A USE FOR OLD PRINTS

Manawatu Times, Volume LIII, Issue 6542, 25 February 1928, Page 15

A USE FOR OLD PRINTS

A copy of the mid-Victorian. "Keepsake” has lain idle on a shelf for years.. It is a production full of engravings of fine technique, but , of no great interest so" far as artist or, subject is concerned. .. - . ■ , - One day, contemplating a most uninspired suite of white enamelled furniture , belonging to a spare room, it suddenly struck me that some of these old prints applied to its surface might enliven It! . I therefore made a careful examination of the plates and found most of them could, be cut out in oval shape, a few oblong and » fewer still circular. The ovals would, fit in on, either side of the dressing chest drawer-handles, while the oblongs would go well, -on. top. ..The. rounds were well suited to ."the . panels of the wardrobe,, and there, were a number pf quite small ■ etchings which would,, be fitting for the centre. :of each chair.baeje... Having cut out the prints, I decide ed upon their positions and brushed over the back of oa.ch.cut-out with gum. All drawer?, had to be taken out of their'chest and stood "bn end so that the giim- would, hot " collect" at the base of the piotures" in littledrops. While the gum was drying off, a careful watch was kept to sea that the edges of " the' prints did not turn Up, a soft silk handkerchief "being used td keep them pressed; down. When the whole was dry, T gave it a coat of fine transparent varnish, and in the end the decorations looked as If etched, upon tho wood itself, so well did the ground of the'paper and the white of” tho wood blend.