| DESIGN BY W. B. OLMSTED. | DESIGN BY PIERRE LIESCH. |
The design of Mr. Liesch has the virtue of being unusual, and would arrest the attention of many who might not be attracted by the preceding one. The lettering in this case, although done with exceptional taste, is not sufficiently clear and readable to be entirely satisfactory as an advertisement.
Mr. Gulbranson’s design is of more interest as a drawing than as an advertisement. To the readers of The Brochure Series this characteristic would doubtless appeal, while it might be of no value in an advertisement intended for a different clientage.
| DESIGN BY P. G. GULBRANSON. | DESIGN BY F. CHOUTEAU BROWN. |
Mr. Brown’s design has an interest of a different sort. It is crude in treatment, purposely so no doubt, but the idea is so unusual, with a quaint touch of humor, that it would be sure to attract attention. If space would allow, several of the remaining designs could be reproduced to advantage, and would give a wider field for comparison.
XCVIII.
Old Manor House, Lythe Hill, England.
[ Notes.]
Attention has already been called in these columns to the efforts of the Henry F. Miller Piano Co. to foster the designing of artistic piano cases. Their later designs are a long step away from the conventional and hopelessly ugly piano cases that have been put out by the piano trade universally. They reason that the piano, as an artistic instrument, should have an artistic setting, and it is to draw the attention of architectural designers to this point that they have already given prizes for one competition, and purpose offering another prize, probably of $100, for a second competition. The making of special designs for piano cases has fallen largely into the hands of custom-furniture makers simply because the work of piano factories has for years carried its own condemnation. The furniture maker often is forced to buy a new piano, from stock, and build it over as best he can, charging a price that is almost prohibitory. Since the Miller factory has been equipped with the best facilities for special case work it has become possible for architects to have their own designs intelligently executed without unreasonable expense, or to secure unfinished cases should they