The principles of design as applied to this art, have now been considered. There are, it is true, many other points on which I could speak, but as my space will not allow it, I have chosen those which are the most important, and against which there is to beginners the greatest temptation to err. Careful study of the best manuscript you have an opportunity of seeing, must be your guide on other points. But as an encouragement let me tell you, that if you have any talent for design, and will take the trouble diligently to think over the directions here given and try them by such fourteenth century examples as may fall in your way, I do not think that you can go wrong in any material point. Difference of opinion and taste there must always be, but as long as we grasp the truth and resolutely cling to our landmarks, our steps cannot go far astray.
These foregoing directions were prepared for this work by a lady who excels in the art of illumination.
House and Home Arts.
DECALCOMANIE will be appreciated and enjoyed by any one who takes pleasure in making tasteful articles for gifts, or for contributions to fairs, or in adding new graces to the parlor. It consists in ornamenting vases and boxes with oil paintings. The process saves a great deal of labor, and when the work is well done, very close examination is necessary to detect the difference between hand paintings and the Decalcomanie, particularly if the pictures are retouched, or tiny sprays of moss, small leaves, or flowers are added in water colors. The designs can be transferred to wood, porcelain, leather, silk, glass, metal, paper, etc.
The designs are printed in oil colors, on the surface of paper, which has been previously prepared with a composition easily soluble in water,—or in fact the printing is entirely on this composition, the paper merely serving as a back to give support to the thin film on which the design is printed. By a process hereafter described, these beautiful designs in oil colors may be perfectly transferred to the surface of any article which it is desirable to ornament, such as vases, card-cases, porte-monnaies, work-boxes, needle-books, toilet-cushions, lamp-shades, and hundreds of other things too numerous to mention; and when nicely executed, the work equals the finest painting. Beautiful bouquets may in this way, be transferred to silk for toilet-cushions and perfume sachets.