Second Period of the Renaissance—Court of Mary of Hungary— Charles V a Fleming—Influence of Burgundian Court in Spain—Gilded Leather—Wealth of the Nobles in the Netherlands—Margaret of Valois at Namur—Antwerp in the Sixteenth Century—Christopher Plantin—Cornelis and James Floris—Jerome Cock—Hans and Paul de Vries—Jacques van Noye—Famous Designers—Characteristics of the Second Period of the Renaissance—Bedsteads, Tables and Chairs, _Armoires_, Cabinets and Chests—Porcelain, Glass and Glass Cupboards—Windows and Glass-painters—Guicciardini on the Artists of the Low Countries—Paul de Vries—Crispin de Passe the Elder—the Collaerts—Wood-carving—Music and Musical Instruments. CHAPTER V SEVENTEENTH CENTURY (FLEMISH) 131–167 Renewed Italian Influence—Rubens: his Studio, his House, his Pupils, his Influence, his Successors—Seventeenth Century Wood-carvers—Development and Tendencies of Furniture—Crispin van den Passe—Rembrandt’s Goods and Chattels—Old Belgian Houses—The Pitsembourg—Kitchens— Leather-hangings—Tapestry—Marquetry—Chairs—Masters of Ornamental Design—The “Auricular Style.” CHAPTER VI SEVENTEENTH CENTURY (DUTCH) 169–202 Famous Dutch Architects—The Royal Palace on the Dam, Het Loo, The Mauritshuis and Huis Ten Bosch—Interior Carvings— Specimens of Rooms and Ceilings in the Rijks Museum—Love of the Dutch for their Houses—Miniature Dutch Houses and Models of Old Amsterdam Houses in the Rijks Museum— Architecture of the Seventeenth Century—A Typical Dutch Home—The _Luifel_, _Voorhuis_ and _Comptoir_—Interior Decorations and Furniture—Dutch Mania for Cleaning— Descriptions by Travellers of Dutch Houses and Cleaning— Cleaning Utensils—House and Furniture of Andreas Hulstman Janz, in Dordrecht—Inventory of Gertrude van Mierevelt, wife of the painter, in Delft—“Show-Rooms” and their Furnishings—Cooking Utensils—Bedroom in the House of Mrs. Lidia van der Dussen in Dordrecht—The Cradle and “Fire-Basket”—The Baby’s Silver—The “Bride’s Basket”—The “Bride’s Crown” and “Throne”—Decorations for a Wedding— Description by Sir John Lower of the Farewell Entertainment to Charles II at the Hague. CHAPTER VII THE IMPORTANCE OF PORCELAIN 203–235