.), the largest cities, which, with their densely populated suburbs and surroundings, offer large markets. The cities whose produc tions amount to more than $2,000,000 per annum, in the order of their importance, are: New York, Chicago, Grand Rapids, Philadelphia, Cincinnati, Saint Louis, Boston.
During the past 10 or 15 years there has been a very steady progress towards more re fined furniture and to-day the manufacturers of the bette'r grade furniture are producing ar ticles in quantities that a few years ago could only be found at shops making furniture to order by the single piece. The manufacturers of medium and lower grade goods are placing upon the market designs with feeling following the thoughts of sonic of the earlier masters of the Flemish and English schools, therefore our furniture stores are full of many simple and good pieces which the consumer can buy at very moderate prices. One can furnish a home today which will bear close inspection by the artists at a cost which is within the reach of the more modest incomes. There is to be found some very ugly furniture which is still pro duced for certain trade, but the desire for this kind of furniture is fast disappearing. The manufacturers all over the country are eager to secure artists and draughtsmen who can lead them forward to better production and choicer class of wares.
During the last 10 years there has been published many readable books and monthly publications which picture the better homes and home furnishings. They have done much to help the people to understand better furniture. We are seeing the demand come very fast for more refined furnishings in all branches of the industry. The day is not far distant when fur niture will have the same thought given to its selection as we give to other objects of art that we expect will live and adorn our homes. Fur niture should grow in favor as the years pass by.