Numerous acts of kindness and co-operation, received while preparing the work for the Press, have rendered the task very pleasant; and while the Author has endeavoured to acknowledge, in a great many instances, the courtesies received, when noticing the particular occasion on which such assistance was rendered, he would desire generally to record his thanks to the owners of historic mansions, the officials of our Museums, the Clerks of City Companies, Librarians, and others, to whom he is indebted. The views of many able writers who have trodden the same field of enquiry have been adopted where they have been confirmed by the writer's experience or research, and in these cases he hopes he has not omitted to express his acknowledgments for the use he has made of them. The large number of copies subscribed for, accompanied, as many of the applications have been, by expressions of goodwill, and confidence beforehand, have been very gratifying, and have afforded great encouragement during the preparation of the work. If the present venture is received in such a way as to encourage a larger effort, the writer hopes both to multiply examples and extend the area of his observations. F. L. 32, ST. JAMES'S STREET, S.W. [Illustration] CONTENTS. CHAPTER I. PAGE BIBLICAL REFERENCES: Solomon's House and Temple--Palace of Ahasuerus. ASSYRIAN FURNITURE: Nimrod's Palace--Mr. George Smith quoted. EGYPTIAN FURNITURE: Specimens in the British Museum--The Workman's Stool--Various Articles of Domestic Furniture--Dr. Birch quoted. GREEK FURNITURE: The Bas-reliefs in the British Museum--The Chest of Cypselus--Laws and Customs of the Greeks--House of Alcibiades--Plutarch quoted. ROMAN FURNITURE: Position of Rome--The Roman House--Cicero's Table--Thyine Wood--Customs of wealthy Romans--Downfall of the Empire 1 CHAPTER II. Period of 1,000 years from Fall of Rome, A. D. 476, to Capture of Constantinople, 1453--The Crusades--Influence of Christianity--Chairs of St. Peter and Maximian at Rome, Ravenna, and Venice--Edict of Leo III. prohibiting Image worship--The Rise of Venice--Charlemagne and his successors--The Chair of Dagobert--Byzantine character of Furniture--Norwegian carving--Russian and Scandinavian--The Anglo-Saxons--Sir Walter Scott quoted--Descriptions of Anglo-Saxon Houses and Customs--Art in Flemish Cities--Gothic Architecture--The Coronation Chair at Westminster Abbey--Penshurst--French Furniture in the 14th Century--Description of rooms--The South Kensington Museum--Transition from Gothic to Renaissance--German carved work; the Credence, the Buffet, and Dressoir 17 CHAPTER III.