HONEST FURNITURE

By J. Vaughan Dennett.

There is certainly a growing demand from thinking people of good taste for simple and well made furniture, something entirely unlike that to be found in the ordinary furniture market. For those not compelled to consider price it is often difficult, if not impossible in some cases, to obtain the things required, even if made to order by large firms. What chance, then, has the person in moderate circumstances to furnish his house in accordance with his taste and desires?

Before furniture was made in wholesale lots in large factories by those who know little of design and the traditions of the craft, and sold by them to retail dealers who know less, the consumer stood a good chance of getting what he wanted, for being in direct communication with the master cabinet maker — designer and workman — good results would naturally follow.

The present-day conditions in furniture manufacturing are far from perfect and do not meet the requirements of a large class. By no means is the manufacturer to blame, unless he be also the retailer, in which case culpability certainly exists in large measure. But the buyer must share this blame, for it is he who compromises by taking that which is not quite up to his standard, by following fads and fashions, and by his continual and constant demand for cheapness: destroyers of any art!

Of course, if the demand for good and simple things were made insistent by many people, it would be supplied and that at once. Probably there are few who give the subject a thought or who care one way or the other; but there is a small minority who want good furniture and will have no other, and these must be supplied from outside the furniture trade, so called. Furniture buying is like clothes buying, in a way, and should be approached in the same manner.

When communities are again willing to support cabinet makers, competent workmen will be on hand ready and able to produce as good work as ever was; perhaps this time is far off or maybe it is nearly here, but it will surely come; until then only a portion of the people can live with honest things. With even a fair encouragement, existing conditions could be greatly improved, and work nearly equal to that of the eighteenth century might be produced at a cost no greater than that asked for the best things at the furniture stores. Inability to see the wares before buying, and instant want may cause the store visit, frequently followed by unending regret.

Most cabinet makers could give their patrons clear ideas in regard to the subject at hand, and a reasonable wait with ultimate satisfaction is certainly preferable to the case of vain regret.

The Arts and Crafts movement has set a great many people thinking about some of their surroundings and of the unnatural conditions under which they are made; this has already done some good and may be of lasting benefit even if the present Arts and Crafts rage proves just a passing fad. Some of the things sold by Arts and Crafts societies are no better, and in some cases are actually worse than similar articles to be found in the open market. To be sure this is exceptional and to be expected before things get shaken into their proper places. Fashion enters largely into our subject and is directly responsible for much that is not right. It is absurd to think we must banish some of our choicest possessions at frequent intervals in order to replace them with something more fashionable or up to date. If our table legs or chair backs were ever good, why shouldn't they remain so?

By all means let us change for the better, but in no case for the worse. With fashion continually changing the shape, the material, the color and the finish of our furniture, it is no wonder we have nothing good. This constant desire for novelty and change is proof positive that no deep thinking is going on among the bulk of the people; and until this is done, it is unreasonable to expect any improvement in the general situation. Satisfaction and inertia do not breed progress, but united and intelligent dissatisfaction, energetically expressed, is a great lever and can do anything.

The application of common sense and serious thought, each for himself, with no regard to fad or fashion, nor to what others do or think, will go far in clearing the sky and in paving the way for simple, honest and better things.