CHRISTMAS CARDS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXX, Issue 10214, 7 December 1893, Page 2

CHRISTMAS CARDS.

MB FOUNTAIN PAET’RR. Tho connoisseur ia Cluiskcas cards who could not find much to. pleiso aim —or her —in tho shop of Mr Fountain Berber would bo an extremely ftuti.’iocs person; and, lo ray the iviu.li, one not overbcvconcd with good tsscs. Ia Mr Berber's stock are illustrated all tho ulutract; r.Viai which «is*ißguish tho card?, booklets and calendars o 2 this ssssoa—lasteful dtsigq, delicate colouring, artistic printing cad painting. Ali tho meat popuiav varieties off the pretty nick-nacks cvo represented. The boxes, each containing a number of cards, arc sure to ba appreciated. Some of these contain autog- aph cares decorated with quaiofe repivs.'illations of afternoon tea services. Ia Olliers tbo cards are jewelled and adorned with perforated• patterns. The packets, lull of cards of many designs, are also sure of popularity. Great ingenuity is shown in tho mechanical or expanding cards. An exceedingly beautiful one represents the holy orr.ala within a shrine with attendant angels. For , chaete loveliness this card is unsurpassed iu the collection. Ocher cards of great beauty expand into tho form of flower pots of artistic shape, with hyacinths or other flowers growing in them. The half booklets, or folding cards with a single leaf within, are exceedingly pretty, with their embossed, perforated and “jewelled” covers adorned with delicately tinted floral devices. It may bo noted that the small and cheap cards are ee tasteful in design and artistic in execution as the large and more expensive ones. The flowers, landscapes and figures with which they are adorned are exquisitely drawn and coloured, and gilding, bronzing and, in soma cards, a very close imitation of silver filigree work, are effectively employed in their decoration. Many of the cards are fancifully shaped, one or mora of the edges being cut into tho outline of a flower, a posy, or some other device. Flowers ere more frequent then figures or landscapes on tho cards of this season, and tbosr loveliness is represented with much fidelity to nature-. One very pretty folding card lies a kind of window of transparent gelatine, through which the “ Christmas wish” may bo read. Admirable taste is shown in another bedecked with embossed flowers faced with satin of subdued tints. Into (me tastefully designed card is let a small piece of gauze with a floral spray painted thereon. Tho “ ivorine ” cards, hand-painted nad adorned with laea-liko patterns in perforation, are also decidedly things of beauty. Sachets, wall pockets, and other ornaments of satin and plush form a part of Mr Fountain Barber's stock, and of autograph and other cards of tho ordinary styles he has a profusion. Of bis booklets, some of the finest are those with embossed covers fastened with silken cords and tassels, and daintily coloured. Among the best of them aro those containing selections from Tennyson, “ She Stoops to Conquer,” and “Robin Adair.” gome are cut into shapes—flowers or posies, —and one would imagine that it would be impossible to produce mora artistic printer’s work than the pictures, floral devices and fancy letterpress which form the contents, Yery pretty souvenirs of the season are the, opals with photographic pietax-aa of lovely female figures. Each opal is contained in a small box, and accompanied by a card bearing a motto or wish. Same of the moat popular calendars are the “Shakapare,” “ Teanyson,” and “test” block almanacs. Another very charming one consists of a number of cards connected together in Venetian blind fashion by a ribbon, • and bearing the charming faces of smiling children. A very effective ornament for a drawingroom wall ia the calendar in the form of a fan, bedecked with, exquisite little pictures. “Turn-over ” calendars, with a leaf for each month, aro in so great variety as to ba alike only in their general form and in their artistic excellence. It may bo noted that, good as Mr Fountain Barber’s stock is; it is to be largely supplemented in a day or two. MR A. WHITE. Mr A. W bite well maintains his reputation for taste in selecting his Christmas cards, and a glance at bis stock shows that these he has chosen are, in some respects, even more artistic than those in vogue in previous years. Ho has very elaborate and handsome mechanical cards, the most effective of which represents the Nativity; the group of figures is admirably executed, and a rose-coloured light ia shed over them by a contrivance at tho back. Shrines, flowers and many other subjects are represented in Mr White's mechanical cards, and customers of a sporting turn of mind wiil be able to please thameelvea with an elaborate card showing “ Tho race for the Grand National.” Interesting novelties aro .the ** aerial ” cards, little figures of negroes, downs or children, which, by means of a couple of weights, can be balanced on the tip of a finger or tbo edge of a table in au apparently impossible position. Many of the cards aro made eo as to stand in an upright position, and among the most beautiful of these are the crosses glittering wish hoar frost. Some exquisite little gelatine cards, ornamented with hand-painted landscapes, are worthy the attention of all who can appreciate rosily artistic work. Folding cards, generally with spaces for the autographs of tho senders, are fashionable this year, and of these ’Mr White has a most varied and charming collection. Some are in the form of i ana, decorated witirfcomiccd dogs’ heads, or visa rosy faces of, children. Others ore highly ornate screens, which, when opened, reveal a doisty little landscape, sea pieco, or hit of flower painting. An assortment of “relief” figures o! various sizes and kinds —drummer boys, children, dogs and cate —should be very popular with Mr White’s juvenile patrons. Those persons who believe in tha virtues of a horseshoe as a luck-bringer wiil bo able to choose several, or very excellent representations thereof at all events, from this stock in order to send to their friends. There is likewise a capital assortment of boxes and packets of cards of all prices. Id tho booklets the “Landseer” sfries is admirable, both for design and workmanship. A very quaint and pretty booklet, too, is one ehaped like an oui-fashioned redan chair, and containing dainty figures in tho costume of the days when that means of conveyance had aok been ditpiaced by the heneom and tho £our-whcsl?.r. An exceptionally fine booklet is entitled "Flowers from Tennyson's Gordon,” and tho figures, landt.cr.pcs and flowers which constitute ita ornamentation aro worthy, in their artistic loveliness, of the subject. Deserving of high praise, also, ia tho dainty prettinoos of the booklets known aa garlands of violets, or garlands of daisies. Theao flowers term the claplo of their decorations, and arc formed into clasps to keep them closed. There is no necessity, however, to refer further to Mr White’s booklets, which are oc the best of their kind. Ho has all tho most artistic calendars, adorned with illustrations from the works of Shnfcapsre, Longfellow, Dickenf, Tennyson had ether famous writers of prose and verse, Au exquisite little calendar in in tho shape of a latter rack, others ato ia tuo form of Venetian blind?, screens and (Vans. Soma aro comic, end oik* of the best of those represents a dorm and Im dog ■ a a grotesque performance. A great variety of booklet calendars wiil appeal to the tt«tu of the artistically inclined, qb indeed should every item of Mr White's clock. i