rders, one very
interesting piece being varnished to imitate tortoiseshell. There are
also some attractive toilet objects, evidently antique presentation
pieces. One is a most elaborately cut and incised comb case, on the
exterior of which is the motto or legend: "DE BOEN AMORE." In the same
collection there is a fine leather case for a cup or tankard. Such cup
cases are not uncommon, many being the receptacles for treasured
heirlooms. Perhaps one of the most noted examples of the use of embossed
and decorative leather work is the ancient case of stamped leather
intricately foliated, a highly decorative work of art in which is
enclosed that remarkable goblet of legendary fame known as "The Luck of
Eden Hall."

Tapestry and Upholstery.

Stamped and embossed leather work is very conspicuous in domestic
upholstery. In very early times the leather work, hung upon the wall in
panels, took the place of more modern wall-coverings, and it was truly
lasting. Much of the Cordovan leather is still very fresh in appearance,
although several centuries old. Some of the panels hanging on the walls
at South Kensington look remarkably fresh, and, richly decorated in
colours, many of them are very effective. A special branch of this work
was that devoted to the decoration of chair backs; stamped leather work
for upholstery has been used in this country to a large extent, and some
of the large oak chairs are still upholstered in the original ornamental
leather produced by boiling the hides by a special process, so that the
material could be readily moulded. In more modern times, however, the
decoration is effected by embossing and stamping, supplementing such
ornament by the use of an immense quantity of small brass nails, which
are arranged in geometrical patterns or straight lines, oftentimes names
and dates being included in the design.

In this connection also are screens of painted and gilt leather, chiefly
of eighteenth-century manufacture. There is a good deal of this leather
work to be found in old houses still, and much of it is capable of
improvement by properly cleaning and touching up here and there so as to
revive the old colours. Here and there hung up as wall decorations may
be seen leather-covered boxes which were specially made to hold deeds;
in the older examples there is a large circular piece below the narrow
box, arranged so that the seal could hang in its proper position from
the end of the deed; they were, of c