Deep purple, symbolical of extreme grief, is used in conjunction with black as the official emblem of royal mourning.
The weight of the materials used for exterior decorations differs according to the taste of the decorator. We have found our purpose best served by using unbleached factory cotton of a fairly heavy weight, having it specially dyed to the colors in demand, and for white using a soft-finished bleached cotton or a shaker flannel.
Fig. 53.
FESTIVAL · DE · CORATIONS
PART II
When the nation is called on to do honor to one high in the world’s esteem, and State, corporation or society coffers contribute to the erection of a triumphal arch, the experienced decorator, supplementing his knowledge with the advice of the carpenter, plasterer and painter, will submit plans and specifications, and will frequently secure the contract. Figure [50] shows a quadruple arch placed at the intersection of two streets. The frame is built of heavy timbers and lathed into the shape of the arches and moldings. Then two or three heavy coats of plaster, and a smoothing last coat, which is colored dead-white.
The same effect can be produced with bleached cotton stretched tight over wooden frames, the molding being covered separately and attached afterwards.
Electricity is an important decorative feature in nearly all present-day treatments of any size, and serves the two-fold purpose of decoration and illumination. Its unquestioned supremacy after dark is a temptation to place the entire decoration in the hands of the electrician. The result of that is a building pleasing by night, but by daylight exhibiting nothing more attractive than a temporary wiring and stripping.
To produce a satisfactory result the electrical and fabric decorations should be planned together, so that one will aid the other.