Pewter mi Oak

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 89, 6 July 1927, Page 12

Pewter mi Oak

ANCIENT WARE MODERN USAGE The vogue of pewter is inevitable when domestic architecture is largely influenced by seventeenth-century design. Anyone fortunate enough to possess a room with old oak panelling naturally buys the few pieces of pewter which will set off the oak to the best advantage. There are many modern houses, moreover, with long oak-panelled din-ing-room, reproducing a seventeenthcentury design, for which the owner, after the most careful consideration, decides that pewter is the only possible ornament. The first plate and tankard bought for the wall and mantelpiece nearly always turn the purchaser into a collector, for pewter has an extraordinary fascination for anyone who has once dabbled in the subject, possibly because it always has marks of usage on it, or because it does not have to be put away in a cabinet; possibly also for its silvergrey hue, or for the conjectures it arouses in the imaginative mind. SUPPLIES SCARCE Unfortunately, supplies are getting scarce, and a plate that was 5s before the war is now £l. Some of the best pieces are going to America. It is thought that during the war a great deal of German pewter must have been melted down owing to the urgent need for its cbmponents—lead, tin and antimony. Swiss, German, and French pewter are not as attractive as the English, which is more silvery in colour. As pewter was always used for practical purposes it is occasionally possible to pick up some interesting relics, such as a set of “haystack” measures for whisky and so forth, or a plate with a bishop’s crown, indicating the dignitary for whom it was made. A certain amount of modern pewter is being produced by handicraft workers. Its silvery colour, its decorative nature, and the fact that it does not tarnish readily have created a demand for it, chiefly as a substitute for the cheaper grade of silverware. There is a proportion of copper in the modern alloy to make it workable. As is the old days, it is made chiefly into practical objects for daily use, such as cake and fruit dishes, hot-water cans, tea and coffee sets, kettles, and tobacco jars. Since its use for domestic purposes has been practically continuous. modern pewter has a claim to recognition by the collector, even though the modern alloy and modern designs have produced a totally different kind of ware. PLYWOOD ITS ADVANTAGES The cementing of thin layers of wood in such a way that the grain of each piece is at right angles to the grain of that above and below is called plywood. This material by virtue of its construction is much stronger than ordinary wood of equal thickness. Plywood is being used for floors, panels, ceilings, and for many small articles of domestic interest. Being light and easy to manipulate, plywood is very suitable for making such things as window seats, cosy-corners, bootracks, shelves, and other articles which are within the capacity the amateur. \ Plywood is made in several qualities and of many kinds of wood. It can be obtained with an outer layer of beautifully figured mahogany or walnut, or with a surface of common wood, suitable for a ceiling which is to be painted or enamelled. One great advantage of plywood is that it can be shaped to fit any curve, either by nailing it in place or by steaming and bending it into position. Good plywood will never come undone, and it has even been boiled, as an experiment, without showing signs of parting. It is to be obtained from any joiner or timber merchant although there are so very many different kinds made that it is not possible for all of them to be kept in stock.

new wallpapers Cut-out borders decorated with I ustre. Appled floral designs from frieze or skirting-board. Waxed paper for bathrooms. Washable papier-mache wall coverings which imitate tiles. Handsome Chinese designs treated with metal paint. A simple form of panelling in wal Ipaper.