historically important decorators' supply company illustrated "catalogue of plastic ornaments" featuring a wide array of castings in plaster for interiors and in composition for exteriors. the hardbound catalog is an impressive compilation of cast plaster ornamentation designs including arches, ceiling and wall patterns, pilasters, door and window tops, mouldings, and rosettes popular in the early 20th century. the decorators' supply company explains, "we have aimed in this book not only to show the illustrations of the ornaments but have shown the application on ceilings and walls on a great number of plates to aid the decorator to make a selection." page after page contains exquisitely detailed illustrations and carefully drafted design specifications with prices all aided for the consumer's knowledge of their advanced early 20th century design. this specific catalogue has seen some wear over the years with displacement of pages from the spine and the deterioration of the binding, but remains complete without any missing pages. the hardback cover has some staining and ripping at the corners and edging but the decorators' supply company seal can still be seen. decorators supply corporation traces it's history back to 1883 when the original founders, simon strahn and richard c. foster, established a partnership to manufacture "artistic decorative accessories." by 1893, decorators supply had blossomed into a manufacturer of cast ornamental plaster. they became one of the manufacturers of the mouldings that would adorn the buildings and halls showcased in the columbian exhibition of 1893. decorators supply company was organized primarily for the manufacturing of plastic ornaments for the interior and exterior decoration of buildings, and in the early period the business was obtained principally by the liberal use of sketches, designs and models, which were shown to the builder and which had virtually the effect of compelling the architect and contractor to recognize the value of the products incidental to high-grade decorative work in architectural lines. throughout the late 19th and early 20th century the decorators supply company manufactured on an extensive scale a wide variety of the most artistic decorative accessories for use in connection with architectural work,—interior and exterior ornaments of every description, in cement, composition, plaster and wood. the output of the modern factory includes architectural columns, capitals, brackets, cornices, friezes, mouldings, panels, wood grills, fine woodwork, plastic ceiling and wall decorations, composition ornaments for woodwork, garden furniture, cement fountains, electric fixtures, lamps, window backgrounds, theater ornaments, ticket booths, etc. fomerly apart of notable interior designer odin j. oyen's library. measures 9 1/2 x 12 inches
