American Homes and Gardens Volume 10 (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1913 edition. Excerpt: ...of execution. Such an example is to be seen in Guerin's portrait of Kleber (dated 1798), which is in the Louvre. H. L. J.: A fine proof before letters of the engraved portrait of Cardinal Jules Mazarin by Jean Frosne (1655) would hardly command a price exceeding four dollars. The portrait of Ninon de L'Enclos in colors by Francois Taninet (we take this to be the one after the portrait painted by Mignard) would be worth fully thirty dollars if in fine condition. W. E. K.: Interesting prints connected with the history of aeronautics are not common, and a most interesting collection could be formed by assembling a number of them. The Editor recalls having seen in a Paris print selling shop an unusually interesting lithograph depicting the balloon ascent of M. Sadler and Miss Thompson from Burlington House (London) in 1814. It would be interesting to know of earlier prints of women aeronauts. R. B.: The glaze of Lambeth delft is not so thick and is much whiter than that of other English delft wares. Likewise its blues are not so crude. Bottles of Lambeth delft may date back to the middle of the seventeenth century (about the time Charles I was executed), and later specimens were dated until 1664, in which year New Amsterdam was surrendered by the Dutch to the English. B. E. C.: Folding furniture boasts of a venerable descent. The Editor has no doubt but that folding beds were known to the Babylonians. In Ince and Mayhew's "Universal System of Household Furniture" there appeared an illustration of "A Bed to appear as a Sofa with fixed canopv over it; the curtains draw upon a Rod: the cheeks and seats takes off to open the bedstead," and this recalls to one's mind Oliver Goldsmith's lines: "Chest of Drawers a double...