THE QUEEN'S FURNITURE

Evening Star, Issue 16992, 14 March 1919, Page 2

THE QUEEN'S FURNITURE

Windsor Castle and Buckingham Palace have accumula'ed in their long use as Royal residences a wonderful collection of old furniture, including many examples of celebraied makers ami of the most artistic periods. The Victorian ago, with its relish for horsehair sofa* and antimacassars, “cared for none of these ihin/s,” and the consequence was that, in palaces, just as in humbler homes, (ho most exquisite pieces of Chippendale or Louis Quinzo work were often thrust into odd corners or piled up in lumber rooms in orri-.r to be replaced by the uninspired productions sonu tradesman who understood the taste of hia contemporaries. The Queen (says the ‘Manchester Weekly (rimes') has shown a genuine zest in the repairing of these, {esthetic atrocities. She has rescued beautiful things from humiliating retreats and undignified uses brought together dismantled suites, and grouped the restored treasures in such a way that they may harmonise with one another, and be an effective and pleasing illustration of the periods and schools to which they belong. The Queen is a real lover and student of c.rafimansliip, and there are few people so much at home in London’s gallerias of art. It: is not often that air unfettered opportunity of “ pleasing herself” comes in Her Majesty’s way, lint when it does one will as often ;is not "find her employing it in a visit to the Victoria and Albert Museums, or fill in a quiet hour at some exhibit ion of paintings where she has reason to expect, the satisfaction of a trained and mature taste.