Oak furniture made in England during the seventeenth century, is still a credit to the painstaking craftsmen of those days, and even upholstered furniture, like the couches and chairs at Knole, after more than 250 years' service, are fit for use. When we come to deal with furniture of the present day, and the methods of production which are now in practice, a comparison will be made which must be to the credit of the Jacobean period. * * * * * In the foregoing chapters an attempt has been made to preserve, as far as possible, a certain continuity in the history of the subject matter of this work from the earliest times until after the Renaissance had been generally adopted in Europe. In this endeavour a greater amount of attention has been bestowed upon the furniture of a comparatively short period of English history, than upon that of other countries, but it is hoped that this fault will be forgiven by English readers. It has now become necessary to interrupt this plan, and before returning to the consideration of European design and work, to devote a short chapter to those branches of the Industrial Arts connected with furniture, which flourished in China and Japan, in India, Persia, and Arabia, at a time anterior and subsequent to the Renaissance period in Europe. [Illustration: SEVENTEENTH CENTURY CHAIR IN HOLLAND HOUSE. _See pp. 103, 104._] [Illustration: PATTERN OF A CHINESE LAC SCREEN. (_In the South Kensington Museum._)] FOOTNOTES: [Footnote 9: The present decorations of the room were painted either actually by Watts or under his directions, when, as favourite artist to the fourth Lord Holland, he did so much to beautify the house and made so many additions to its store of portraits. His work is fully described in "Holland House," by Princess Marie Liechtenstein. London, 1874.] [Footnote 10: The following passage occurs in one of Beaumont and Fletcher's plays:-- "Is the great Couch up, the Duke of Medina sent?" to which the duenna replies, "'Tis up, and ready;" and then Marguerite asks, "And day beds in all chambers?" receiving in answer, "In all, lady." ] [Footnote 11: This tapestry is still in the Great Hall at Hampton Court Palace.] CHAPTER V. The Furniture of Eastern Countries.