ENGRAVED BOXES.
The box should be white or light straw-color in order to show the faint impression to advantage. It should be varnished five or six times in succession, and suffered to dry thoroughly each time. While the last coat of varnish is yet so fresh that your finger will adhere to it, the engraving must be put on, the picture side next to the varnish. The engraving must be prepared in the following manner:—All the white paper must be cut off close to the edges of the engraving, which must be laid on a clean table, with the picture downward, and moistened all over with a clean sponge. It must then be placed between two leaves of blotting paper, to dry it a little. Before putting it on the box, take great care to have it even, and determine exactly where you wish it to be. Lay one edge of the print, picture downward, upon the varnish, and gradually drop it to its place, passing the hand successively over the back of the print in such a manner as to drive out all the air, and prevent the formation of blisters. Then carefully touch it all over with a linen cloth, so as to be sure every part adheres to the varnish. Leave it until it is thoroughly dry. Then moisten the back of the engraving with a clean sponge, and rub it lightly backward and forward with the fingers, so as to remove the moistened paper in small rolls. When the picture begins to appear, take great care lest you rub through, and take off some of the impression. As soon as you perceive there is danger of this, leave it to dry. In drying, the engraving will disappear, because it is still covered by a slight film of paper. You might think it mere white paper; but give it a coat of varnish, and it will become quite transparent. Should you by accident have removed any part of the engraving, touch it with India ink, and gum water, in order that no white spots may appear; but when you put on your second coat of varnish you must take care to pass very lightly over the spots you have retouched. The box should be varnished as many as three times after the engraving has been placed on it, and suffered to dry thoroughly each time. The white alcoholic varnish is the best. It should be put on in the sunshine, or near a warm stove. After the last coat is well dried, sift a little pulverized rotten stone through coarse muslin, and rub it on with linseed oil and a soft rag; after being well rubbed, cleanse the box thoroughly with an old silk handkerchief or soft linen rag. Some persons say that a very thin sizing of nice glue should be put on the box before it is varnished at all; others say it is not necessary. This work requires great patience and care; but the effect is very beautiful, and pays for the trouble.
CORAL FLOWERS AND BASKETS.
Form baskets, flowers, and sprays of all shapes and kinds, of bonnet-wire already wound with thread. Then take one ounce of resin and dissolve it in a brass pan with two drachms of the finest vermilion, and thoroughly mix them; then take your basket, twigs, &c., and dip them into the solution till they are well dyed. Some persons dissolve red sealing-wax in alcohol, and form coral, powder the wax, and fill in as much as the alcohol will dissolve.
IMITATION OF INLAID IVORY.
Have your fancy table, work-box, &c., made of smooth polished white wood, such as satin wood or maple; sketch upon it such figures as castles, men, women, wreaths of flowers, &c., as you fancy; then color all, except the figures you have drawn, with dead black. It then, if neatly and tastefully finished, looks like ebony inlaid with ivory.