SELECTION OF FURNITURE 249

Legs and Posts. Legs should stand squarely and firmly on the
floor. They should look large enough to support the top of the
article. Rungs and stretchers connecting the legs make them
stronger but are omitted in certain styles. Having the grain of
the wood run the length of a leg or post increases the strength of
the article. Bentwood, therefore, is particularly strong. If grain
cuts diagonally across a chair leg, the leg may split with the grain.
Large legs, built up of several pieces glued together, require a
guarantee that the glue will not deteriorate.

Drawers. The corners of drawers should be dovetailed, locked
together with triangular teeth that fit tightly. Poorly constructed
drawers are often nailed and glued at the corners. The bottom
of the drawer should be supported by extending into a groove in
the end walls of the drawer. A drawer should slide smoothly and
evenly while guide strips underneath the drawer hold it straight.
All surfaces of a drawer should be shellacked or varnished rather
than waxed or left unfinished. Partitions between drawers make
them dustproof. Seamless plastic drawers are desirable for they
are light weight and are not affected by changes in humidity.

Hardware. The quality and appearance of the hardware are
important. Well-designed strong hinges and drawer pulls are
placed on good furniture. Thin stamped metal that looks and is
weak should be avoided.

Castors should be so strong and so well made that even heavy
pieces of furniture can be turned and rolled easily. Castors and
their sockets should be examined to see if they are strong.

Mirrors. Plate-glass mirrors have been ground and polished so
that they do not distort objects at any angle. Window glass or
shock mirrors are made of glass that has not been ground or pol-
ished and therefore causes distortions at an acute angle. Plate-glass
mirrors are supposed to have blue labels to identify them, and win-
dow-glass mirrors yellow labels. The National Bureau of Stand-
ards specifies three classifications of plate-glass mirrors, "A" qual-
ity, No. 1 quality, and No. 2 quality. Beveled or rounded edges
are considered more beautiful and are more costly than plain edges.
Some mirrors have an unpleasant color; blue mirrors are used
decoratively in Modern settings. Backs of mirrors should be made
moistwe-proof.