[Illustration:  Original Jacobean settle with tapestry covering.  These pieces of furniture range in price between $900 and $1,400.]

[Illustration:  Fine reproductions of Jacobean chairs of the time of Charles II.  The carved front rail balances the carving on the back perfectly.]

The Jacobean period began with James I, and lasted until the time of William and Mary, or from 1603 to about 1689.  In the early part there was still a strong Tudor feeling, and toward the end foreign influence made itself felt until the Dutch under William became paramount.  Inigo Jones did his great work at this time in the Palladian style of architecture.  His simpler taste did much to reduce the exaggeration of the late Tudor days.

Chests of various kinds still remained of importance.  Their growth is interesting:  first the plain ones of very early days, then panels appeared, then the pointed arch with its architectural effect, then the low-pointed arch of Tudor and early Jacobian times, and the geometrical ornament.  Then came a change in the general shape, a drawer being added at the bottom, and at last it turned into a complete chest of drawers.

Cabinets or cupboards were also used a great deal, and the most interesting are the court-and livery-cupboards.  The derivation of the names is a bit obscure, but the court cupboard probably comes from the French court, short.  The first ones were high and unwieldy and the later ones were lower with some enclosed shelves.  They were used for a display of plate, much as the modern sideboard is used.  The number of shelves was limited by rank; the wife of a baronet could have two, a countess three, a princess four, a queen five.  They were beautifully carved, very often, the doors to the enclosed portions having heads, Tudor roses, arches, spindle ornaments and many other designs common to the Tudor and Jacobean periods.  They had a silk “carpet” put on the shelves with the fringe hanging over the ends, but not the front, and on this was placed the silver.

The livery-cupboard was used for food, and the word probably comes from the French livrer, to deliver.  It had several shelves enclosed by rails, not panels, so the air could circulate, and some of them had open shelves and a drawer for linen.  They were used much as we use a serving-table, or as the kitchen dresser was used in old New England days.  In them were kept food and drink for people to take to their bedrooms to keep starvation at bay until breakfast.

Drawing-tables were very popular during Jacobean times.  They were described as having two ends that were drawn out and supported by sliders, while the center, previously held by them, fell into place by its own weight.  Another characteristic table was the gate-legged or thousand-legged table, that was used so much in our own Colonial times.  There were also round, oval and square tables which had flaps supported by legs that were drawn out.  Tables were almost invariably covered with a table cloth.