[Illustration:  “Stool”, “Stand for a Vase, Head Rest or Pillow”, “Workman’s Stool”, “Vase on a Stand”, “Folding Stool”, “Ebony Seat Inlaid with Ivory” (From Photos by Mansell & Co. of the originals in the British Museum.)]

Nothing can be more suitable for its purpose then the “Workman’s Stool:”  the seat is precisely like that of a modern kitchen chair (all wood), slightly concaved to promote the sitter’s comfort, and supported by three legs curving outwards.  This is simple, convenient, and admirably adapted for long service.  For a specimen of more ornamental work, the folding stool in the same glass case should be examined; the supports are crossed in a similar way to those of a modern camp-stool, and the lower parts of the legs carved as heads of geese, with inlayings of ivory to assist the design and give richness to its execution.

[Illustration:  An Egyptian of High Rank Seated. (From a Photo by Mansell & Co. of the Original Wall Painting in the British Museum.) Period:  B.C. 1500-1400.]

Portions of legs and rails, turned as if by a modern lathe, mortice holes and tenons, fill us with wonder as we look upon work which, at the most modern computation, must be 3,000 years old, and may be of a date still more remote.

In the same room, arranged in cases round the wall, is a collection of several objects which, if scarcely to be classed under the head of furniture, are articles of luxury and comfort, and demonstrate the extraordinary state of civilisation enjoyed by the old Egyptians, and help us to form a picture of their domestic habits.

[Illustration:  An Egyptian Banquet. (From a Wall Painting at Thebes.)]

Amongst these are boxes inlaid with various woods, and also with little squares of bright turquoise blue pottery let in as a relief; others veneered with ivory; wooden spoons, carved in most intricate designs, of which one, representing a girl amongst lotus flowers, is a work of great artistic skill; boats of wood, head rests, and models of parts of houses and granaries, together with writing materials, different kinds of tools and implements, and a quantity of personal ornaments and requisites.

“For furniture, various woods were employed, ebony, acacia or sont, cedar, sycamore, and others of species not determined.  Ivory, both of the hippopotamus and elephant, was used for inlaying, as also were glass pastes; and specimens of marquetry are not uncommon.  In the paintings in the tombs, gorgeous pictures and gilded furniture are depicted.  For cushions and mattresses, linen cloth and colored stuffs, filled with feathers of the waterfowl, appear to have been used, while seats have plaited bottoms of linen cord or tanned and dyed leather thrown over them, and sometimes the skins of panthers served this purpose.  For carpets they used mats of palm fibre, on which they often sat.  On the whole, an Egyptian house was lightly furnished, and not encumbered with so many articles as are in use at the present day.”