Another old-fashioned resting-place for china may be adopted in modern times for the sustentation of any broken-nosed, handleless, nicked, cracked, or scorched treasure, “the broken teacups wisely kept for show,” which no true china hunter will despise, but which will not bear the too close examination of scoffers, and to which distance lends a haze of enchantment and veil of perfection. I mean a “crown of steps,” or “shelf of steps,” or “china steps,” as they were variously called. One is here shown, but as they are so rare nowadays perhaps the term needs some explanation. On top of a high chest of drawers, a “high-boy,” was placed in olden times a three-tiered, graduated platform of “steps” to hold and display china. The lower tier of the platform was about eight or ten inches shorter and five inches shallower than the top of the “high-boy.” This left free a shelf of about five inches wide upon the sides and front of the top; the tier was four or five inches high. The second tier, or step, was made shorter and narrower in the same proportion, thus leaving a second ridge or shelf. The top tier, or platform, was smaller still. Thus when the china was arranged around the three sides of the “crown of steps” it made a pretty pyramid of pitchers and teapots and jars, and each piece could be plainly seen. Rather high up in the air they were, perhaps, for purposes of close examination or for freeing from dust, but safe from danger of breaking. Very rarely an old “high-boy” will now be seen with a fixed or permanent “crown of steps,” but usually this set of china shelves was separate, and frequently was only made of stained wood. Such were probably the “Steps for China Ware” of Abraham Blish, of Boston, in 1735, which were worth only two shillings. Such also were “the steps & some small China thereon” of John Proctor in 1756, since they were worth only five shillings and fourpence. Another inventory has this item: “1 Japan Chest Draws and Steps for China.”