Page:An Encyclopædia of Cottage, Farm, and Villa Architecture and Furniture.djvu/1125

 ELIZABETHAN VILLA FURNITURE. 1101 2034 choicest tapestry were devoted to the'ie purposes." The ornaments, which consisted principally of ears'ing, were chiefly bestowed on the legs and pillars ; and of such tables there are numbers to be met with in different ancient houses throughout the country. Fig. 2034 is a hall table in this style, designed by Mr. Shaw ; and fig. 2035 is a side- board table for a dining-room, by the same artist. 2171. Cabinets, Coffers, and Chests are well-known pieces of ancient fiirniture, and are to be found in every house that has the slightest preten- sions to antiquity. Cabinets, Hunt observes, " were of massive proportions, carved in oak, ebony, walnut, and other woods, and sometimes inlaid. Some of these answered the double purpose of depositories and cupboards for plate ; and, from having drawers and re- cesses enclosed by doors, and broad shelves between the tiers of turned columns, were conspicuous objects." (p. 148.) Their exterior appearance often displaved much carving and other decoration, with curious hinges, escutcheons, handles, and angle ornaments. The 2035 coffers and chests were covered with iron straps and bands, and had curiously formed locks, hinges, and comer orna- ments. For the termination of the strap and hinge bands, the fleur de lis was often re- sorted to ; and the general form and proportion of these ornamented bands of iron were something like those of a sceptre. The handles were of curious workmanship ; and sometimes the chest was raised on feet, and at other times on a plinth. Oak was the wood of which these chests were most frequently made, but sometimes they were inlaid with different woods. In all houses in the country-, where there are large halls and passages, massive chests are most useful pieces of furniture, for containing articles which it is desirable to conceal ; especially lumber or fuel. The exterior of all such chests or wardrobes might be rendered curious, and highly interesting, though we do not say in correct or architectural taste, bj- covering them with the Elizabethan, Dutch, Louis XIV., or Francis I., ornaments, which are now to be purchased in abundance, either at home or abroad. We have already, § 2063, referred to Nixon and Son, for the two latter kinds of furniture ; and we may here observe that Wilkinson of Oxford Street, and Hanson of John Street, have extensive collections of Elizabethan and Dutch furniture and candngs, from which a judicious compiler of ex- teriors might clothe skeleton frames so as to produce objects of curiosity and interest, at a very trifling expense. Kensett of IMortimer Street has also some curious specimens both of Elizabethan and more ancient furniture. Among these, we may mention a correct fac-simile of a chair taken from Tintem Abbey, and now in Troy House, Mon- mouthshire ; and two other chairs from Glastonbury; one of which, called the abbot's chair, is of very elaborate workmanship, and the other no less remarkable for the sim- plicity of its construction. Correct copies of these celebrated chairs are manufactured by INIr. Kensett for sale. A fine specimen of the manner of fitting up a room with Eli- zabethan fragments may be seen in IMortimer Street, at the oflSce of Mr. Fairs, a London house-painter of the very first taste. 2172. Bedsteads, and the other Articles of Furniture in Bed-rooms, fitted vp in the Elizabethan Style, were curiously wrought and carved. Tlie wood was generally oak or chestnut ; but walnut, elm, holly, and box were used, painted more or less, and some- times profusely gilt. It does not appear that curtains formed so important a part of the ancient bed as they do of the modern one. The chief expense seems to have been incurred in carving the posts ; in the head-boards, which extended from the pillow to the canopy ; in the canopies themselves; and in the deep cornices, or rather architraves, which surrounded the whole. In designing modern beds in this style, the artist should bear