New-York tribune., 1900-10-30

MEDIEVAL FURNITURE.
ANCESTRY OF SOME MODERN HOUSEHOLD
GoDs-THn CHESTS EVOLUTION.

The ''multum in parvo" furniture, among
which are the wardrobe couch, the writing desk
dressing case and various other composite ar
rangements, is regarded by most people
essentially the result of modern ingenuity.
In point of fact, hardly a single instance
of the kind lacks It's prototype dating from
medieval times when life was too nearly
a from day to day" affair to permit
many household gods to accumulate. No
one knew, not even the powerful, when
he might be obliged to flee from maraud
ing neighbors, and the furniture consisted prin-
cipally of large chests for plate, linen and vest
ures. These were called standards in England,
and served as seats and tables by day and beds
at night, They were Of immense size. and as
luxury increased were richly carved and orna-
mented with wrought iron.
AS social conditions improved and habitations
became less uncertain, the armory and other
pieces came into use. The armory was the pred
ecessor of the sideboard, and was used for
safekeeping of valuables being made Of heavy
wood, reinforced by wrought iron. 1t at
first little more than handsome chest stood on
end. The armory found a supplement in the
cupboard-a structure of uninclosed shelves for
the display of silver and other treasures. Then
the cupboard and armory were combined. and
the result called a credence, It had both
shelVes ana locked compartments.
After a time these carved and decorated
credences became the subject OF restrictions
that to-day seem most tyrannical and absurd.
The queen might have as many shelves as she
wished, and could cover them with cloth of gold,
but countess could have no more than three,
and knights lady only the original form, a
chest on legs The back might be carved or
covered with silk, and damask napkins covered
the shelves. that served the purpose of the
cabinet now In use, and held all kinds Of curious
and beautiful articles Frequently the credence.
or court cupboard, as II came to be called had
a canopy of wood.
The buffet for carving and for extra dishes and
silver variation of the credence.
The chest that served as seat bed and table
was divided in time into its component parts.
The first table board trestles, while
the chest remained a seat. Gradually the table
became stationary in construction and varied
in design. Sometimes 1t was round, sometimes
shaped like horseshoe or semi-circle, the guests
sitting around the outside and being served
from within. Cloths were used early as the
thirteenth century, and little later came sur
napes" of damask. embroidered and fringed, for
use when the basins of rosewater were carried
around the table. These were the ancestors of
the table napkin.
The seats were bancs-whence the term BAN
Quet-hnally benches, often with iacks and
arms The chair reserved for the lord Of
the castle until much later period.
The bed of the twelfth century plat
form -ornamented legs Then the supports
were extended above the platform, and finally
heightened to receive a canopy. In the thir-
teenth century the bed was rallied about with
gateway at one side and low step. Some
of these beds were twelve feet wide. and there
slept parents children and dogs. The hangings
were superb-silk and golden tapestry-so that
they were valuable bequests
Curtained wardrobes appeared to protect rich
robes. and soon doors were added. These were
handsomely carved, enamelled and painted or
otherwise decorated
The sofa is merely an evolution from the bench
to which back and ends were added as protec-
tion from draughts. 1t at first compro-
mise between the thrOnelike chairs which sat
the lord and lady of the castle and the long
bench which were seated all the retainers,
the shorter benches being for the honored
guests. These were covered frequently with
tapestries velvet, by way of distinction as
we'll as added comfort.