n wood carving; with Holland and Belgium they are responsible for
much of the antique oak furniture on Renaissance lines. The
Scandinavians have also done wonderful wood carving, which is easily
confused with the early wood carving of the Russians, for the reason
that the Swedes settled Finland, and Russia's Ruric rulers (before the
Romanoff house,--sixteenth century) were from Finland.

In the sixteenth century metal work in steel, iron and brass reached
its height in Germany and Italy. It is supposed that the elaborate
mounts in furniture which were later perfected in France had their
origin in iron corners and hinge-plates used, at first, merely to
strengthen, but as the men who worked in metals became more and more
skilful, the mounts were made with the intent of mere decoration and
to draw attention to the beauty of the wood itself.

Before Duerer turned Germany's mind toward the Greek revival of Art,
the craftsmen of his country had been following Dutch models. This was
natural enough, for Charles V was king at that time, of Holland,
Germany and Spain, and the arts of the three countries, as well as
their commerce were interchangeable. In fact it was the Dutch painter,
Van Eyck, who took the Renaissance into Spain when called thereto
paint royalty. Sculptors, tapestry weavers, books on art, etc.,
followed.

That was the Spanish awakening, but the art of Spain during the
sixteenth century shows that the two most powerful influences were
Moorish and Italian. The most characteristically Spanish furniture of
that period are those cabinets,--"_Vargueos_," made of wood ornamented
on the outside with wrought iron, while inside are little columns made
of fine bone, painted and gilded. Much of the old Spanish furniture
reproduces German and Italian styles. Embossed leather put on with
heavy nails has always been characteristic of Spain, and in the
seventeenth century very fine Spanish mahogany and chestnut were
decorated with tortoise-shell inlaid with ivory, so as to make
elaborate pictures in the Italian style. (See Baron Davillier on
Spanish Furniture.).

CHAPTER XVIII

FRENCH FURNITURE

The classic periods in French furniture were those known as Francis I,
Henry II and the three Louis,--XIV, XV, and XVI. One can get an idea
of all French periods in furnishing by visiting the collection in
Paris belonging to the government, "Mobilier National," in the new
wing of the Louvre.

It is always necessary to