File:The book of decorative furniture, its form, colour and history (1910) (14584080178).jpg

Identifier: bookofdecorative01fole (find matches)
Title: The book of decorative furniture, its form, colour and history
Year: 1910 (1910s)
Authors: Foley, Edwin
Subjects: Furniture Decoration and ornament
Publisher: London : T.C. and E.C. Jack
Contributing Library: Robarts - University of Toronto
Digitizing Sponsor: University of Toronto

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ertextiles against moths. The cassone gives striking evidence of the advanced state ofRenaissance decorative furniture in Italy, at a period when the rest ofthe Continent was either frankly Gothic, or crudely grafting fragmentsof Renaissance detail upon the mediaeval forms. 19 20 DECORATIVE FURNITURE A characteristic of the Italian coffer is that it was usually gilt andpainted, upon its long front panel, with pageants or allegories such asthat shown on this example. One doubts if the modern bride wouldbe grateful if presented with a chest, however beautiful, showing afuneral car bearing Death with his scythe standing astride two coflfins:the oxen yoked to the car are almost as fabulous as the two unicornsdrawing the central car of Chastity (or Peace?), to which Cupid isignoniiniously bound. A collection of wedding chests would be an epitome of decorativefurniture ; for men have in all periods of its use felt especial pleasure inplacing their finest craftsmanship upon the bridal chest.
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ANCIENT ROMAN AND BYZANTINE 21 Beds and Couches (general term, Lectus). — Earlyforms identical with those of Greece; then varieties(usually entered from one side only) with foot-boardsand sometimes head-boards. Later forms with stepfor entry. Pillow rest at head.The couch used at meals (Lectus tricliniaris) lower thanbed, with ledge at head upon which the left armrested. Later Accubita were still lower. Smallcouches were also used when writing.Sideboard Tables.—With tops of marble, silver, etc.Cupboards (Armaria).—Holding arms originally; after-wards used for storage generally.During the latter days of the Roman Empire, gold and silverbecame so plentiful that they were used for the utensils for cookingand other household purposes; small wonder, then, that rich bootyshould have rewarded Alaric when, with his hordes of Goths, hesacked the imperial city in 410 a.d. With the fall of Rome the Classic period of Art may be said tohave practically come to an end. The panoramic conflicts

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