The same writer, after discussing the characteristic Spanish cabinets, decorated outside with fine ironwork and inside with columns of bone painted and gilt, which were called "Vargueños," says:--"The other cabinets or escritoires belonging to that period (sixteenth century) were to a large extent imported from Germany and Italy, while others were made in Spain in imitation of these, and as the copies were very similar it is difficult to classify them." * * * [Illustration: CHAIR OF WALNUT OR CHESTNUT WOOD. Covered in Leather, with embossed pattern. Spanish. (Collection of Baron de Vallière.) PERIOD: EARLY XVII. CENTURY.] [Illustration: WOODEN COFFER. With wrought iron mounts and falling flap, on carved stand. Spanish. (Collection of M. Monbrison.) PERIOD: XVII. CENTURY.] "Besides these inlaid cabinets, others must have been made in the sixteenth century inlaid with silver. An Edict was issued in 1594, prohibiting, with the utmost rigour, the making and selling of this kind of merchandise, in order not to increase the scarcity of silver." The Edict says that "no cabinets, desks, coffers, braziers, shoes, tables, or other articles decorated with stamped, raised, carved, or plain silver should be manufactured." The beautiful silver table in His Majesty's collection at Windsor Castle, illustrated on page 68, is probably one of Spanish make of late sixteenth or early seventeenth century. Although not strictly within the period treated of in this chapter, it is convenient to observe that much later, in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, one finds the Spanish cabinet maker ornamenting his productions with an inlay of ivory let into tortoise-shell, representing episodes in the history of _Don Quichotte_, and scenes from the National pastime of bull-fighting. These cabinets generally have simple rectangular outlines with numerous drawers, the fronts of which are decorated in the manner described, and when the stands are original they are formed of turned legs of ebony or stained wood. In many Spanish cabinets the influence of Saracenic Art is very dominant; these have generally a plain exterior, the front is hinged as a fall-down flap, and discloses a decorative effect which reminds one of some of the Alhambra work--quaint arches inlaid with ivory, of a somewhat bizarre coloring of blue and vermilion--altogether a rather barbarous but rich and effective treatment. To the seventeenth century also belonged the high-backed Spanish and Portuguese chairs, of dark brown leather, stamped with numerous figures, birds and floral scrolls, studded with brass nails and ornaments, while the legs and arms are alone visible as woodwork. They are made of chestnut, with some leafwork or scroll carving. There is a good representative woodcut of one of these chairs.