[2] See also Notes on Woods (Appendix).

[3] Those who would read a very interesting account of the history of this stone are referred to the late Dean Stanley's "Historical Memorials of Westminster Abbey."

[4] The sous, which was but nominal money, may be reckoned as representing 20 francs, the denier 1 franc, but allowance must be made for the enormous difference in the value of silver, which would make 20 francs in the thirteenth century represent upwards of 200 francs in the present century.

[5] The panels of the high screen or back to the stalls in "La Certosa di Pavia" (a Carthusian Monastery suppressed by Joseph II.) are famous examples of early intarsia. In an essay on the subject written by Mr. T. G. Jackson, A.R.A., they are said to be the work of one Bartolommeo, an Istrian artist, and to date from 1486. The same writer mentions still more elaborate examples of pictorial "intarsia" in the choir stalls of Sta. Maria, Maggiore, in Bergamo.

[6] Writers of authority on architecture have noticed that the chief characteristic in style of the French Renaissance, as contrasted with the Italian, is that in the latter the details and ornament of the new school were imposed on the old foundations of the Gothic character. The Chateau of Chambord is given as an instance of this combination.

[7] "Meubles en bois sculptÉ ayant figurÉ À l'exposition rÉtrospective de Lyon en 1877," par J. B. Giraud.

[8] Dr. Jacob von FalkÉ states that the first mention of glass as an extraordinary product occurs in a register of 1239.

[9] The present decorations of the room were painted either actually by Watts or under his directions, when, as favourite artist to the fourth Lord Holland, he did so much to beautify the house and made so many additions to its store of portraits. His work is fully described in "Holland House," by Princess Marie Liechtenstein. London, 1874.

[10] The following passage occurs in one of Beaumont and Fletcher's plays:—

"Is the great Couch up, the Duke of Medina sent?" to which the duenna replies, "'Tis up, and ready;" and then Marguerite asks, "And day beds in all chambers?" receiving in answer, "In all, lady."

[11] This tapestry is still in the Great Hall at Hampton Court Palace.

[12] The present decorations of the Palace of Versailles were carried out about 1830, under Louis Phillipe. "Versailles Galeries Historiques," par C. Gavard, is a work of 13 vols. devoted to the illustration of the pictures, portraits, statues, busts, and various decorative contents of the Palace.

[13] For description of method of gilding the mounts of furniture, see Appendix.

[14] NOTE.—Since the first edition of this book was published in 1892, the value of really fine old French furniture has considerably risen, and the above-named estimate of the auction price of such a suite of furniture as is described would have to be doubled.

[15] Watteau, 1684-1721. Lancret, b. 1690, d. 1743. Boucher, b. 1703, d. 1770.

[16] "The universal system of Household Furniture, 300 designs on 95 plates, folio. London. N.D. (circa 1770)"

[17] Matthias Lock published "A new book of pier frames, ovals, girandoles, tables, etc." Imp. 8vo., 1769.

[18] The Court room of the Stationers' Hall contains an excellent set of tables of this kind.

[19] The late Mr. Adam Black, senior partner in the publishing firm of A. and C. Black, and Lord Macaulay's colleague in Parliament, when quite a young man, assisted Sheraton in the production of this book; at that time the famous designer of furniture was in poor circumstances.

[20] The word baroque, which became a generic term, was derived from the Portuguese "barrocco," meaning a large irregular-shaped pearl. At first a jeweller's technical term, it came later, like "rococo," to be used to describe the kind of ornament which prevailed in design of the nineteenth century, after the disappearance of the classic.

[21] Mr. Parker defines Dado as "The solid block, or cube, forming the body of a pedestal in classical architecture, between the base mouldings and the cornice: an architectural arrangement of mouldings, etc., round the lower parts of the wall of a room, resembling a continuous pedestal."

[22] Collinson and Lock amalgamated with Warings in 1897.

[23] The present firm is Radley, Robson and Mackay.

[24] This Collection, now better known as the Wallace Collection, has been bequeathed to the Nation.

[25] Miss Rowe, who has made some valuable contributions to the literature of Woodwork, has written hand-books for young woodcarvers, which are published under the sanction of the South Kensington authorities.

[26] Essay by Mr. Edward S. Prior, "Of Furniture and the Room."

[27] Published in 1868, when the craze for novelties was at its height.

[28] Essay on "Decorated Furniture," by J. H. Pollen.

[29] The Harpsichord made for Frederick the Great, by Burkardt-Tschudi, whose son-in-law was the first John Broadwood, was in the style of German Renaissance.