New Chairs For Old

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 162, 5 April 1938, Page 5

New Chairs For Old

Transforming Furniture With Embroidery

(Bt

Fenella)

"Dominion" Special Service—By Airmail. London, March 11. QUEEN MARY is very fond of doing gros point embroidery, which often takes the form of upholstery for chairs. A set of six Sheraton chairs, painted light brown and oyster have been chosen by Her Majesty • for reupholstery, and she has decided to work them in three sets, of two, for one of the reception rooms at Marlborough House. Three different William and Mary designs have been selected by Lady Smith-Dorrien, of the Royal School of Needlework, with backgrounds of oyster colour to tone with the frames, a brown border, and a blue scroll outlining a central medallion. ' These medallions each einbody a flo’wer, as Queen Mary is particularly fond of embroidering flowers. In one there is a formal Victorian posy, in another a vase of tulips and iris, and in another a basket of roses, leaves and mixed wild flower's.

Before the canvas was band-painted with the design. Queen Mary herself selected and labelled the wools for the embroidery, and altered the various de signs to suit her own taste.

Dame Marie Tempest, the famous actress, believes in blending ancient and modern in the furnishing of her London flat, so she has had the old upholstery on her antique furniture stripped off and replaced by modern striped material. She has chosen vividly contrasting colours—dark red curtains witli a broad yellow stripe; red settees with yellow cushions and yellow armchairs with a pale green carpet.. Ornaments of a deeper green are placed about the room, including a green pottery , vase and ash-trays. The same fabrics are used for the curtains and chairs of Dame Marie’s diningroom.