-THOSE SNOW CAPPED

peaks of tke Lions are
losing their cover as spring
makes it’s presence felt.
(Terry Peters photo).

- Today's craze - for _ stretchers continuing around
bamboo furniture has . the outsides of uprights; and
turned the head of cone? Pees holding ali

. a

ween ' jomts. ~ . :

‘many. a collector—to. | a

, look back. at the fur- _. Later im the century,
.. fhiture of a'similar craze English made bamboo
2 swep land furniture. became. more
: dari the last coms _ prevalent, as the Victorian .

3 tury. _ interest “it JIapanese art-

‘revitalized the Oriental
“Bamboo: furniture first fashion. _

a English. “furniture | trade” in,

‘The fact that the Japanese
i781, with the publication of did not make ‘bamboo
‘Designs _ for . ‘Chinese '

furniture themselves failed
by - _ architect ‘Witliam = bother the British, who

Chambers. However, despite . (PO boo poles,

preerrestaes

A ged

the mid-i8th century rage

for Chinoiserie, no bamboo -

- apparently was imported

from China at that time. . a

“The “first records of any
-such imports were dated
- after 1802, when the Prince
_ of Wales, who Later served as
Prince Régent on behalf of —

his. ailing father, _King

The Prince had his agent .

‘ppurchase examples’ direct
from Canton to lend
authenticity to his Chinese
imteriors. Later, he sup-
plemented these with items
carefully imitated in
beechwood by the London
firm of Elwerd, Marsh and.
Tatham.

-

Other fashionable
Exiglishmen, were quick to

lacquer panels and matting
to be made into a variety of

“Japanese/articles.

turers displayed little
resemblance to Japanese
furniture. Nonetheless, it
proved to be popular.

More ‘than -150
manufacturers—most _ of
them located in London's
East End but including
important firms in Bir-
mingham, Leicester. and
Nottingham as well—were
registered as producers of
‘the furniture between the
years 1870 and 1930.

The largest manufacturers
were two London firms,
Matthews and Clark and
Model and Company; W.F.
Needham of Birmingham;
and W.T. Ellmore of
Leicester. In 1896, Needham

poraprestraperirenes reine rare sean

>.

pape yenyennererr nares Sernseetar sone E ea Bs

ee Ta regen es

ao ee ne

oe Otay SCG retheey

fee at pty
ote oI at ta

follow the Prince's lead, claimed to be producing
adding imported ~ Chinese 4,000 pieces per week.
bamboo or English copies of

 <. it to their own collections.

The Great
Gold Chain _
Sale!

Delicately fashioned chains in 14kt.
yellow gold—at 30% OFF regular ”
prices while they last! These are in

3 designs as shown above,
each available in several lengths,
From left to right:

ea ee ees

’

Not all of this was for the

a home market; much English
Although the furniture pamboo furniture was ex-
was imported throughout the ed. with shipments goin
19th century, most authentic 4. far away’ as South
Chinese Othe poried of the America and Australia.
Prince’s influence, 1800 to However, this high rate of
1830 ’ production explains why so
. much British made bamboo
These cxamples = are f ture survives today.

difficult to date, because ‘
designs and traditional The discerning collector
methods of construction can find attractive and well
have remained essentially made cxamples at modest
the same for hundreds of prices in antique shops and
years. However, they can be second-hand stores. One
easily identified by their should avoid items that
plain lacquer or canework wobbic badly, as bamboo is
surfaces; tightly packed difficult and therefore ex-
Jatticework; bandings and pensive to repair.

maneereretenarrantareaas

Two lovely handbags in good
Canadian leather. .. each with all
the compartments and pockets
you'll need.

Upper: a front-flap model with
adjustable shoulder strap. Lower: a
swagger with frame.

White, bone, natural or navy.

LENGTH REG. PRICE SALE PRICE
A 40cm ...§ 74.00 ...$ 51.80

45cm... 82.00... 57.40
50cm... 90.00... 63.00

B 40cm ...$ 85.00 ...$ 59.50

45cm... 95.00... 66.50
Our regular price: $60.00 each. Cc 50cm... 105.00... 73.50
SPECIAL EVENT PRICE: 45cm ...$ 37.00 ...$ 25.90
$39 95 50cm... 42.00...
‘ ; 40cm = 15%"; 45 =
each! * Rictenond Contre 50cm = 19
* Herbowr Cone, : “Georgi ana Oranditie Geechee Pidensahd oh CENTRE

Tet, 689-3339

Syme