The bedstead of King Theebaw, brought from Mandalay, is an example of this mixture of glass and wood, which can be made extremely effective. The wood is carved and gilt to represent the gold setting of numerous precious stones, which are counterfeited by small pieces of looking-glass and variously-colored pieces of transparent glass. Some of King Edward's (at the time Prince of Wales) presents--namely, chairs with carved lions forming arms; tables of shishem wood, inlaid with ebony and ivory, shew the European influence we have alluded to. Amongst the modern ornamental articles in the Museum are many boxes, pen trays, writing cases, and even photographic albums, of wood and ivory mosaic work, the inlaid patterns being produced by placing together strips of tin wire, sandal wood, ebony, and of ivory, white, or stained green: these strips, when bound into a rod, either triangular or hexagonal, are cut into small sections, and then inlaid into the surface of the article to be decorated. Papier maché and lacquer work are also frequently found in small articles of furniture; and the collection of drawings by native artists attest the high skill in design and execution attained by Indian craftsmen. PERSIA. The Persians have from time immemorial been an artistic people, and their style of Art throughout successive generations has varied but little. Major-General Murdoch Smith, R.E., the present Director of the branch of the South Kensington Museum in Edinburgh, who resided for some years in Persia, and had the assistance when there of M. Richard (a well-known French antiquary), made a collection of _objets d'art_ some years ago for the Science and Art Department, which is now in the Kensington Museum, but it contains comparatively little that can be actually termed furniture; and it is extremely difficult to meet with important specimens of ornamental woodwork of native workmanship. Those in the Museum, and in other collections, are generally small ornamental articles. The chief reason for this is, doubtless, that little timber is to be found in Persia, except in the Caspian provinces, where, as Mr. Benjamin has told us in "Persia and the Persians," wood is abundant; and the Persian architect, taking advantage of his opportunity, has designed his houses with wooden piazzas--not found elsewhere--and with "beams, lintels, and eaves quaintly, sometimes elegantly, carved, and tinted with brilliant hues." Another feature of the decorative woodwork in this part of Persia is that produced by the large latticed windows, which are well adapted to the climate. [Illustration: DOOR. Of carved sandal wood, from Travancore. Indian Museum, South Kensington. PERIOD: PROBABLY LATE XVIII. CENTURY.]