Period of Jacobean design, the Dutch influence - Table in the Carpenter's Hall - "Framed" and "joyned" tables - Work of Inigo Jones - Chairs of James I's time - Knole House and its furniture, chairs and tables of the period, Charles II and the changes of his time - The "split balustrade" ornament - Hampton Court Palace - Halls of the City companies - Grinling Gibbons and his work - Qualities of good Jacobean joinery - Holyrood Palace, and Dalkeith Palace.

THE period of design which we term Jacobean may be said to have lasted for about a century, from the beginning of the reign of James I until the advent of the Dutch influence, which became almost paramount after the accession to the throne of William and Mary, caused a change of fashion.

In the preceding chapter we have seen how the later Elizabethan work had been somewhat over-carved and elaborated with grotesque ornament. Under the influence of Inigo Jones, an architect who came into court favour quite early in the reign of the new king, a more severe tone was observed with regard to ornament in stone and wood, and a period commences which, as regards the work of English joiners, is full of interest for connoisseurs and collectors.

The bold acorn-shaped ornament which was such a marked feature of the carving of the previous reign, was tabooed, and in its place the legs of tables were either quite plain columns with a capital and base, or, if carved, the lines were more straight, only just breaking into a slight fulness. The octagonal table in the Hall of the Carpenters' Company is a good example of this kind; it has the date 1606 carved in two of the spandrels of the arches which connect the legs, while the other spandrels bear the initials of the Master and the Wardens of the Company of that year.

It is a most interesting piece of furniture because, while the character of the ornamentation has a little of the Elizabethan spirit, one can see that this has been subdued and refined. It is in excellent preservation, except that the top is split, and those who wish to see a representative specimen, made just as a change of style was affecting our ornamental woodwork, should study the table carefully.

We have seen in the chapter on "Renaissance" how during the sixteenth century the "table" was developed from boards and trestles into a complete and solid piece of domestic furniture. These "framed", and "joyned" tables, as they were called, were now made with the plain leg alluded to above, and had drawers with plain or carved fronts.

There are four excellent tables of this period in the Hall of the Barber Surgeons' Company in Monkswell Street, City, a building designed by Inigo Jones, and there is also a good example of the kind in the Chapter House, Westminster. The communion table in the Chapel of the Charterhouse is of a more ornamental character, and shows the influence of the Italian Renaissance which Inigo Jones had brought with him from his travels in that country. It has a row of legs running lengthways along the middle of the table, and four others at the corners, enriched by carving from the base to a third of the height of each leg, while the frieze is also carved in low relief.

JACOBEAN BEDSTEAD IN CARVED OAK. EARLY SEVENTEENTH CENTURY.

The chairs of James I period were high-backed, moulded rather than carved, that is, the frames were ornamented only by the members being relieved from plainness by mouldings, but not as a rule having scrolls or flowers, although occasionally one sees an early Jacobean chair having scrolls in low relief.

In the International Exhibition of 1901, held at Glasgow, there were some good specimens of Jacobean chairs, lent by some of the old "Trade Houses " of Aberdeen - one of these was "gifted " in 1617 by Alexander Cockie, who had embellished it with his arms, a cock, on a chief, the sun in its splendour, and a crescent between two mullets, with his initials, A. C. The back folds down upon the arms and forms a most convenient card table.

An illustration is given here of a somewhat similar table which is in the Victoria and Albert Museum.

Knole House, near Sevenoaks, is probably the richest in upholstered furniture of this period. The king's bedroom was specially prepared and furnished for the visit of James I, and as any visitor can by the kindness of the present owner, Lord Sackville, see this stately old English mansion with its most interesting contents, it is a pity not to take advantage of the opportunity.

The house is open on Fridays at a nominal charge of two shillings, which goes to the restoration fund.

The student has the great advantage of seeing here furniture as it was, save for dilapidation by time, but without restoration, and many useful lessons may be learned. The famous sofa, probably about the first of its kind, has since been reproduced by Liberty's and one or two other London firms. It was upholstered in crimson velvet, and as the arms at either end could be lowered by a rack, the sofa or settee became comfortable as a lounge when thus extended. Armchairs, also richly upholstered in the same kind of velvet, were trimmed with handsome fringe and studded with copper nails. In this house there are five stools with X legs, also in velvet with fringe, and the famous King's Bedstead in crimson and gold, now much faded and worn, which is said to have cost £8,000. These are still in the room once occupied by the king.

FOLDING TABLE AT FLAXTON HALL, SUFFOLK.

(Time of Elizabeth)

JACOBEAN UPPER PART OF CHIMNEY-PIECE IN CARVED OAK EARLY SEVENTEENTH CENTURY (TIME OF INIGO JONES).

JACOBEAN CENTRE TABLE IN CARVED OAK SEVENTEENTH CENTURY.