This slight sketch, brief and inadequate as it is, of a history of furniture from the earliest time of which we have any record, until from the extraordinary growth of the vast Roman Empire, the arts and manufactures of every country became as it were centralised and focussed in the palaces of the wealthy Romans, brings us down to the commencement of what has been deservedly called "the greatest event in history"--the decline and fall of this enormous empire. For fifteen generations, for some five hundred years, did this decay, this vast revolution, proceed to its conclusion. Barbarian hosts settled down in provinces they had overrun and conquered, the old Pagan world died as it were, and the new Christian era dawned. From the latter end of the second century until the last of the Western Caesars, in A.D. 476, it is, with the exception of a short interval when the strong hand of the great Theodosius stayed the avalanche of Rome's invaders, one long story of the defeat and humiliation of the citizens of the greatest power the world has ever known. It is a vast drama that the genius and patience of a Gibbon has alone been able to deal with, defying almost by its gigantic catastrophes and ever raging turbulence the pen of history to chronicle and arrange. When the curtain rises on a new order of things, the age of Paganism has passed away, and the period of the Middle Ages will have commenced. [Illustration: A Roman Study. Shewing Scrolls or Books in a "Scrinium;" also Lamp, Writing Tablets, etc.] [Illustration: The Roman Triclinium, or Dining Room. The plan in the margin shews the position of guests; the place of honor was that which is indicated by "No. 1," and that of the host by "No. 9." (_The Illustration is taken from Dr. Jacob von Falke's "Kunst im Hause."_)] [Illustration: Plan of a Triclinium.] Chapter II. The Middle Ages. Period of 1000 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. [Illustration]