As the Modern method of decoration has been pursued to a greater extent in England than in America, and has there been more fully worked out as a style, that development will first be considered. It can hardly better be done than by going over the examples illustrated in this volume, as these are among the latest and best work of men who are recognised as leaders in this direction. The pointing out of certain features will also be an aid in making clear to the reader the principles of good decoration; for, though the results are so different in appearance, they have been attained through the use of those same fundamental truths that have been tested by centuries of use.

It should incidentally be mentioned here that there is also a strongly developed Modern Movement in France.

The reason that it is not fully treated and illustrated here is that if we were to search for the adjective best describing it the word entertaining would perhaps be settled upon as most fully fitting the case. It is vastly intriguing and of decided interest; but, with exceptions, it is not homelike: it seems to the writer at least that novelty has often been exploited at the expense of restfulness and permanence, and, while it would afford some suggestions to those of other nations, this decoration would require too much adaptation to be of general value. The furniture does not seem so good in its lines as the corresponding pieces of England and America, but the combinations of woods and the use of colour and gold thereupon, in some instances, would interest the designer of special furniture. The colourings of the fabrics and their combinations are often extremely odd and their designs striking. More generally useful ones are illustrated here and have been mentioned.

PLATE 64. EXTENDING DINING-TABLE IN ENGLISH WALNUT.

DESIGNED BY THE LATE ERNEST W. GIMSON.

PLATE 64. SIDEBOARD IN BURRIED ELM AND EBONY.

DESIGNED BY THE LATE ERNEST W. GIMSON.

These are Reproduced through the Courtesy of Sydney A. Gimson. Esq., Executor.

PLATE 65. WARDROBE IN WALNUT, DESIGNED BY THE LATE ERNEST W. GIMSON.

By Courtesy of Sydney A. Gimson, Esq., Executor.

To return to England, the writer wishes to set at the head of this division, as a memorial, the name of one among the many earlier able men who was universally regarded as a great designer of furniture - Ernest W. Gimson, of Daneway House, near Cirencester. By the kindness and co-operation of his brother and executor, Sydney A. Gimson, Esq., I am enabled to show three of his characteristic designs for fine furniture (Plate 64 and 65). At his shops he gathered about him a corps of sympathetic craftmen who were at one with him in the faithful carrying out of his ideals.

His work is worthy of the closest study: monumentally strong in its simplicity of line, it is handsome furniture. Apparently departing in general aspect from period pieces it is nevertheless based upon the unassailable principles of good proportion and perfect balance. Its ornament is never "applied" but is always structural, and consists of the employment of various woods and inlay, mostly of a conservative but quite sufficiently decorative character. Indeed in the dining-table illustrated it is mainly the shaping of its actual form which provides the ornamental character, and an octagonal table recently illustrated in the London Furniture Trade Organiser dispenses with even the moderate amount of inlay here used and is still, because of its unusual struts, decidedly interesting. In some cabinets the entire front, however, is inlaid.

It is a pleasure to be able to say that a volume will be issued descriptive of the late Mr. Gimson's life and work.

As has been mentioned, Mr. P. Waals is continuing, at Chalford, Gloucestershire, the making of furniture and joinery on the same lines of design and workmanship, and with the help of the same trained craftsmen as in Mr. Gimson's time. He tells the writer that he rarely makes duplicates of the more elaborate pieces, but that simple ones are duplicated and made with the same care as to selection of materials and workmanship. A few of these are illustrated in Plates 33 and 34. He has done work for American as well as for English homes, as have others whose work is illustrated here.

The fine work of Mr. Hall Thorpe of London has already been presented and described in Section I (Plates 29 and 30).

The frontispiece of this volume is by Mr. Shirley B. Wainwright, Interior Architect working in London, and this and Plates 8 and 66 are notable as interiors of decided individuality but of such sane and practical character that they commend themselves for permanent use and enjoyment. Several of their aspects immediately impress one. They illustrate the principle that it is not needful that walls should be perfectly plain in order to remain backgrounds. They rely on balance and distribution of colour and tones for effect rather than on any elaboration of detail, and great care is evidently given to proportion and scale. The woodwork is usually simple and economical in construction. The special features employed are of both convenience and beauty.

When one examines the drawing-room illustrated (Frontispiece) it is seen to be of much simplicity and charm while possessing a quiet elegance eminently suiting it to its purpose. He is obtaining some unusual effects with specially designed patchwork, of which the settee-cushions here and the backing of the recessed panel above the sideboard in the dining-room (Plate 8) are examples. The woodwork in the dining-room is of oak finished in a grey tone, and the table is composed of two semi-circular tables, between which an oblong provides an extension when necessary. The furniture is of special attractiveness of design, and the grey surfaces, occupying so large a portion of the room, afford an excellent background for the stronger notes of colour. He also provided an alternate scheme, in which the tones are generally warmer and the carpet and fireplace-surround of strong blue.