[Illustration: No. 51. 14th Century Textile Sicilian tradition.] For convenience of transport, chairs and stools were made with projecting tenons secured by pins or wedges so as to be easily taken apart. _Crusades_ That the Crusades were incidental to the importation of examples of Eastern art, is evidenced by the celebrated cup of Eden Hall, on the safe preservation of which depended the worldly welfare of the owners, according to the couplet: “If that cup either break or fall, Farewell the luck of Eden Hall.” This cup is of Saracenic origin, and is of glass, painted in enamels, similar in character to the mosque lamps in the British Museum. Tapestries of Sicilian manufacture were also introduced through the medium of the Crusades, and led to the employment of painted wall decoration, evidently in imitation, even in some instances to indicating the folds of the material. [Illustration: No. 52. Sicilian Textile.] A precept exists in the twentieth year of the reign of Henry III directing “that the King’s great chamber at Westminster be painted a good green colour like a curtain,” and “that the King’s little wardrobe should also be painted of a green colour to imitate a curtain.” This was undoubtedly suggested by the custom abroad of draping the walls with tapestries, though carpets were unknown. Probably the first time these were seen in England was in the apartments in the Temple occupied by the suite of the infant Don Sancho, archbishop elect of Toledo, who with Don Garcias Madinez, officiated as _avant-courriers_ to Eleanor of Castile in the autumn of 1255. _Pointed Arch_ [Illustration: No. 53. Types of Buttress.] The origin of the pointed Arch, which is the chief characteristic of the Gothic style, is much disputed, but there is ample evidence that the new departure appeared almost simultaneously in different parts of Europe soon after the First Crusade. It is reasonable to assume that this particular form was suggested by examples in Syria, where arches elliptic and even ogival in shape were employed. Though not common in Roman work, the pointed Arch was employed in the Aqueduct built to supply Constantinople with water, completed under Valens, 364-378 A.D., by which it is probable that the Saracenic work was inspired. Whatever the origin, the innovation was found to be economic, and more sound in construction than the older prevailing method. It was also more flexible in design, as apertures of varying dimensions could be spanned with arches equal in height, which is not possible with the semi-circular form, except by the expedient of stepping. Further strength was imparted by the employment of buttresses on the outer walls, as well as at the angles of the building. _Gothic Style_