File:American homes and gardens (1910) (17530455054).jpg

Title: American homes and gardens
Identifier: americanhomesgar71910newy (find matches)
Year: 1905 (1900s)
Authors:
Subjects: Architecture, Domestic; Landscape gardening
Publisher: New York : Munn and Co
Contributing Library: Smithsonian Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: Biodiversity Heritage Library

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•ARIXE MOSAIC is the artistic adaptation ■^vj of shells, stones and glass, strongly ce- mented to form effects beautiful in color and unusual in design. Marine Mosaic in place of rich stained glass is entirely original and practical. In connection with the metals it is wonderfully harmonious, lending its beauty to such practical and useful articles as fire, table and tea screens of iron construction, lanterns, electric light globes and candle shades framed in brass, and lamp shades leaded. In com- bination with the finer metals, gold, silver and bronze, table utensils are wrought in effects both beautiful and natural, as is shown by the illustrations of the Iris vase, the Mag- nolia loving cup and the fruit dish of Grape design. This art originated in my Studio, Harbor Villa, Shelter Island, N. Y. The mediums for its construction are from nature's storehouse, the fields, beaches and the sea. The field yields its motives in the forms of flowers and fruits of gardens, wild and cultivated, to say nothing of the land- scape effects to which Marine Mosaic so aptly lends itself. The beaches give the material with which it is possible to produce the most delicate tones by shell and pebble. These materials are used in their natural state, no arti- ficial coloring being added, nor any chemical brought tfj play to diminish or soften these quiet tones and delicate shades. The sea, as the fields, furnishes wonderful themes for the displaying of
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An adaptation to garden decoration these rare hues and in addition supplies the artist with yet another medium with which to render marine forms. In the seascape the natural shell of a crab has been utilized to form the body as designed. This is one of the many op- portunities the artist has indulged in of applying natural products with suitable surroundings to create the full beauty of nature in both form and color. The skill in utilizing such products as compose Marine Mosaic has been acquired only by close application and long experience. As with all pure art, new ideas are received through inspiration coming from the medium used. The transcendent beauty of Nature cannot be equalled by artificial products. Crafts- manship is the key-note of Marine Mosaic. The first method pursued in its con- struction is that of fixing defi- nitely the subject to be ren- dered. Second, the composi- tion of line regardless of color, and finally the color scheme which necessarily has its limitations and must so fit the subject within these re- strictions of tone and color as to enable the ensemble to ap- pear clear and, at the same time, harmonious. Through this procedure the craftsman- ship enters to the greatest ex- tent. This course once accom- plished, the artist designs his scheme, seeking Nature for the inspiration or motive. Carefully constructed sketches of separate detailed parts are drawn; be they ship, fish, flowers or landscape. Pat- terns are then made, accord- ing to which shells, stones or glass are cut or fitted. The full size drawing is then

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